Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images Which Cowboys players are you expecting to have big days on Sunday? Every NFL week brings a new set of strengths, weaknesses, and matchups from your opponent. As we go through this season, some games will set certain players up for success while making things far more challenging for others. As Dallas gets ready to tangle with the New Orleans Saints, how do these factors impact certain Cowboys? Last week’s games didn’t give us much to go on for either team. The Cowboys were up 20-3 by halftime against Cleveland and the Saints’ win over Carolina was even more lopsided. It’s hard enough trying to gauge teams in September and Week 1 did little to help clarify things. Still, some things can push us in one direction or the other with specific players. Here are some Cowboys we’re buying and selling going into Week 2. BUY WR CeeDee Lamb Despite his late arrival after a contract holdout and Dallas going conservative in the second half, Lamb still came out of Cleveland with five catches for 61 yards. He was targeted 10 times in the game, and Lamb and Dak Prescott usually connect about 70-75% of the time when Prescott looks his way. We expect things to be more cohesive against New Orleans, especially with Saints CB Marshon Lattimore potentially missing the game due to a hamstring injury. Also, if Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson is out with his knee issue or even just slowed, that should ramp up Lamb’s opportunities. Cowboys RBs Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle may not have gone off against the Browns but that was the NFL’s top defense a year ago. Meanwhile, the Saints have ranked 24th and 22nd against the run the last two seasons. As long as the Cowboys win in the trenches, which they have a strong chance of this week, it should lead to relatively solid RB production. Zeke looked spry enough in Cleveland to still do damage if the blocking is there. LB DeMarvion Overshown Overshown has a good chance to build on last week’s outstanding debut. The Saints rely on speed with their offensive weapons and Overshown has already put the league on notice about his athleticism. You can expect him to be focused on RB Alvin Kamara throughout the game, which should lead to a lot of tackles and opportunities to shine. SELL CB Caelen Carson The rookie starter did well in his first game but will face a much tougher test this week. Derek Carr has been a very efficient passer over the last few years and has weapons who can burn you deep. We expect to see Carson on the bad end of at least a couple of big plays as he continues his NFL orientation. TE Luke Schoonmaker If Ferguson is out, we expect Prescott to lean more on his wide receivers and other options than to increase targets to Schoonmaker. New Orleans has a solid duo of safeties in Tyrann Mathieu and Will Harris, which should further reduce throws to the tight ends. Hopefully, Schoonmaker maximizes what balls do come his way and earns more trust. But in what could be a close game, Dallas will probably focus on its more proven assets.
Cowboys news: Luke Schoonmaker should get a chance to prove himself in Week 2
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson is doubtful for Sunday – Charean Williams, NBC Sports Dallas will likely have to alter their plan at tight with Jake Ferguson doubtful. The Cowboys’ depth at tight end will be tested Sunday against the Saints. Only two Dallas players have designations for Week 2, and both play tight end. John Stephens (hamstring) already is ruled out, and starter Jake Ferguson (knee) is doubtful. Luke Schoonmaker, a second-round pick in 2023, is expected to make his first career start. He played 368 snaps last season as a rookie and made eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Brevyn Spann-Ford also is on the active roster at the position, and Princeton Fant could get a call up from the practice squad. Ferguson’s injury looked far worse than what it was as he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 medial collateral ligament sprain. Though Ferguson said earlier this week he thought he could play this week, he did not practice. First big opportunity awaits Luke Schoonmaker with Ferguson likely out – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com The former second-round pick will more than likely get his shot to shine in Week 2. Last week in Cleveland, plenty of focus was given to this year’s rookie class as three players started Week 1. But opportunities often surface at different times for different players. Enter Luke Schoonmaker, who played all 17 games last season but mostly behind Jake Ferguson, who had a Pro Bowl year. But Ferguson is not expected to play this Sunday against the Saints because of a knee injury that has him listed as “doubtful” on the team’s injury report. The Cowboys have Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford on the roster, but Princeton Fant is expected to be called up from the practice squad for his first elevation. The team also can use fullback Hunter Luepke at the tight end spot. Schoonmaker would likely get his first career start against the Saints Sunday at AT&T Stadium. If that’s the case, the focus will be simple. “It’s really about not having a drop-off,” Schoonmaker said. “Guys just need to be able to execute at a high level when your number is called.” It sounds like Schoonmaker’s number is about to be called, something that didn’t happen often in 2023. The second-round pick from Michigan played in every game, but had just 15 targets and caught eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. How elite expectations fuel brotherly bond between Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys’ two best defenders have a special connection. Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs have playful nicknames for each other that would make some blush. Parsons and Diggs, as the two young stars of the Cowboys’ defense, tease and support each other like brothers. And they compete. Pingpong. Connect 4. iPhone games. Slap boxing. Sprints. Wrestling. You name the game, they’ve faced off. During a training camp practice last month in California, Parsons performed a wrestling move on Diggs, playfully body-slamming him and pinning him to the ground. In another practice, Parsons threw jabs at Diggs. The cornerback, while moving back, returned his own straight jabs. “That’s my brother,” Diggs said of the pass rusher. “We’ve got a great relationship. Our families know each other and we’re really close. I’m always pushing him if he’s doing something that he’s not supposed to or if he sees me doing something I’m not supposed to — whether that’s eating something I’m not supposed to — we always get on each other. I appreciate our relationship.” Diggs admits he’s not an easy person to get to know. He has a pleasant demeanor but is cautious before opening up. Parsons is inviting. In interviews with reporters, he’ll answer anything. 5 things to watch when the Cowboys host the Saints on Sunday – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys Dallas has some things to be aware of against New Orleans and one intriguing advantage. Chasing Taysom Alvin Kamara is a dynamic runner who can hurt you both as a rusher and receiving. He’ll be the focal point of the Saints rushing attack. But the fun doesn’t stop with him. The Saints love to use utility knife player Taysom Hill in a multitude of ways. He’ll come in as a change-of-pace running back, he’ll roll out as a receiver, and he’ll take a direct snap from time to time. Hill is a slippery runner whose strength and speed make him so difficult to bring down on first contact. He will challenge the Cowboys’ tackling skills. The last time the Cowboys played the Saints, Hill was their starting quarterback and the only offensive weapon they had. Despite a losing effort, Hill still managed to run for over 100 yards in that game. He won’t be asked to carry the workload in this one, but every time he has the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to make a big play. Another vulnerable O Line The Cowboys’ defense got a break by facing an injured Browns offensive line last week. Now, they’ll go up against a Saints group that is healthier, but still a little shaky. The Saints have invested a lot of draft capital in their line in recent years with four first-round investments Ryan Ramczyk (2017), Cesar Ruiz (2020), Trevor Penning (2022), and Taliese Fuaga (2024), but not every investment has produced dividends. Ramczyk is their best lineman, but he is out for the year recovering from a knee injury. In Week 1, the Saints rolled out a promising young rookie in Fuaga on the left side, but a less promising Penning on the right side. Fuaga is on the injury report with a back issue and his status is unclear. This could mean more of the same for the Cowboys’ defensive line as DeMarcus Lawrence is notorious for exploiting tackles who are fundamentally deficient. And Micah Parsons is so electric that
Mike Zimmer to get first Cowboys test against dreaded Shanahan offense Week 2
Mike Zimmer to get first Cowboys test against dreaded Shanahan offense Week 2 reidhanson The Shanahan offense. For years it’s been a thorn in the Cowboys’ side. Popularized in San Francisco, coach Kyle Shanahan has created a schematic juggernaut that’s elevated numerous offenses across the league to be far greater than the sum of their parts. Its branches extend from coast to coast and its many spinoffs have traditionally given the Cowboys absolute fits. In Week 2 the Cowboys welcome New Orleans to take on the latest Shanahan spinoff, Klint Kubiak’s Saints. This will mark the first big test of the Mike Zimmer era and will go a long way into making fans and media believe this year might be different in Dallas. Zimmer’s predecessor, Dan Quinn, enjoyed enormous success during his three years with the Cowboys. But despite building a one of the best defenses in the NFL, Quinn couldn’t get over the Shanahan hump. Quinn’s unit was often exposed going up against a Shanahan offense. All three postseasons under Quinn, two of which were at home, abruptly ended at the hands of a Shanahan offense. As John Owning of PFF pointed out over the winter, in the Quinn era the Cowboys gave up an EPA of 0.045 against Shanahan offenses compared to -0.094 EPA against non-Shanahan offenses. That’s a +0.139 swing which, to put it bluntly, is nothing short of radical. Kubiak’s ties to the Shanahan offense extend beyond his one-year stint in San Francisco last season but go to his roots as the son of Gary Kubiak. Gary Kubiak worked for years under Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan’s