Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images Good for Mike McCarthy for saying this. Mike McCarthy has never been one to criticize others, let alone his own boss, but the Cowboys head coach made some comments in his press conference on Thursday that raised some eyebrows. When asked about trying to set a standard for the season, McCarthy had this to say: “I, personally, as a head coach would really… you know, when you’re signing veterans in camp and you’re doing things at the end, I think that’s a pretty big challenge that doesn’t… because it’s happened more this year, it seems, that I haven’t been exposed to as much. I think if you can have everybody here in April, when that draft’s over and you line up and you’ve got that 90 man roster, if you can get to work on continuity and consistency, I think that’s a huge factor in the start of your season.” It’s not hard to see what McCarthy is referring to here. The Cowboys added veteran defensive tackles Linval Joseph and Jordan Phillips in August, right in the middle of the preseason. Nick Vigil, a key special teamer who’s seen defensive snaps in half of the Cowboys’ games this year, was signed right at the start of August. And Dalvin Cook – who’s played the last two weeks, albeit sparingly – was added to the practice squad once the preseason had wrapped up, which only extended the ramp up period for him. McCarthy specifically mentions the period right after the draft as the ideal time to have a full 90-man roster in place. The Cowboys had their undrafted free agent class finalized by May 8 this past year. At that point, they had 81 players on their roster. They added two players in June and three more in July, but did not travel to Oxnard with a full 90-man roster. As McCarthy notes, this is not the norm in the NFL and not even the norm for the Cowboys. Since McCarthy has been in Dallas, the team has never started training camp with more than two open spots on their roster, and when they do it’s because they had players they were working out in Oxnard who signed shortly thereafter. Not only is this harmful to a team’s ability to build continuity, as McCarthy says, but it also puts a team behind the eight ball to start the season off. And, as McCarthy went on to explain, starting the year off right is key: “If you can just get started in September, because September, to me, is the best opportunity to win games. I personally think the quality of football is the best, in my coaching career, in September. So to me, from experience, I think there’s more opportunities to win. So if you can at least get out of the gate and get started – and I think having all your people there in April helps you…” McCarthy then goes on to mention injuries and how the timing of those injuries have pushed rookies into action sooner than they normally would, but the underlying point remains. McCarthy’s philosophy is that wins are easier to come by in September, which tracks with his own experience: in Green Bay, McCarthy was 29-15-1 in September while going 7-5 in September with the Cowboys prior to this year. But after the slow start to this offseason, Dallas went 2-2 in September with a -7 point differential. This isn’t exactly breaking news to anyone, though, as it’s been a fairly popular opinion all offseason that Jerry and Stephen Jones were setting McCarthy up for failure in the final year of his contract. It’s a little surprising to see McCarthy subtly hint at that, though, and outline in detail how the front office’s lackadaisical approach this offseason put the Cowboys at a disadvantage before a down had even been played.
Did Eagles lie about a Jalen Hurts injury ahead of clash with Cowboys?
