Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams will make his official Dallas Cowboys debut in Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Linebackers Logan Wilson and DeMarvion Overshown, as well as this year’s third-round draft pick CB Shavon Revel, are also expected to make their season debut in some form or fashion this week.
Each one of these new additions are expected to improve the Dallas Cowboys defense, which is been one of the worst, if not the worst, units in the league so far this season. While each one of these players brings some much-needed excitement to the defensive side of the ball for the Cowboys, DT Williams stands out the most as someone who will make the biggest difference.
Williams was the third overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2019 NFL Draft. Since entering the league he’s been a three-time Pro Bowler (2022-2024) and a First-team All-Pro (2022). The Cowboys haven’t had this caliber of player in the middle of their defensive line in quite some time, and he should make his presence known immediately when he sits up against the Raiders this week.
Blocking the Cowboys new DT may be one of the bigger problems the Raiders face this week. Both starting guards, Dylan Parham and Jackson Powers-Johnson, are banged up, and Powers-Johnson could be done for the season after recently being placed on injured reserve. Because of that, the Raiders third-round draft pick this year, Caleb Rogers, could make his rookie debut as an injury fill-in.
Rogers has been inactive for every game so far this season. Making his rookie debut against a defensive tackle of Williams’ caliber is less than ideal, especially considering how bad Geno Smith and the offense has played so far this season. All this is likely bad news for the Raiders, while it’s a situation that Williams and the rest of the Cowboys defense is probably relishing.
Williams has a real chance at being a game-wrecker this week against the Raiders banged up interior on offensive line. This should particularly be concerning to Smith, who has currently thrown the second-most interceptions (12) and has been sacked 27 times (fourth-most). With Williams wreaking havoc from the interior, Smith is bound to make a mistake or two adding to his INT or sack total.
This is an intriguing matchup that would be worth monitoring to see how it all plays out when these two teams square off against one another on Monday Night Football. Williams has a real shot of altering the game in the Cowboys favor almost all by himself this week against him banged up Raiders OL. But, everyone else around him should benefit as well.
If Williams is as dominant as we believe he will be this week, it should send a positive ripple effect throughout the rest of the defense. Dallas’ new-look defense has a real shot of improving things dramatically on that side of the ball and their new All-Pro DT is probably someone who will lead the charge. It’s going to be really interesting to see exactly what kind of player the Cowboys acquired prior to the trade deadline.
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