Every year around this time, we’re reminded of just how ridiculous the NFL’s rules around the use of injury reserve have become. We just saw it with some of the Cowboys’ latest maneuvers, cutting veterans for less than 24 hours for some IR maneuvering. It’s become a convoluted maze of loopholes, not only creating confusion […] Every year around this time, we’re reminded of just how ridiculous the NFL’s rules around the use of injury reserve have become. We just saw it with some of the Cowboys’ latest maneuvers, cutting veterans for less than 24 hours for some IR maneuvering. It’s become a convoluted maze of loopholes, not only creating confusion but also undercutting the integrity of one of the purest ideas in sports: making the team. To its credit, the league has become increasingly responsive to concerns about player safety and overall health. There was a time when moving a player to IR was an automatic season-ender, and then another point where only two guys could return from IR during the year, provided they were part of the initial 53-man roster after final cuts and designated for early return. Layers of new rules and exceptions have continued to be built on this process. Now, teams can return eight players from IR throughout the season and don’t have to designate them in advance. Recently, the rules now allow for two players who were placed on IR during training camp or preseason to also be eligible for a mid-season return. The Cowboys intend to utilize this provision with WR Jonathan Mingo and DE Payton Turner, who are recovering from recent injuries but are expected to return by October. But those weren’t the only injured Cowboys coming out of the summer. RB Phil Mafah and CB Caelen Carson are also banged up, with Carson having missed all of August with a knee issue. Dallas wants the option to bring them back during the year, though, so it required a brief period of roster gymnastics. To be eligible to return, Carson and Mafah had to be carried on the roster through final cuts. Then, this happened: Before Tuesday’s 4 pm ET deadline, Adeniji and Goodwin had been released to help Dallas get down to the 53-man limit. But once waivers were processed on Wednesday, Dallas immediately re-signed the veterans after moving the young prospects to injured reserve. Clearly, as has happened with Goodwin multiple times now over the last few years, they were released with a wink and full understanding that it was a temporary formality. So the big question here is, “Why?” If teams have to go to all this trouble to circumvent the rule, and it’s allowed, then why have the rule? Why does it matter if a player got hurt during OTAs or a preseason game? Why does it matter if they were on the roster on August 26th and gone on the 27th? Isn’t this getting pretty silly? This entire system is based on the longstanding goal of preventing teams from abusing IR, using it to retain extra players they don’t want to lose but also don’t have room for in the current year. As we mentioned before, the NFL has softened on this with increasing awareness of the long-term ramifications of playing through injuries, even supposedly minor ones. That’s also why practice squads have now ballooned to 16 spots, double what they were just 20 years ago. But if Mafah and Carson are actually hurt enough to justify being on IR, which is a different debate, then why not just let them be placed there just like Mingo and Turner? If teams are just going to shake hands with veteran journeyman to go through this one-day farce of a transaction, what’s the point? For that matter, as long as the medical reports are going to be trusted, then why put so many restraints on the overall process? Every year, some teams have worse injury luck than others. And as we know, injuries are a prevalent part of football, and players have become increasingly self-protective. Limiting teams’ ability to navigate injuries, whether it’s through restrictions on the use of IR, or even the reduced active spots on gameday rosters, feels increasingly antiquated. Beyond adapting to the modern appreciation for sports medicine and health, there’s the integrity of the game component. Historically, one of the most impactful parts of the “Hard Knocks” series is in that final episode when some guys make it and some guys don’t. All summer long, these guys fight for a place on the roster. Hakeem Adeniji earned his way to being the backup right tackle, and having to spend a night unemployed just cheapens that accomplishment. After an offseason of coaches trying to push culture and camaraderie, it’s a generally unnecessary reminder of the business side of the NFL. Of course, the Adenijis, Goodwins, and many other veterans who played their part this week probably aren’t that bothered. It is just business, after all, and they didn’t lose a penny in the process. But for as much as the modern fan sees the fourth wall, whatever small ways we can preserve some innocence and even the perception of purity is worth considering. Even if you don’t care about such things, just do it in the name of logic and efficiency. No matter how you spin it, it’s just not worth the hassle. 0 CommentsSee More: General