Did Eagles lie about a Jalen Hurts injury ahead of clash with Cowboys? Todd Brock Even in a season when both teams are playing below their standard, the Cowboys and Eagles always bring a little extra juice when they face off. Trash talk and bulletin-board quotes are common in the days leading up to the next installment of the rivalry. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni even let his wardrobe do the smack-slinging back in 2018. This year, though, it appears he may have crossed the line from motivational tactics and strategic gamesmanship to flat-out lying about the health of one of his star players ahead of Sunday’s matchup in Arlington. Sirianni had a head-scratching exchange with the Philadelphia media on Friday regarding quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had been listed as “limited” on the first practice report of the week. Sirianni was asked about it, and things got confusing in a hurry. “Yeah, you know, he’s dealing with the– it was on the injury report– dealing with the ankle,” Sirianni began. “Just making sure we’re precautious [sic] with everything.” Except that’s not what was on the injury report. “Rest” had been the official reason given for Hurts’s limited participationon Wednesday, not an ankle injury. Though a day off for “load management” is common for many veteran players- including several Cowboys- it was apparently rare for Hurts to have received the classification, prompting the original inquiry. After a stunned and awkward silence to Sirianni’s answer, several Philadelphia media members followed up at once, with one finally reminding the coach that Hurts wasn’t listed with an ankle issue. Sirianni was asked to confirm: “I’m sorry. Jalen Hurts: it was an ankle injury?” “What’s that?” Sirianni asked, looking off to the side to a team PR representative. That individual answered, “It was a rest.” And Sirianni’s story suddenly changed. “It was a rest, yeah. Yeah,” the coach offered before continuing, “Sorry, I thought you were talking about somebody else. All right.” It was even more thoroughly unconvincing to those in the room than it reads in a transcript. Despite Sirianni’s attempt to quickly move on, the media pressed. “Is Jalen dealing with an ankle problem, then?” “Unh-unh,” Sirianni said with a showy shake of the head and a smirky grin, to the laughter of the assembled reporters. “No. Rest,” he said with extra emphasis. It certainly seemed as though Sirianni was more forthcoming with his original answer than perhaps the team meant for him to be and then tried to walk it back in order to stick to the agreed-upon version. The Athletic‘s Eagles beat writer Brooks Kubena posted on X shortly thereafter that Hurts was warming up on a separate field from the team’s other quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee. A few minutes later, though, Hurts was seen taking a snap, dropping back, and following through on a throw. He did not appear to be hobbled in the eight-second video clip posted by NBC reporter Dave Zangaro. Hurts was listed as a full participant on Thursday’s report as well as Friday’s. But ESPN’s Tim McManus notes that, according to his league source, Hurts has, in fact, been dealing with a mild ankle issue “for a couple weeks.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The quarterback has rushed for 322 yards in eight games this season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Of his eight rushing touchdowns in 2024, six have come over the last three weeks. He tried to laugh it off in the moment, but Sirianni’s apparent slip-up on Friday could invite a league investigation. If the team is found to have violated the NFL’s clearly-stated policy by withholding a bona fide injury (even minor), there could be fines or other punishment meted out. In any case, it sounds as if Hurts may not be 100% heading into Sunday’s clash with the Cowboys. And in this rivalry, any little edge could loom large for either team. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Buy/Sell Cowboys players in matchup against Eagles
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Dallas may not be favored this Sunday against Philadelphia, but what players do you think can have individual success? Sunday’s projected to be another dark one for the Dallas Cowboys. Already struggling and now perhaps without QB Dak Prescott for the rest of the season, Dallas hosts a 6-2 Eagles team that’s been rolling since their bye week. Even if team success seems unlikely, are there any individual players who might benefit from the QB change or the matchup with Philadelphia? BUY WR Jalen Tolbert As long as CeeDee Lamb actually plays and the offensive line gives Cooper Rush a chance to breathe, Jalen Tolbert could have a nice game. One thing that Rush showed during his starting run in 2022 was the ability to work through the receiving options and make a smart, decisive throw. Tolbert has been missed sometimes this year as Prescott has been too focused on certain guys and looked out of sorts from the lack of protection. Again, this is predicated on Lamb being out there to draw attention and Rush actually having chances to progress through his receivers. Even if Lamb does play, the Eagles’ defensive line could give Dallas way more than it can handle. So consider this a buyer beware, but still a decent shot at a good game for Tolbert. TE Jake Ferguson Over the last two weeks, Jags TE Evan Engram had 45 yards on five catches and the Bengals’ Mike Gesicki had seven receptions for 73 yards against Philly. As long as he’s not trapped at the line of scrimmage trying to help with pass blocking, Ferguson could do some damage. Much like Tolbert, he’ll benefit greatly if Lamb can play through the shoulder issue and give his teammates more one-on-one matchups. SELL RB Rico Dowdle Dowdle might want to contract another illness this week because the Eagles’ run defense is tough. They haven’t allowed an opposing RB to average above 3.8 yards over the last three weeks. While Dowdle’s coming off a nice game against Atlanta and hasn’t been held below 4.0 ypc since the season opener, the Eagles will probably focus on shutting down the run and forcing Cooper Rush to try to beat them passing. DE/LB Micah Parsons Philadelphia may make Parsons wish he’d waited a week before returning. You may recall past years when the Eagles put Parsons in a blender using their read-option plays, and that was before Jalen Hurts was running them with Saquon Barkley. There’s also a good chance that the Eagles will just send everything in the opposite direction from wherever Parsons lines up, neutralizing him the same way teams were prior to his injury. Either way, it doesn’t project to be a joyous return for Dallas’ defensive star.
