Cowboys RG Zack Martin misses practice with a back injury :: ProFootballTalk
Martin missed a second straight day of practice on Thursday. Wednesday was his usual load-management day, but now there’s a back injury listed on the report. Trevon Diggs missed Thursday’s work, too; his designation is for an ankle injury as well as illness. Linebackers Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil both missed a second consecutive day.
DaRon Bland ‘can’t wait’ for debut of Cowboys’ CB hydra with Diggs, Lewis :: The Mothership
The three-headed CB monster of Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, and Jourdan Lewis has never taken the field with all three as starters. That might change Sunday, as Bland seems to be on track to return from foot fracture. “I feel pretty good, but as far as coming back, time will tell,” he said with a smile. Bland’s practice window opened on Wednesday; the team has until Oct. 30 to make an official decision on his status.
Why has CeeDee Lamb’s production dropped in the second halves of Cowboys games? :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
In the first halves of games, Lamb has hauled in a total of 21 receptions for 353 yards. After intermission, though, just four receptions for 25 yards. “What happens is we pop off early on and no one wants to see that in the second half of the game,” Lamb said on Thursday. “[Opponents] do a great job of making halftime adjustments. Nine times out of 10, I’m getting clouded. Kudos to them; they’re doing a great job of stopping the bleeding.” Lamb ripped Detroit last time they met, hauling in 13 receptions for a career-high 227 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown reception.
The Cowboys’ run game showed signs of life — they need Rico Dowdle to keep building :: The Athletic
Dowdle’s career day in Week 5 included better production after halftime. “When we had to run the ball in the second half, we were able to do that,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “That’s a sign that there’s progress. We’re feeling better about the combinations, the running game.” That’s what the Cowboys need from their running game. It’s not about the gaudy stats; it’s about being able to run the ball when they need to. That could be in short-yardage situations. It could be in the red zone. It could be in the four-minute offense, trying to milk the clock at the end of the game. The Cowboys’ offense is predicated on the passing game being the main character, but the running game has to at least be on stage.
Ezekiel Elliott has talked to coaches about lack of use :: Clarence Hill Jr.
Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle can make franchise history on Sunday against the Lions :: Blogging the Boys
It may seem improbable, but no Cowboys running back has ever gone three straight games with a receiving touchdown. (And it’s only happened in back-to-back games 15 times total.) Dowdle had one against the Giants and one against the Steelers; if he hauls in a scoring grab versus Detroit on Sunday, he’ll etch his name into the franchise record books.
The kids game Cowboys need to use in order to beat the Lions :: Cowboys Wire
Remember playing keep away on the playground? With a worn-down and injury-depleted defense, the Cowboys’ best chance at beating Detroit in Week 6 is to control the ball. The Lions have allowed 20 or more points in all but one game this year, so there’s definitely an opportunity for Dak Prescott and the offense to dictate the flow of the game. A shootout won’t work in Dallas’s favor.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott not pleased with attention from demolition of Prosper mansion :: Dallas Morning News
Prescott bristled after videos circulated online of his 8,800-square foot home being demolished to make way for a new one. “It’s crazy the coverage it got, just being frank,” he explained. “Trying to keep my personal life my personal life, build a home or a place or have a property that I’m about to raise a daughter and a family there, I truly don’t appreciate the drones, the extra videos, and honestly, the conversation of it… Enough said.”
2024 NFL Week 6 QB Power Rankings: Lamar Jackson takes over top spot; Jayden Daniels approaches top five :: NFL.com
He threw two ugly picks against Pittsburgh, but he also fired pinpoint bullets in crunch time to win a big game on the road in a hostile environment. As a result, Prescott climbs three spots in this week’s rankings; he currently stands as the No. 10 quarterback entering Week 6. Detroit’s Jared Goff, who was a perfect 18-for-18 in his last outing, has great options in the pass game and can hit them all when he’s protected. He sits at 14th.
Cowboys staring at golden opportunity to rewrite these narratives with Week 6 win over Lions :: Cowboys Wire
Quality opponents from outside the NFC East have posed real problems for the Cowboys over the past few seasons. They’re no good against tough, physical teams. They have no home-field advantage. They are incapable of stopping the run. The defense is too decimated to match up with a foe boasting legitimate offensive weapons. Some of those things are true; some are just popular narratives that have gained traction. A win Sunday to move to 4-2 at the bye would go a long way in silencing those storylines.
NFL TV coverage maps and announcers for Week 6: Will you get to watch Cowboys-Lions? :: Cowboys Wire
This weekend’s showdown with Detroit shares Fox’s late-Sunday window with only one other game. Viewers in Georgia, the Carolinas, the majority of Alabama, and tiny patches of Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida will get Falcons/Panthers; everyone else will see Lions/Cowboys. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will be on the call.
Steelers’ George Pickens dismisses questions on explicit eye black :: ESPN
The Pittsburgh wide receiver is claiming ignorance regarding the explicit message he displayed on his eye black last week versus Dallas. “Never seen it before,” he said of the league’s policy against personal, unapproved messages displayed by players during games. Pickens could be fined for the message, not to mention his blatant facemask takedown of Jourdan Lewis after time expired in the Cowboys’ 20-17 win.