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a contract extension with cornerback DaRon Bland. According to reports it is a four-year extension worth $92M. The world of the Dallas Cowboys is still processing the trade of pass rusher Micah Parsons that happened on Thursday, but in the aftermath of it the front office pledged to use […] The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a contract extension with cornerback DaRon Bland. According to reports it is a four-year extension worth $92M. The world of the Dallas Cowboys is still processing the trade of pass rusher Micah Parsons that happened on Thursday, but in the aftermath of it the front office pledged to use their savings from it (as in from the contract that they did not give Parsons) on other would-be extensions and players in free agency next year. We can give them their legitimate flowers on this. They did so and only took a couple of days to get on the board in that capacity. Bland is a playler who it has made sense to get a deal done with for some time now. A fifth-round pick in 2022, Bland was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract for the team. He first became eligible for a new deal this offseason and while Dallas got it done with just four days to go before the season starts, this is the type of thing we have asked of generally. Get these extensions done in the earliest window possible so as to prevent future problems. Everyone remembers the 2023 season in which DaRon Bland set the NFL record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown. He did this after fellow cornerback Trevon Diggs was lost for the season very early on, a domino falling that led to Bland kicking to the outside. It remains to be seen what is going to happen with Diggs this season, in terms of when he will make his debut, but the Cowboys have seemed intent on playing Bland in the slot (this all seems to cast even more doubt on Diggs’ long-term future with the team). Maybe that is the vision for him long-term with this extension, with Shavon Revel (when he is healthy as well) playing along the outside with someone else. The Cowboys do have a lot of draft capital in the wake of the Parsons trade, after all. Bland’s APY is $23M per year on the extension, but obviously we need to see what things look like once the specifics of the contract come out. That comes in north of A.J. Terrell, but still south of Patrick Surtain. As we say all of the time. there is a financial benefit to getting these things done in the earliest possible timeframe (generally speaking) and likely leads to a larger willingness to work from the player side. There is still a lot going on, not to mention a game to play on Thursday, but this is a very good thing. 0 CommentsSee More:

The Dallas Cowboys are trying to recapture the magic they had during their dynasty run in the 1990s and what they had during the 2014-2018 run. They are trying to make the offensive line the nucleus of their team. This has proven to be a recipe for success in recent years, with most of the […] The Dallas Cowboys are trying to recapture the magic they had during their dynasty run in the 1990s and what they had during the 2014-2018 run. They are trying to make the offensive line the nucleus of their team. This has proven to be a recipe for success in recent years, with most of the Super Bowl teams (Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, etc) in recent history boasting some of the NFL’s best offensive line groups. With a renewed emphasis on running the ball, teams around the league not only want their linemen to be great pass protectors, but to be big road graders as well. Enter Tyler Booker from Alabama, a big mauling guard who showed in one preseason game he could be a force in the middle for Dallas. Dallas is also doing something unconventional with what they have done to their offensive line room in the past. They are opting to go young at the position across the board. Among their five starting linemen, Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, and Terence Steele, the average age is 24.2. Even if you add the rest of the group from the initial 53-man roster in Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Nathan Thomas, and Ajani Cornelius, the average age is still 24.4. The Cowboys did sign Hakeem Adeniji to the roster after moving players around on Wednesday, which brings the average age of the entire group to 24.8. They have now also added guard Trevor Keegan, who is in his second NFL season. Outside of the 90s, the last time Dallas’ big men up front were considered the best in the NFL was in 2014 and 2016. Even with young players along the line, the average age of the starters was 24.8 and 26.6, respectively. This is close to what Dallas has today, but this is by far one of the youngest groups we have seen with the Cowboys at this position in a long time. The recent departures of Zack Martin and Tyron Smith over the last few seasons alone significantly reduced the number, but Dallas has emphasized having at least a few veteran linemen on the game-day roster in case of emergencies or injuries. In 2023, when Tyler Smith missed the start of the season, Mike McCarthy and the staff turned to Chuma Edoga, who was in his fifth season. In 2022, ageless