Jerry Jones: Dallas Cowboys have ‘packages’ for quarterback Trey Lance
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Jerry Jones noted that the Cowboys have ‘packages’ in play for Trey Lance. The Dallas Cowboys are going to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon and are extreme underdogs in their home building. Even with quarterback Dak Prescott under center this season, the Cowboys have been a mostly ineffective offense. Cooper Rush is set to start for him this week and for the foreseeable future, even though many people believe that going forward with Trey Lance is the better overall option. It appears that the Cowboys plan on using Trey Lance at some point in the game or upcoming games. How do we know this, though? Jerry Jones told us! Jerry Jones made his standard Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan and was asked about the state of the quarterback position on the team. He noted specifically that there is a “window” for Lance and that there are “packages” the team can deploy. The coaches might not like this, but Jerry Jones on Trey Lance to @1053thefan: “Oh there is a window for Trey Lance. There’s packages that we can work on … Let me be clear that’s not just to get Lance some playtime. That’s to bring to the table some offense for us.” — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 8, 2024 We have seen Lance play only in the preseason so far for the Cowboys, and while results were not great to say the least through the air, he did show off quite a skillset as far as his abilities as a runner. Could we see the Cowboys bring Lance in for a snap or two and have him run something like a quarterback draw or RPO? It sounds like that is a possibility. But that kind of thing appears to be extremely obvious in general, let alone with Jerry offering it for the world to know, so there is some risk and reward involved. Some Cowboys fans have suggested, generally speaking, that Dallas utilize Lance similarly to how the New Orleans Saints have used Taysom Hill in the past. Whatever we may wind up seeing from Lance, it seems it could happen as soon as Sunday. For what it’s worth, Jerry Jones also spoke on the status of Dak Prescott and the subject of surgery related to his hamstring injury. He noted that part of the delay is that Prescott wants to try and play through things. Jerry Jones on Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, whether he needs surgery, when he could go on injured reserve to @1053thefan: pic.twitter.com/cJKtxNQ6ic — Todd Archer (@toddarcher) November 8, 2024 It was reported on Wednesday that Prescott’s hamstring is partially torn and that season-ending surgery may in fact be involved. Whether you believe that Prescott is or is not qualified as a starter for this team, there are certainly many different opinions, risking him in the name of finishing out of the playoffs anyway is a foolish endeavor. Nobody ever enjoys admitting that a season is over, lost or anything like that, but the Cowboys now have a seriously large financial investment made in Prescott. Risking that for nothing makes little sense.