father, and as many recall this is where the original conception of the Shanahan offense began. The wide zone scheme held a legendary status even before Kyle Shanahan evolved it into what it is today. Therefore, it’s safe to say the younger Kubiak has a pretty firm grasp on this Cowboys killing scheme even if he only had one year of tutelage in San Francisco. In the Saints Week 1 win over Carolina, Kubiak hit the ground running, putting up 47 points on the hapless Panthers. They were among league leaders in play-action, condensed formations and motion which are all staples of a Shanahan offense. Historically, this scheme has caused fits for the Dallas defense. In the past Cowboys’ defenders have been lacking gap discipline, often allowing big gains on the ground. They’ve also been eager to bite on play fakes allowing exaggerated separation on routes downfield. The 2024 Cowboys defense returns many of the same players guilty of these lapses in discipline, but the hope is under the leadership of Zimmer, the issues get corrected. It’s not just that Zimmer is a renowned disciplinarian as a coach, it’s that Zimmer’s defenses historically do very well against Shanahan offenses. Pass coverage specifically has made Zimmer a standout coordinator against these types of offenses. Since the run typically exists to set up the more fruitful gains downfield through the air, both elements need to work harmoniously to stop an offense such as Kubiak’s. It’s what made Zimmer the most optimal defensive coach to replace Quinn this past winter. He’s a decisive upgrade against the offenses that have been proven Cowboys killers. Week 2 is Zimmer’s first test in proving 2024 will be different. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtlocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
5 things to watch when the Cowboys host the Saints on Sunday
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images Here are some specific things we are going to be watching on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys are off to a good start and will try to keep a good thing going when they play the New Orleans Saints in their home opener on Sunday. The Saints have been the definition of middling in recent years. They are 26-26 over their last 52 games. Some seasons are better than others, but they’ve never been terrible. In fact, the Saints have had at least seven wins in 18 straight seasons. New Orleans is coming off a one-sided 47-10 home win over the Carolina Panthers, but that has more to do with a terrible performance by second-year quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers looked terrible, and the Saints took full advantage. Some will say the same about the Cowboys dominating the Browns last week. Que sera, sera. With the teams squaring off, we’ll better see what’s legitimate and what was a façade created by a struggling opponent. Here are five things to watch when the Cowboys host the Saints on Sunday. Chasing Taysom Alvin Kamara is a dynamic runner who can hurt you both as a rusher and receiving. He’ll be the focal point of the Saints rushing attack. But the fun doesn’t stop with him. The Saints love to use utility knife player Taysom Hill in a multitude of ways. He’ll come in as a change-of-pace running back, he’ll roll out as a receiver, and he’ll take a direct snap from time to time. Hill is a slippery runner whose strength and speed make him so difficult to bring down on first contact. He will challenge the Cowboys’ tackling skills. The last time the Cowboys played the Saints, Hill was their starting quarterback and the only offensive weapon they had. Despite a losing effort, Hill still managed to run for over 100 yards in that game. He won’t be asked to carry the workload in this one, but every time he has the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to make a big play. Another vulnerable O Line The Cowboys’ defense got a break by facing an injured Browns offensive line last week. Now, they’ll go up against a Saints group that is healthier, but still a little shaky. The Saints have invested a lot of draft capital in their line in recent years with four first-round investments Ryan Ramczyk (2017), Cesar Ruiz (2020), Trevor Penning (2022), and Taliese Fuaga (2024), but not every investment has produced dividends. Ramczyk is their best lineman, but he is out for the year recovering from a knee injury. In Week 1, the Saints rolled out a promising young rookie in Fuaga on the left side, but a less promising Penning on the right side. Fuaga is on the injury report with a back issue and his status is unclear. This could mean more of the same for the Cowboys’ defensive line as DeMarcus Lawrence is notorious for exploiting tackles who are fundamentally deficient. And Micah Parsons is so electric that he will be a handful for whoever he lines up against. The speed of Shaheed The Saints don’t have a slew of receiving weapons. Chris Olave is their best pass catcher, but the skills of third-year receiver Rashid Shaheed shouldn’t be overlooked. He made himself known to the Panthers on the fifth play from scrimmage when he caught a 59-yard bomb from Derek Carr to quickly take a 7-0 lead. Shaheed is a fast receiver who has big-play-making ability. Dallas’ defense didn’t allow any big plays last week and they would like