wonder Jason Peters, at 40, started in the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Terence Steele was lost for the year with a knee injury. As of right now, the Cowboys are going in the opposite direction with the uncertainty around Guyton and his status for Week 1. If he ends up missing Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thomas is slated to start right now in his place after taking first-team reps during training camp. The second-year tackle has yet to start an NFL game in his career. Having youth at a position is a sign of inexperience, but it should not be considered a lack of talent. The young duo behind the starters, Hoffman and Bass, have started a combined 14 games with Dallas, and their continuity in the offensive system should not be overlooked. Beebe and Guyton got their fair share of bumps and bruises last year, but being thrust into a starting role immediately should have helped expedite their development heading into year two. Brian Schottenheimer’s strategy of going with a youthful offensive line will face two significant tests right away, starting on opening night against the Philadelphia Eagles and continuing in Week 2 against the New York Giants, who have a revamped defensive line. Both teams boast some of the best defensive fronts in the league. If Dallas can show physicality and athleticism against the reigning champs and start the season 2-0, the team could be in for a better season than expected. If everything falls apart and Dak Prescott is sacked two straight weeks, like he was against the Atlanta Falcons in 2017, then Schottenheimer may need to reconsider the approach. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster

Micah Parsons has been sorely missed by Cowboys defense, now he’s gone for good – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire Sans Micah Parsons less is… well, less. Micah Parsons’ days are done in Dallas. Following a tumultuous negotiation period, the Cowboys ultimately decided enough was enough and sent their star All-Pro pass rusher packing to the land of […] Micah Parsons has been sorely missed by Cowboys defense, now he’s gone for good – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire Sans Micah Parsons less is… well, less. Micah Parsons’ days are done in Dallas. Following a tumultuous negotiation period, the Cowboys ultimately decided enough was enough and sent their star All-Pro pass rusher packing to the land of cheese, pine trees, and Chicagoland vacation homes.Cowboys fans overwhelmingly landed on the outraged side of the situation, calling Parsons a generational player and impossible to replace. Looking at the Cowboys defense, it’s hard to argue to the contrary. Parsons hasn’t just been the best defender on the team, but he’s arguably been the best defender in the entire NFL. He’s been a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate who’s typically led the league in pass rushing efficiency.His impact isn’t just reflected in his own stat sheet, but stats across the defense. The Cowboys’ defense has been overwhelmingly better with Parsons on the field because of the gravity he pulls. According to Bill Barnwell, the Cowboys are the top ranked defense in the NFL, by EPA standards, when Parsons is on the field. When he’s on the sideline, Dallas is the second worst. It’s something that’s not likely to change anytime soon because NFL defenses are trending in a direction that supports it. Look no further than the reemergence of 2-high coverages. Over the past few years NFL defenses have moved away from the old. Seattle single-high model and towards a Vic Fangio 2-high scheme. Teams have found packing the secondary with coverage and placing shells over the top has been far more fruitful than filling all the gaps and crowding the line of scrimmage. This coverage focused direction means fewer players rush the passer. That’s especially true for Matt Eberflus, Dallas’ new defensive coordinator. Eberflus doesn’t blitz often and when he does it’s only with one additional pass rusher. Like most of today’s coverage-focused defenses, he relies on the individual play of the four upfront to provide most of the pressure. Schemes such as this make elite players extra valuable since they are reliant on winning individual battles. That’s why trading Parsons is such a head scratcher.Parsons was a player who demanded double-teams and still won. Without him those double-teams will fall onto the shoulders of players who struggled to just win their one-on-ones. 3 Dallas Cowboys Trade Targets after Micah Parsons move – Mark Heaney, Inside the Star Who the Cowboys could add with the trade capital afforded to them after the Parsons trade. Micah Parsons just exposed Jerry and Stephen Jones in the worst possible way -Luke Norris, The Landry Hat Parsons reveals how Jones’ conducted bad business with him prior to the trade. The long-running contract dispute between the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons finally came to an end on Thursday, as Jerry Jones, who stated less than a week earlier that he had no intentions of trading his disgruntled superstar, did just that, shipping the four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to the Green Bay