Cowboys shouldn’t let recent draft busts cloud eval of Michigan prospects
Cowboys shouldn’t let recent draft busts cloud eval of Michigan prospects reidhanson Michigan draft prospects haven’t exactly panned out for the Cowboys in recent years. Two draft cycles ago the Cowboys double-dipped from the Ann Arbor powerhouse, using their first two draft picks on Michigan players. In 2023’s first round, the Cowboys selected defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 337-pound interior lineman didn’t have many skins on the wall, but he had a physical skillset that couldn’t be matched. One round later Dallas went back to Michigan to snag a tight end. Unconvinced Jake Ferguson was the long-term answer, the Cowboys pounced on the experienced Luke Schoonmaker at No. 58. Schoonmaker didn’t have a very inspiring highlight reel playing in Michigan’s run-heavy offense, but he was an accomplished run blocker and represented one of the safer picks in the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. Neither has worked out for Dallas. Smith’s rookie season delivered the lowest defensive snap count from a first rounder in over a decade. His sophomore season has been decidedly worse with Smith grading 124th of 124 interior linemen in 2024. Schoonmaker hasn’t been much better. The second-year tight end hasn’t just been playing behind Ferguson, but he’s working behind rookie undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford as well. The 26-year-old hasn’t seen a target in four weeks and has been hit or miss in many of his blocking assignments. Both players have fallen considerably short of expectations, and both are on the path to becoming certified busts. Dallas, an organization known for their draft prowess, hasn’t had a first-round pick struggle like Smith since they selected Taco Charlton in 2017. Charlton, a defensive end from (you guessed it) Michigan, flamed out in spectacular fashion. He only lasted two seasons in Dallas and hasn’t played a down of football since the 2022 season. It’s not lost on the Cowboys fanbase some of the organization’s biggest draft mistakes have come from the University of Michigan. So, it’s only natural many of those fans balk at the idea of selecting another Michigan player in the 2025 NFL draft. While this is an understandable posture, it’s a mistake to give such bias legs to stand on. Based on the Cowboys’ current trajectory, Dallas will be picking in the top 10 of the draft next April. Picking inside the top 10 will position them well for blue chip talent. A player the Cowboys could be looking at when they go on the clock in the first round might just be another player from the University of Michigan. Mason Graham, 6-foot-3, 320-pounds, is widely regarded as the top defensive lineman in the draft class. The well-rounded DT is a model prospect who comes with a Pro Bowl profile. He’s versatile and he’s experienced. He doesn’t come with the same degree of projection as Smith and Charlton, and as an accomplished pressure player, he offers value that goes beyond the typical run-stuffing often associated with the DT position. Right behind Graham on the prospect list is fellow Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. Grant, 6-foot-3, 339-pounds, is a physical marvel at the DT position. Like Smith before him, Grant makes Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. He’s stout enough to play nose tackle but explosive enough to penetrate as a pass rusher. Grant has conditioning concerns as a man his size often does, but he should not be passed over simply because there are similarities between him and Smith. He’s a different player. The Cowboys weakest position on the field is generally believed to be their interior defensive line. Given development time and bust potential associated with the DT position in Dallas, it’s recommended the Cowboys use free agency to bring in a top flight DT this spring. But if the Cowboys don’t want to spend big on a veteran, Michigan has a couple intriguing talents who need to be considered. They shouldn’t be disregarded simply because of the school they come from. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys player projections for Eagles game call for offensive regression
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images The Cowboys are not expected to field much of an offense on Sunday against Philadelphia. The Dallas Cowboys are set to host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, their first game of this season with Tony Romo on the call. Ol’ number nine may have horrible flashbacks to some of his darker days playing for the team, or rather watching from the sidelines during the 2010 and 2015 seasons, as the Cowboys are going to operating without quarterback Dak Prescott for the foreseeable future. It seems inevitable that Prescott will wind up on injured reserve and according to reports from Wednesday evening, season-ending surgery for his hamstring injury is a possibility. However long Prescott does wind up