to keep it that way. With some of the playmakers the Saints have on offense, this will be a tough challenge. If they allow Shaheed to get behind the corners, it could mean bad things for the Cowboys’ secondary. And don’t be surprised if the Saints look for more ways to get him the ball on Sunday. Picking up the blitzes One of the Cowboys’ best plays last week was when Dak Prescott lofted the ball up in the air as a Browns rusher came after him unblocked. Fortunately, Brandin Cooks was right where he was supposed to be and the Cowboys scored their first touchdown of the 2024 season. Just like they drew it up in practice. The Cowboys will need to do a good job picking up blitzes as the Saints love to attack with their nickel corner Alontae Taylor. He wreaked havoc against the Panthers last week, sacking Bryce Young three times. Recognizing when he’s coming and providing help or having a quick pass contingency will be crucial in limiting the Saints’ ability to get the Cowboys offense off the field. Another big return for Turpin KaVontae Turpin returned a punt for a touchdown in a regular-season game for the first time in his NFL career. It only took the first game of his third season to do it. While Turpin’s touchdown came on a punt return, you can just feel that he’s going to be one of those guys who cash in on the new dynamic kickoff the NFL instated this season. Last week, many teams were timid, oftentimes just kicking the ball into the end zone and conceding the 30-yard line, however, the Saints weren’t one of those teams. Second-year kicker Blake Grupe kicked off 10 times in the Carolina game and nine times they were returned. Only twice did the Panthers return it past the 30-yard line and when they did, they barely passed it (32 and 33-yard line). Grupe has a good feel for nailing it in the landing zone right near the goal line and don’t be surprised if Turpin follows his punt return TD up with a kickoff return TD. What will you be watching for on Sunday?
How to buy Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Week 2 tickets
How to buy Dallas Cowboys vs. New Orleans Saints NFL Week 2 tickets Nick Wojton The Dallas Cowboys will finally host their first game of the 2024 NFL season at AT&T Stadium in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Regardless of any result prior to your first game at home, teams in the NFL want to make their backyard a fortress. This is the Cowboys’ first opportunity to establish that. After both the Saints and the Cowboys thrashed their Week-1 opponents, this Week-2 game has a bit more intrigue than originally anticipated, and only limited tickets remain. SHOP: New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys tickets The matchup with the Saints is the Cowboys’ first home affair in what is building up to be a pivotal season. Can quarterback Dak Prescott and head coach Mike McCarthy convince owner Jerry Jones they can lead the Cowboys to the promised land? The Cowboys’ best chance to do that is by building a strong home-field advantage. Can Dallas do that against New Orleans in a battle of early-season undefeateds? Tickets for this contest start as low as $73. Shop Saints vs. Cowboys Week 2 tickets We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Cowboys Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Cowboys, Saints injuries could tilt the odds in Dallas’ favor
Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images The Cowboys’ injury report was better than the Saints’ Last week the Dallas Cowboys went on the road and manhandled the Cleveland Browns. The 33-17 victory was the result of quality play by Dallas, but a couple of injuries for the Browns to their starting offensive tackles certainly influenced the outcome. This week, the Cowboys may again be the beneficiary of an injury imbalance between the two sides. The final injury report has the Cowboys being a full go with DE Marshawn Kneeland. On the negative side, they will almost certainly be without starting tight end Jake Ferguson, even though he is technically listed as doubtful. He hasn’t practiced all week. They will also be without reserve tight end John Stephens. Losing Ferguson certainly hurts the offense, but his position is not one of the most crucial on the field. Having a great tight end absolutely benefits a team, but just having some average guys there doesn’t really crush a team, like say, losing a left tackle or a cornerback. And that might be what the Saints are looking at on Sunday. Veteran corner Marshon Lattimore is battling a hip/hamstring injury and his official status is questionable. But, he hasn’t practiced all week which is usually a bad sign. He could be joined by left tackle Taliese Fuaga, who is questionable with a back issue. He was limited on Wednesday, and didn’t practice the rest of the week. Fuaga is the 14th overall pick in the 2024 draft and had an outstanding first week. If those two can’t play, that is two of the Saints’ best players at two of the most important positions in football. Additionally, the Saints will be without DT Khalen Saunders and LB D’Marco Jackson. The Cowboys are already 6.5-point favorites (FanDuel) heading into the game. If the Saints are without a couple of important players, that would give Dallas that much more of an advantage. Check out our partner FanDuel for your betting needs.