Packers. In return, America’s Team received a 2026 first-round draft selection, a 2027 first-rounder, and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, whom Green Bay took in the first round of the 2016 draft with the 27th overall pick. Both players involved in the deal spoke with the media on Friday, with each explaining how they found out what had transpired. Clark says he was getting his daughter some ice cream when he got the news. He admitted to being taken aback at first, but says it sank in when he got a phone call. “I was shocked, but once Jerry [Jones] and all those guys called me, Schotty and everybody, I just felt wanted. It’s a blessing, I’m appreciative of it,” Clark said. So, Clark gets a phone call that includes Jerry Jones, as he should, and that’s great. Parsons, meanwhile, had his introductory press conference on Friday for the Packers and was asked how he found out. More specifically, he was asked if he had been informed by either Jerry or Stephen Jones, or if he had received the news from his agent, David Mulugheta, to which Parsons replied, “Pretty much all through David,” and simply shrugged his shoulders. So, no phone call from Jerry (or Stephen) for Micah. Yeah, that’s about right. I mean, so much of this saga over the last few months centered around the fact that there was no communication between the two sides for months. So, why would anyone, especially Parsons himself, expect the end of said saga to be any different? As Parsons tells it, he and Jones met back in the spring to discuss leadership. As one would expect, the subject of Parsons’ contract extension came up, but Micah never felt that it was a formal negotiation and told Jones that Mulugheta would be reaching out to “get things done.” But when Mulugheta reached out, the Cowboys just didn’t respond. And things just got worse and worse from there. With the lack of communication and absolutely zero progress, Parsons ultimately requested a trade. And while both sides did plenty of talking in the media about the situation, they failed to do any talking with each other, at least not until things reached a boiling point. Despite Jerry Jones’ shenanigans, the Cowboys emerge with a meaningful purpose – Dan Rogers, Blogging the Boys A different look at the trade beyond the doom and gloom. There was once a time when Jerry Jones was a big gambler. His risk-taking ways that made him millions in the oil business transferred over to his football decisions after buying the Dallas Cowboys in

The Dallas Cowboys made a move so shocking that it was momentarily paralyzing. A move that some would deem as unthinkable. Dallas traded away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Parsons is a star pass rusher nearing the prime of his career, and trading him to one of the team’s biggest rivals, Green Bay, […] The Dallas Cowboys made a move so shocking that it was momentarily paralyzing. A move that some would deem as unthinkable. Dallas traded away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Parsons is a star pass rusher nearing the prime of his career, and trading him to one of the team’s biggest rivals, Green Bay, is all the more stunning. Parsons has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his first four NFL seasons and has been named an All-Pro in two of them. In his short career, he has racked up a staggering 52.5 sacks, good for the sixth-most all-time in that span behind names like Reggie White, J.J. Watt, and Derrick Thomas. Although Green Bay sent the Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a multi-Pro Bowler himself, and two first-round picks for Parsons, it still doesn’t feel like enough compensation for a player of Parsons’ caliber. The question is, why? Why would Jerry Jones do this? Simple: Jerry Jones has to do it his way or not at all. As has been famously highlighted throughout the years, and featured in Netflix’s recent documentary, the rift between Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones was the prelude to the end of the Dallas dynasty of the 1990s, and whether you side with Johnson or Jones as to who was right, the only opinion that truly matters and carries weight is of Jones himself, who serves he team’s owner and general manager. Jones had a way of doing business that didn’t work for Johnson, and Jones, unwilling to cede to his coach, parted ways with a coach that had won him two Super Bowls. In over the 30 years since, Jones’ hubris and self-righteousness have gotten worse, despite the team not winning a championship since the 1995 season, and this has caused the Cowboys to seemingly jog in place over the past three decades. Jones’ approach has only been exacerbated by the team’s rising value, now $13B as of this year, and perhaps vindication for himself. To make matters worse, his son Stephen became a more prominent figure in the team’s operations, often echoing his father’s business tactics but also senselessly justifying them as well. As for the Parsons trade itself, the cost of the contract shouldn’t really be a major factor if you think about it. The rest of the NFL has proven that contracts and salary cap figures can be moved around to make the pricy agreements work. Granted, had Parsons received his asking