missing, veteran backup Cooper Rush figures to be the quarterback who Dallas will call upon. We recently made the argument for the team playing Trey Lance, but they appear set to go in the Rush direction. It surely will not shock you to learn that projections for the Rush-led offense are quite low. Projections for the Atlanta Falcons game were kind to skill position players Every week here on the site we take a look at what the folks over at NFL Pro have projected for the Dallas Cowboys, from a statistical standpoint, in their upcoming game. Obviously how accurate those projections are matters. It is difficult to be completely precise in player projections, but on average they tend to be pretty accurate for at least one member of the Cowboys. If you are into player props, over/unders, higher/lower games or things of that nature then this may be interesting. Here are how the projections for the Atlanta loss shook out. Projected Dak Prescott at Atlanta: 250.5 yards, 1.9 TDs, 0.8 INTs, 13.9 rush yards, 0.1 rush TDsActual: 133 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs, 30 rush yards, 0 rush TDs Projected Rico Dowdle at Atlanta: 43.1 yards, 0.3 TDs, 2 rec, 14.5 rec yards, 0.1 rec TDsActual: 75 yards, 0 rush TDs, 5 rec, 32 rec yards, 1 rec TDs Projected CeeDee Lamb at Atlanta: 6.7 rec, 85.1 yards, 0.5 TDsActual: 8 rec, 47 yards, 0 TDs Projected Jalen Tolbert at Atlanta: 3.4 rec, 40.9 yards, 0.3 TDsActual: 3 rec, 19 yards, 1 TD Projected Jake Ferguson at Atlanta: 4.5 rec, 46.8 yards, 0.3 TDsActual: 7 rec, 71 yards, 0 TDs Obviously Dak Prescott did not play the fourth quarter which impacted his own statistical line as well as the potential ones of those around him. That is worth mentioning. Still, though, Rico Dowdle crushed his projection in every sense except for not having a rushing touchdown. CeeDee Lamb fell short, but Jalen Tolbert was close to his and Jake Ferguson came in on top as well. How do these projections look for Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, though? You will note that the Eagles themselves have some lower offensive projections than you may have initially thought or assumed. Given that Philadelphia is such a favorite in this game it is fair to wonder whether or not the belief here is that the Eagles will get out to a big-time lead and then relax on things a bit. Kellen Moore may want revenge, though. Where things will also surely shock you are in the projected advantages department. There is a whole lot of green. All told there are 44 different things assessed and analyzed here with an advantage listed for one team over the other. If it is not obvious, the more stars that one team has is representative of it being a larger advantage in their favor. Of the 44 things a total of 42 are in favor of Philadelphia. One of the two favoring the Cowboys has only a single star. This game looks to be a bad one for the Cowboys in a number of ways. Whether or not they can change that feels unlikely, but remains to be seen.
Cowboys news: Cooper Rush feels confident and he knows CeeDee Lamb is key
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Cooper Rush ‘confident’, doing extra work with CeeDee Lamb ahead of Eagles – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com With Dak Prescott out, Cooper Rush is the next man up. He talked to the media this week about his approach as the starter heading into Week 10. The veteran quarterback has drawn plenty of praise from coaching staff and players alike for his consistent ability to step in and help deliver wins in the face of adversity, but it’s also true that, this time around, he’ll be tested like never before. Forever the definition of even keel, however, Rush isn’t changing his process. “The time [I put in] is pretty much the same,” he said ahead of his matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team that handed him the lone loss on his record. “The week-to-week process is pretty much the same. I mean, in practice, you’re obviously getting more reps, doing more things, but it’s exciting. This is why you work. “This is why you prepare to go and start. … The more games you play, the more reps you bank, put in your library, you draw on those. So, I feel confident in that. Been around here for a while, and played with a lot of these guys before, which is huge when you’re out there with live bullets. “Trusting those guys and being out there before with them is big.” One of those guys is CeeDee Lamb and, for his part, there’s an echoing of the confidence being heaped upon Rush by others. The two have also begun doing work after work, despite the All-Pro receiver battling a sprained AC joint in his shoulder suffered during the Week 9 battle in Atlanta against the Falcons. Cowboys predictions at NFL midseason: Brandon Aubrey sets record, Dallas totals 2 home wins – Saad Yousuf, The Athletic A look at what the rest of the 2024 season could have in store for the Dallas Cowboys. Brandon Aubrey sets record for longest field goal Aubrey almost had