Cowboys vs Saints: New Orleans’ gameplan? Contain Dallas’ pass rush
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Taking one last look from the Saints’ side of things. New Orleans Saints offense expects to be pressured by Dallas’ defense – John DeShazier, NewOrleansSaints.com Derek Carr knows he’ll have to get the ball out in a hurry this week. It’s not just what Dallas does to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks, equally it’s who the Cowboys do it with that makes it one of the best packages in the league. Coming off a 46-sack season in 2023, the Cowboys opened 2024 against Cleveland with six sacks (including two by defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, one by linebacker Micah Parsons), 25 pressures (nine from Parsons, eight by Lawrence), 17 quarterback hits (five from Parsons, four by Lawrence) and four tackles for loss (three by Lawrence, Parsons had one). The New Orleans Saints allowed a fraction of that in their season-opening win against Carolina; quarterback Derek Carr was sacked once, the only time the Panthers were credited with a quarterback hit in a 47-10 romp by the Saints. “I think it’s a really good scheme,” Saints Coach Dennis Allen said. “They have a really good pressure package, so we’ll have to be on point with how we’re identifying who’s coming, which way the protection is going, all those kinds of things. So that’ll be a challenge. And then, when you have a good scheme and you have really good players doing it, it becomes even better. “He’s so fast,” Carr said. “He’s so fast and powerful, plays extremely hard. He’s one of the best players in our game. I think people are talking about him that way, but you turn on the tape and he reminds me of (former Denver Bronco linebacker) Von Miller all those years that me and Von were battling two times a year. “He really reminds me of Von with that explosiveness, that get-off, his understanding of what they’re trying to do to him and those kinds of things. Very, very impressive, and he plays off the ball, too. He can literally play anywhere he wants on a defense. It’s really impressive.” “For me, you’re just keeping your eyes downfield, make the best read, try and get the ball out on time and all those kinds of things. But if I look down (at the rush), I’m doing my receivers a disservice. So you try your best to keep your eyes up and maybe find a scramble lane, things like that. Try your best to always keep your eyes downfield.” Saints vs. Cowboys features 3 of the NFL’s top 5 sacks leaders – Darrion Gray, USA Today There may be sacks aplenty in this Week 2 matchup. You may see the quarterback on the ground quite a bit when the New Orleans Saints travel to Arlington, Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys. This showdown features three players who registered multiple sacks in Week 1. There’s good and bad news on this front. The good news is the Saints have the player with the most. Alontae Taylor leads the league in sacks with three from Week 1. The bad news is the Cowboys have the other two players. It gets even worse when you realize neither of those two players are Micah Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence and Eric Kendricks notched two sacks on Sunday. Kendricks is a linebacker, so, like Taylor, he rushes the passer on blitzes. Expect Mike Zimmer to call Kendricks’ name a couple times on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Saints, Taylor’s blitzing will likely be minimal because of the Cowboys receiving corps Two players who registered multiple sacks and a two-time All-Pro? That’s a scary sight for an offensive line still looking to prove themselves. It’s important for the Saints’ defensive line to register pressure of their own. The story of Week 2 could easily be told in the trenches. NFL Week 2 picks, schedule, odds, injuries, fantasy tips – NFL Nation, ESPN Final storylines leading into Week 2. Saints storyline to watch: Starting Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore exited the Week 1 win against the Panthers early with a hamstring injury. Rookie corner Kool-Aid McKinstry, a second-round pick, took his place and would likely be on tap to start if Lattimore can’t go. The Saints also could be bracing for more offensive line shuffling after starting left guard Lucas Patrick injured his toe against the Panthers, which isn’t ideal timing going up against a Cowboys defense that had six sacks in Week 1. — Katherine Terrell Cowboys storyline to watch: The last time the Cowboys played at AT&T Stadium, they suffered one of their worst playoff defeats in team history, 48-32, to the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 14. But they carry into Sunday’s game a 16-game winning streak at home in the regular season. It’s the second-longest home winning streak in team history (1979-81). Last season, they outscored opponents by 172 points at home, the largest single-season differential in team history. If the Cowboys get to 17 straight home wins, they would be 2-0 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08. — Todd Archer Stat to know: The Saints and Cowboys have forced multiple turnovers in three straight games dating back to last season, which is tied for the second-longest active streak in the NFL behind the Giants (four games). Bold prediction: Saints quarterback Derek Carr will throw for 300-plus yards. No, the bombastic performance in Week 1 was not just about the woebegone Panthers defense. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak dialed up the motion, play-action and rollouts for Carr — tools he badly lacked before — and it worked. The Saints’ offense is better than you think. — Walder Here are Friday’s injury reports for the Saints and Cowboys. Final #Saints vs. Cowboys injury report pic.twitter.com/1syPbylSEP — Tina Howell (@TinaHowellNOLA) September 13, 2024
NFL Week 2 Injury Report: Cowboys TE room depleted, key Saints defenders questionable
NFL Week 2 Injury Report: Cowboys TE room depleted, key Saints defenders questionable K.D. Drummond Jake Ferguson may have escaped major injury, but his MCL sprain has had him out of practice all week. On the opposite side of the field, there are several questionable Saints defenders dealing with various nicks. Here’s a full rundown of Friday’s practice report and game designations. Dallas Cowboys TE John Stephens (Hamstring) DNP all week – OUT TE Jake Ferguson (Knee) DNP all week – DOUBTFUL DE Marshawn Kneeland (Calf) DNP Wednesday, Limited Thursday, Full Participant Friday – No Designation ST CJ Goodwin (Foot) Limited Wednesday, Limited Thursday, Full Friday – No Designation WR Brandin Cooks, LB Eric Kendricks, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, OG Zack Martin sat out Wednesday for rest New Orleans Saints DT Khalen Saunders (Calf) – OUT LB D’Marco Jackson (Calf) – OUT DT Bryan Bresee (Illness) – DNP Friday – Questionable CB Marshon Lattimore (Hip/Hamstring) DNP all week – Questionable OT Taliese Fuaga (Back) Limited Wednesday, DNP two days – Questionable DE Isaiah Foskey (Back) DNP Friday – Questionable LB Jaylan Ford (Hamstring) Limited all week – Questionable Related Links Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys injury report: Jake Ferguson listed as doubtful for Saints game
Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Friday After a dominating performance against the Cleveland Browns, the Dallas Cowboys are putting the final touches of preparation for their home opener against the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys’ defense looks as healthy as possible, and the status of their Pro Bowl tight end, Jake Ferguson, is the biggest question going into the weekend. We have the final injury report for the week. Here is the final injury report for the Cowboys and Saints ahead of Sunday’s game: – TE Jake Ferguson (knee) officially listed as DOUBTFUL – TE John Stephens Jr. (hamstring) listed OUT – DE Marshawn Kneeland (calf) holds no designation after a full practice Friday – Saints… pic.twitter.com/fQYVekkQCP — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) September 13, 2024 Jake Ferguson was listed as doubtful in this week’s final injury report, leaving a very slim possibility he could play against the Saints. Whether that’s rooted in genuine optimism or gamesmanship to misdirect the Saints before Sunday will be made more apparent tomorrow. Dallas could elevate a tight end or two from the practice squad if they genuinely feel Ferguson won’t be ready this week. John Stephens, however, was more conclusive. Like Ferguson, he did a few things outside team activities and logged DNPs all week, but the team opted to rule him out for the game. Marshawn Kneeland returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a calf injury and was upgraded to full today, he’ll be active Sunday. The two significant injuries to monitor for the Saints are CB Marshon Lattimore and OT Taliese Fauga. Fauga was downgraded to a DNP Thursday, and his questionable designation for Sunday is just that. A downgrade that late in the week should raise an alarm. As for Marshon Lattimore, pay attention to whether he participates in the walkthrough tomorrow. Otherwise, expect him to be ruled out sometime Saturday. Neither practiced today. Furthermore, Khalen Saunders was ruled out and Bryan Breese is questionable for Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys roster rankings top 10 from Week 1 of the season