price, a deal would have been done, and everything would have been water under the bridge. Except, it wasn’t being conducted on Jones’ terms and how he likes to do business. In a sit down with ESPN’s Stephen A Smith, Jones cited having to be “comfortable” about the cost, which speaks more to his personal sentiments as a businessman than NFL owner, and doesn’t align with how contracts are ironed out in today’s NFL. On the Ross Tucker Podcast, Andrew Brandt, a longtime sports agent who negotiated contracts for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, weighed in on what Jones tried to do with Parsons: It appears that Jones tried to circumvent Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta, and had a handshake deal with Parsons without the agent present. Unfortunately, that blew up in Jones’ face, and with Jones no longer wanting to play ball with Parsons and his representation, became what was the last straw and the trade was made. More than anything, the decision to trade Parsons is about Jones wanting to exert control and send a message that he still is the head honcho at the board room table. Jones had made it a routine to drag out contract negotiations with his premier players, such as CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dak Prescott, before deals were struck, but not before leaking the contract figures and using the media to frame the player as asking for too much or being greedy. A way of Jones putting pressure on the player but making it seem like the ball was in the player’s court, very similar to Stephen Jones saying last month that Parsons has to want to be paid. What happened to Parsons feels strikingly familiar to when the Cowboys approached Tyron Smith in 2014 about a new eight-year, 110M contract without his agent being present. Smith didn’t sign the proposed the contract on the spot, and opted to speak with his presentation before taking the deal anyway. “Late last week, the Cowboys approached me with a deal I told my agents I wanted to sign,” Smith said in a statement released by his marketing firm. “My agents explained the pros and cons of this deal versus one that may be shorter term and/or higher guarantee. After careful consideration, I decided this long term deal was exactly what I wanted. “Over the past three years, the Cowboys organization and Jones Family have helped me through trying times and I felt this was my opportunity to return the gratitude. I am beyond grateful for the Cowboys staff, my teammates, and the fans, and wanted to ensure I was locked in as a ‘Cowboy for Life.’ I want to thank everyone for their support and look forward to having a star on my helmet for the remainder of my career.” Two different players, with two different players personality, resulting in wildly different outcomes. Jones has to understand that the days of old aren’t the way things are done anymore and a handshake deal or number written on the back of a dinner napkin is made for TV like his Netflix special. Ultimately, Jones drew a hard line in the sand, asking

Thanks to their trading of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers this week, the Dallas Cowboys are currently set to have multiple first-round selections in back-to-back NFL drafts for the first time in quite a while. We are saying that they are set to have them because by the time it comes down to […] Thanks to their trading of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers this week, the Dallas Cowboys are currently set to have multiple first-round selections in back-to-back NFL drafts for the first time in quite a while. We are saying that they are set to have them because by the time it comes down to making selections, it is possible that Dallas could have moved around. You know how that goes. Assuming the Cowboys make multiple picks in the first round it will mark the first time that they do that in almost two decades. You obviously saw the title of this post and know that the last time this happened was 2008. The Cowboys picked 22nd and 25th in that NFL Draft and took Felix Jones (Arkansas) and Mike Jenkins (South Florida), respectively, with the selections. In case you are curious, the first pick in question (22 overall) came to Dallas by way of the Cleveland Browns during the first round the year prior. Cleveland jumped up to Dallas’ spot to take Notre Dame’s Brady Quinn and sent their 2008 first-rounder as part of the package to do so. As noted the Cowboys will theoretically have multiple picks in the first round in consecutive seasons which gives them the opportunity to add a lot of firepower to the future of the team. While neither the Felix Jones nor Mike Jenkins picks worked out wonderfully, we shouldn’t read into the quality of those selections as they were basically a generation ago. Much has changed for the Cowboys and their draft process since. Still, it is quite interesting how long it has been since Dallas took home more than one player in the first round of an NFL Draft. All we have to do is wait about seven months to see how it goes. 11 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Draft