a chance to set the record in Week 1, when he made a 66-yarder in Cleveland that didn’t count due to a penalty and the ensuing 71-yard attempt was called off by holder Bryan Anger. The Cowboys are about to be led by backup quarterback Cooper Rush for the foreseeable future. There’s a decent chance the offense will stall around midfield and the Cowboys will get desperate for points. There’s also the fact that of the remaining nine games for the Cowboys, six are in the comfortable confines of AT&T Stadium. Maybe Aubrey won’t get a chance quite from 70-plus yards, but something a hair over 66 would not be surprising. Cowboys finish season with 2 wins at home For the better part of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Cowboys’ dominance in Arlington got all the love. After losing the home opener in 2022, the Cowboys rattled off 16 consecutive wins at AT&T Stadium. That streak came to a screeching halt with the abomination against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Since then, the Cowboys have not won a home game. Including the Packers loss, they are 0-4 in their last four home games. Their remaining opponents at home are the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders. The Giants on Thanksgiving is one the Cowboys can feel hopeful about, even with Rush leading the offense. Perhaps they can find a way to come out on top in one of the other games. The Commanders matchup is in Week 18, so Washington could have nothing to play for at that point. Jonathan Mingo trade grades: Did Cowboys get fleeced by Panthers in WR deal? – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today The Cowboys were buyers before the trade deadline acquiring a new WR in Jonathan Mingo from the Panthers. Here are each teams grades for the trade from USA Today. Cowboys: D- Desperation isn’t a good look for Jones. While the Cowboys are right to want to repair a stale offense that ranks 22nd in yards per play (5.2), it seems unlikely that a receiver who has essentially been leapfrogged by undrafted rookie free agent Jalen Coker is going to make much of a difference in a 3-5 campaign, especially with Dak Prescott likely to miss at least the next four games with his hamstring injury. And the return of a fourth-round draft pick is downright baffling, with little indication that such high bid was required. Though Mingo might have some untapped potential that can be unlocked in a new setting, Jones’ explanation prior to the deal that the Cowboys were bringing on a receiver they liked during the draft process would seem to suggest the team is doubling down on an evaluation miss and focusing on pre-draft perception rather than professional performance. Panthers: A After Carolina puzzled many by getting a modest pick swap for Diontae Johnson, general manager Dan Morgan somehow secured even better draft capital for the underperforming Mingo. The second-year receiver is essentially a non-factor in the offense at the moment, not posting a catch in the last three games. As far as cutting bait on a likely misstep from the previous regime goes, this is about as good as it gets. Dealing Adam Thielen is probably a non-starter at this point given the other moves, but Carolina can scrape by for the rest of the season with the 34-year-old and Coker. With Ezekiel Elliott back in the fold, how will Cowboys handle RB split vs. Eagles? – Colin Capece, Dallas Morning News Ezekiel Elliott is back practicing with the team this week, however coach Mike McCarthy has not disclosed if it would be him or Rico Dowdle as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Elliott did not play in last week’s game as the Cowboys made him a healthy scratch. The nine-year veteran did not travel
Cowboys Headlines: Confidence in Cooper, former QB3 back on market, Noah Brown makes Hall of Fame
Thursday practice report encouraging for defensive standouts :: The Mothership Link Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and Eric Kendricks were all limited on Thursday, but are nevertheless trending in the right direction to play against the Eagles on Sunday. DaRon Bland remains a DNP, as does Juanyeh Thomas, Nick Vigil, and Dak Prescott. Cowboys’ All-Pro OL misses second straight day of practice with injury :: Cowboys Wire Link A shoulder injury has Zack Martin on the injury report for a second straight week. He overcame a “questionable” status to play in Week 9; Friday could be an important day for the nine-time Pro Bowler if he’s to suit up against the Eagles this Sunday. Eyeing Eagles battle, Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb says he has taken ‘big step’ in injury recovery :: Dallas Morning News Link Lamb hasn’t missed practice this week after injuring his shoulder versus Atlanta. “I’m good,” he reported. “I was out there running today, getting right.’’ The receiver says his range of motion is unhindered by the AC sprain, explaining it’s just a matter of playing through the pain. He says he won’t be wearing any sort of sling or brace in Week 10. Cowboys 53-man roster for Eagles in Week 10: New WR gets jersey number, IR changes :: Cowboys Wire Link DeMarcus Lawrence and Brandin Cooks will be eligible to have their practice windows open this week, though that depends on their respective rehabs. Dak Prescott is still not on IR as he explores second opinions on his hamstring. Newly-acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo will wear the No. 81 jersey made famous by Terrell Owens and recently vacated by injured tight end John Stephens Jr. Jonathan Mingo ready to prove himself in ‘fresh start’ :: The Mothership Link Tuesday’s trade came as a surprise to the ex-Panther. But now Mingo says he’s viewing his move to Dallas as an opportunity to “prove to people what I can do and show them the best version of me.” At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he plans to use his size to his advantage, knowing that the Cowboys like to move their receivers around to find mismatches. He’ll suit up right away this Sunday. “Just try and get my flow,” he says, “and once I get in my groove, I can finally show people what I can do.” Cowboys: Confidence is still there with QB Cooper Rush :: ESPN Link Rush famously went 4-1 the last time he was pressed into extended service filling in for an injured Prescott. In 2022, he kept the team afloat. This time around, he’s trying to turn around a season heading off the rails. But he’s a known commodity to his teammates, who know he has the knowledge and the skills to step in and succeed. “He won games for us by just doing the basics, just playing good football,” offered Micah Parsons. “So it’s not like he can’t do it.” Eagles coach turns heads with praise of Cowboys QB Cooper Rush :: Athlon Sports Link Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio isn’t backing off his prep, even with a backup passer piloting the Cowboys. “You know, Rush has been there a long time. He knows the offense as well as anybody there does and he’ll operate it efficiently,” he said. Some wondered if he was taking a veiled shot at Prescott, though, when he also said of the understudy’s takeover, “I don’t think it will change a whole lot.” Hurts isn’t among Eagles’ 5 top-graded offensive players, thanks to Kellen Moore :: Cowboys Wire Link Saquon Barkley has rejuvenated his career in Philadelphia, and a pair of Eagles wide receivers are also in the offense’s top five, per PFF. But their quarterback has seen his numbers slip, as he’s no longer asked to be the centerpiece of the attack. Offensive lineman Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata round out the group. Eagles release quarterback Will Grier from practice squad :: ProFootballTalk Link The onetime third-string option in Dallas has been released by the Eagles just ahead of the two teams’ meeting. The 29-year-old has also been with the Panthers, Bengals, Patriots, and Chargers. Grier could be an option for the Cowboys to re-add to their practice squad, given his familiarity with the offense. If they act quickly enough, the Cowboys could also get some last-minute insider help with their preparation to play Philadelphia on Sunday. NFL TV coverage maps, announcers for Week 10: Who gets to watch Cowboys-Eagles? :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys-Eagles clash will be the third game of a Sunday quadrupleheader for most of the country. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call for CBS, with just the local markets of the Jets and Cardinals getting that late-afternoon matchup instead. Dallas Cowboys bring back Andrew Booth, add cornerback to practice squad :: Dallas Morning News Link The cornerback, released on Tuesday, is back with the Cowboys after the team signed him to the practice squad on Thursday. Booth has appeared in three games for the Cowboys this season, posting six total tackles. He was the 42nd overall pick by the Vikings in 2022. Commanders’ last-second ‘Hail Mary’ lands in Canton :: Pro Football Hall of Fame Link Former Cowboys receiver Noah Brown has made it to Canton. The gloves he wore while catching the game-winning pass from the Commanders’ Oct. 27 win over Chicago are now on display at the Hall of Fame. An end zone pylon signed by Brown and QB Jayden Daniels is also there, along with the ball itself. Brown’s catch became only the seventh time in league history a game-winning pass covering at least 50 yards was completed with no time left on the clock. Veteran DT Antwaun Woods retires from NFL :: NFL Trade Rumors Link Woods was an undrafted free agent when he first signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2016, but he spent the bulk of his career with the Cowboys. From 2018 to 2020, he compiled 80 tackles over 34 starts
Beyond Obvious: 3 reasons for Cowboys, fans, to hate seeing Eagles in Week 10
Beyond Obvious: 3 reasons for Cowboys, fans, to hate seeing Eagles in Week 10 Ben Grimaldi One of the more anticipated matchups of every season for the Dallas Cowboys has arrived, but there’s considerably less fanfare this time around. This is going to be hard to watch for Cowboys fans because the team isn’t very good this year, and the injuries had made them worse, but losing to the Eagles always stinks. The division rivals are heading in opposite directions as the Eagles are looking to stay within striking distance of first place, while the Cowboys are trying to avoid the basement in the NFC East. It’s hard to see a path for a Cowboys’ win with Cooper Rush under center, but it would be delightful to see it happen. There are always reasons to hate the Eagles, but we’ll settle on three of them ahead of the Week 10 matchup. However, even without quarterback Dak Prescott and a delusional upper management group led by Jerry Jones, there are reasons to hate the Week 10 opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles. The head coach Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports There has never been an Eagles head coach Cowboys fans have liked, but there have been plenty to hate along the rivalry, and their current one is among the worst of the group. Nick Sirianninis arguably the most unlikeable head coach in the league. From wearing a ‘Beat Dallas’ t-shirt before a game between the two teams (which Dallas won) and his clownish sideline antics that annoy his own fan base; Sirianni easy to root against. His histrionics have already worn thin and his decision making this season has been openly questioned around the league. It’s hard to dislike any Eagles coach more than Cowboys fans disliked former head man Buddy Ryan, but Sirianni feels like the most hated HC in the last couple of decades. Aggressive front office Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports It’s easy to look at the Eagles and despise the team, but it’s just as easy to watch how they’re built and become even more frustrated. While the Cowboys typically sit back and watch the offseason play out, the GM Howie Roseman makes them one of the most aggressive teams in the league. By doing so, the Eagles have acquired some of the best talent. This past offseason, the team signed running back Saquon Barkley and added pass rusher Bryce Huff, while also working out extensions for both of their wide receivers. Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) while running with the ball during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The move to add Barkley has been one of the best signings in free agency as the veteran RB is second in the league in rushing with 925 yards, is averaging almost six yards a carry and is third in the NFL in total touchdowns with eight. Among the other acquisitions over the last few years that have contributed to the Eagles’ 6-2 record are trading for cornerback Darius Slay, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and WR A.J. Brown, as well as using draft picks for the trade up for defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Unlike Jerry Jones, Roseman isn’t afraid to build from outside the organization. Offensive firepower Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Dallas’ defense won’t like what’s headed their way in Week 10. Philadelphia’s offense, ironically led by former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, is one of the best in the league. Their unit is sixth in the NFL in yards per game, and the strength of the Eagles’ offense is the rushing attack, where they average almost 175 yards a game on the ground. That’s bad news for defense that can’t stop the run and has been historically bad stopping it at home. The Eagles are also second in the league in rushing touchdowns, with 14, split between Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts. The tush push is headed Dallas’ way, and it’s one of the most hated plays in the game. Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) catches a touchdown pass in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby (25) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Eagles also have a good passing game with an explosive duo of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown at WR. The combination has 917 yards and seven scores on the season, despite Brown missing three games. It’s an offense that thrives because Hurts is rarely pressured, and RBs run through gaping holes behind one of the top offensive lines in the league; a recipe for disaster for the Cowboys’ defensive front. This doesn’t look like a fun matchup for Mike Zimmer’s defense and fans will hate to see the Eagles dominating with an offense led by Moore. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Thursday Night Football odds, pick and live discussion: Bengals at Ravens
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images Who wins tonight… Cincinnati or Baltimore? The Cincinnati Bengals play the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football. FanDuel has the Ravens as 5.5-point favorites over the Bengals. Final score prediction: Ravens 31 – Bengals 23. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.