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan has passed away. He was 84 years old. The Cowboys announced the news on social media on Saturday and noted Lee Roy Jordan’s place within franchise history. For anyone unaware, the Cowboys became who they were in the early days of the franchise partly because of the play […] Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Lee Roy Jordan has passed away. He was 84 years old. The Cowboys announced the news on social media on Saturday and noted Lee Roy Jordan’s place within franchise history. For anyone unaware, the Cowboys became who they were in the early days of the franchise partly because of the play of Lee Roy Jordan. He was one of the most ferocious linebackers in his era. He starred for the Alabama Crimson Tide at the collegiate level where he won a National Championship. As the Cowboys noted in their statement, Lee Roy Jordan was the first person who Jerry Jones enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor. You cannot quantify the impact that he made on the Cowboys in the beginning of the franchise’s existence. He helped the organization find stability and was one of the cornerstones of Tom Landry’s Doomsday Defense. Lee Roy Jordan was a part of the first Cowboys team to win the Super Bowl (Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season) and will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to wear the uniform. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones. May he rest in peace. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys History

Giants budding superstar taking on leadership role in year 2 – Matthew Legros, Empire Sports Media New York’s WR1 wants to improve in his leadership this season. New York Giants standout wide receiver Malik Nabers is ready to be more of a leader in 2025. Giants: Malik Nabers wants to do more as a leader next […] New York’s WR1 wants to improve in his leadership this season. New York Giants standout wide receiver Malik Nabers is ready to be more of a leader in 2025. Giants: Malik Nabers wants to do more as a leader next season With 10 days remaining until the start of the new NFL season, Nabers stated how he intends to prod himself to make more of an impact with his teammates (per Big Blue View’s Sam Kirk): “It’s not natural, personally, but sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone,” Nabers said of being a vocal leader. “If we want everything to go right this season, your best players have to do those things.” Nabers’ outspoken rookie season forecasts leadership capabilities Though Nabers attests to struggling with vocal leadership, he was not shy to sound off to the media when things went awry with the Giants last year. The LSU product boldly called out Giants head coach Brian Daboll after he was not targeted until the second half of their blowout 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 of last season. That highlights the strong overtones that many of his comments to the media have. On the field, his play does the talking, exemplified by his 1,204 receiving yards as a rookie. Now, his teammates are seeing what he’s capable of from a leadership standpoint ahead of Week 1, as fellow Giants pass-catcher Darius Slayton attested to (per New York Giants on SI’s Patricia Traina): “I think he’s grown a lot in his routine, his habits, and trying to lead when he can. He’s grown a lot in those areas, which are some of the most important ones,” Slayton raved. Thus, New York figures to have another talent alongside Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson who can steer the Giants toward more wins next season with a culture they can build upon. Commanders’ duo of Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin reunites on the practice field – Associated Press Despite the offseason contract saga, McLaurin and Daniels haven’t missed a beat. ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels publicly supported Terry McLaurin’s case for a new contract extension. As he now aids the Washington Commanders top receiver’s expedited ramp-up period before Week 1, the franchise quarterback offers more than words. “Whatever we have to do to get ready for Week 1,” Daniels said Thursday of helping McLaurin’s acclimation period after skipping training camp because of a contract dispute that was resolved earlier this week. The QB was all smiles discussing the return of his most popular playmaker, given that he spent camp without his two projected starting outside receivers. Noah Brown missed significant time with a knee injury, while McLaurin, entering the final year of his current deal, pushed for an extension. McLaurin got it Monday, a contract through 2028 valued at up to $96 million, signed Tuesday and got back on the field Wednesday to resume preparations for the season opener Sept. 7 against the New York Giants. Washington’s offense, fifth in scoring at 28.5 points per game last season, paved the way to making the playoffs and reaching the franchise’s first NFC championship game appearance since the 1991 season. The passing duo of Daniels, the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and McLaurin, a second-team All-Pro, provided the spark. During McLaurin’s return on Wednesday after missing all of camp and some offseason workouts, he made an over-the-shoulder catch that was reminiscent of special moments from last season. “It’s like riding a bike,” McLaurin told Daniels. The on-field absence — McLaurin was with the team after turning his four-day hold out into a hold-in — didn’t sway Daniels’ level of trust when throwing to the two-time Pro Bowler. “I don’t think that changes,” Daniels said. “Same amount of trust.” Spadaro: Tyler Steen earns his locker stall and a major shakeup in Dallas – Dave Spadaro, PhiladelphiaEagles.com Steen will be able to breathe a sigh of relief for his matchup on Thursday. With the 2025 regular season just seven days away, some notes as the Eagles focus in on Dallas and the NFL’s first game of the season on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. This has been a staple of the Eagles’ locker room at the NovaCare Complex for years: In the far right back corner, the starting offensive line has its lockers lined up, left to right. Farthest away is left tackle Jordan Mailata. Next to him is left guard Landon Dickerson’s locker. Next to him, center Cam Jurgens. At the very end, right tackle Lane Johnson. The lone empty spot has been filled, and with that, Tyler Steen is smiling. He is the starting right guard heading into Thursday’s regular-season opener against Dallas and he is darn pleased with the work he’s put in, the progress he has made, and the play he has shown this spring and summer. Steen, a third-year player from Alabama, has a high level of confidence with the opener ahead. “Very confident,” Steen said on Thursday afternoon. “I’m really confident in the guys we have in that room. I plan to lean on those guys. Just make sure we communicate well and that we’re on the same page and I think everything will go well.” And now he’s starting at right guard for the Eagles with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town next week. He’s in the starting locker, after all. “That’s cool. The starting five, all on that side of the locker room. Cool,” he said. “I plan on staying there. I stayed focused on putting my best foot forward every day. I wasn’t concerned on winning the job or whatever. I just

Just a day after the Dallas Cowboys cut their roster down to 53 players, they made more moves on Wednesday. One such move saw rookie running back Phil Mafah added to the injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he’ll have to miss at least four games before he can return. That means the […] Just a day after the Dallas Cowboys cut their roster down to 53 players, they made more moves on Wednesday. One such move saw rookie running back Phil Mafah added to the injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning he’ll have to miss at least four games before he can return. That means the Cowboys will have just three running backs on the roster to start the year: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue. Hunter Luepke is also there, though he’ll likely be used more at fullback and tight end. After ending the preseason with just as much uncertainty around the running back rotation as the start of training camp, the Cowboys have now made things perfectly clear with their roster decisions the past couple of days. Each new week of camp brought with it the growing suspicion that Williams was going to be the first one up to bat in the run game. He’s received the most first team reps of anyone in practices, and was the only running back on the roster to not play a single snap in the preseason. He seems likely to be given the lion’s share of carries early on this season. Sanders once seemed to be in the same boat, given his veteran status, but a poor performance in his lone preseason performance may have shifted things. His skillset is similar to that of Blue, as both are more slender, athletic runners with plus ability catching the ball out of the backfield. Were it not for Blue’s injury that kept him out of the first two preseason games, and then ended his third one prematurely, it’s possible that Sanders would have been cut on Tuesday as a redundancy for Blue. That’s something to keep in the back of our minds for when Mafah is ready to return from the injured reserve, too. As it stands now, though, it seems like Williams will be the top back with Sanders likely being relied on for running ability outside the tackles and in pass-catching scenarios. Blue will undoubtedly get some work, too, but the coaching staff may introduce him into the offense gradually due to 1) being a rookie and 2) having had less time than others in the preseason. Of course, we also know from practices in camp that Brian Schottenheimer intends to utilize KaVontae Turpin at running back for some select plays. Turpin is unlikely to ever carry the ball more than five times in a game, but his utilization there also adds complexity to this rotation. It’s still fair to wonder if this rotation will even work out. Neither Williams nor Sanders have been reliable starting running backs in quite some time, and Blue may not be ready for a heavy workload right out the gate. We haven’t even seen Williams play a snap of real football with a star on his helmet, after all. Nevertheless, we now at least have an idea of how the carry distribution will go in Week 1. 0 CommentsSee More: Dallas Cowboys Roster