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images Who would you say are the top 10 players on the Dallas Cowboys right now? It feels good to be back in the swing of things, especially after the Dallas Cowboys convincing win over the Cleveland Browns by the score of 33-17. Even after sitting most of their starters in the preseason, there didn’t seem to be any rust across the board for Mike McCarthy’s team. The offense may have started slow on its opening drive but regained its rhythm on the second. A beautiful anticipation throw for a touchdown from Dak Prescott to Brandin Cooks capped it off. It showcased how much chemistry was built between the two this offseason. This offseason, there was a concern that Dan Quinn’s departure might lead to a drop-off in defensive production. However, the defense in Cleveland looked better and continued to force turnovers, led by Eric Kendricks and Trevon Diggs. Each week for the 2024 season, we will rank players from ten down to number one. This will be part of a rolling tally point system to determine the Cowboys MVP at the end of the year. Here are the top ten players from the Cowboys’ win over the Browns. 10. Tyler Guyton, OT Let’s not forget. Tyler Guyton was touted as a “developmental prospect” from college. In a year, he would transition from right tackle to left tackle. Even though he was drafted in the first round, many analysts expected the Cowboys to take a step back if they were to play the rookie right away or if they needed to redshirt him for a season. Well, Guyton proved everyone wrong. While Guyton struggled with Myles Garrett (who wouldn’t?), he found a way not to let the reigning Defensive Player of the Year wreck the game. It’s still a long season ahead, but the early return on Guyton looks like the Cowboys may have found another diamond along their offensive line. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images 9. Caelen Carson, CB It was deflating to read that DaRon Bland would be missing time with a stress fracture in his foot. It would be a few more weeks before fans saw Bland and Trevon Diggs playing on the outside together. What options did the Cowboys have? Stephon Gilmore was already on the Minnesota Vikings’ roster, and they had already traded Nahshon Wright, one of their most tenured true corners, to Minnesota. After having an outstanding training camp, the team decided to run with their rookie fifth-round pick, Caelen Carson, hoping it would carry over. Carson looked like a seasoned veteran against Amari Cooper, who had just two catches for 16 yards off nine targets. The Cowboys seem in good hands until Bland returns from his injury. 8. Dak Prescott, QB Credit to Dak Prescott for not letting his new contract extension distract him from focusing on the season opener in Cleveland. Even after agreeing to the deal hours before kickoff, that didn’t seem to rattle his cage at all—but what does rattle No. 4? Prescott didn’t have his best statistical game against the Browns’ defense, but he didn’t have to. The one thing he couldn’t do was turn the ball over and make negative plays. The offense did stall in the second half, but by then, the Cowboys were just sitting on a lead. His sole touchdown pass of the day summarized the zone Prescott is operating in right now. Coming off an MVP-caliber season, he’s often credited for being able to see things pre-snap better than most quarterbacks in the league. He picked up on Cleveland’s defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz sending the house at him on third down, and Prescott adjusted and anticipated, dropping the football in the bucket for Brandin Cooks. If the Cowboys get that version of Prescott again in 2024, he’ll be right back in the MVP conversation. 7. Trevon Diggs/Jourdan Lewis, CB Choosing between Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis for this spot was tough, so we’re bending the rules for Week 1 and giving it to them both. Diggs didn’t look intimidated in his first game back from a torn ACL and was locking down the outside like fans have become accustomed to seeing. For Lewis, he had one of his best games. He flew all over the field, unafraid to punch above his weight class and go after tight end David Njoku. Both corners finished with five tackles on the day, and Diggs had an interception that was the final nail in the coffin for Cleveland at the end of the game. Historically, Mike Zimmer expects a lot from his defensive backs, and all three of them appearing on the list should get fans excited about what the secondary could look like in 2024. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images 6. CeeDee Lamb, WR CeeDee Lamb bet on himself this offseason and cashed in with a new four-year, $136 million contract extension. He held out from all offseason activities until two weeks before Sunday’s kickoff. What shape would their star wide receiver be in after missing out on NFL conditioning? Lamb worked with some great trainers at Alkeme Performance in Florida (more on that later), and that allowed him not to miss a beat. McCarthy didn’t seem worried about a pitch count for Lamb, who was on the field for 71 percent of offensive snaps. Prescott targeted his receiver ten times, leading to a team-high five receptions for 61 yards. 5. Brandon Aubrey, K Brandon Aubrey is the worst-kept secret in the NFL. Not only can he do things like squib kicks to help Dallas in the new era of a dynamic kickoff, but he can comfortably hit field goals whenever the offense gets into enemy territory. After getting to the 48-yard line of Cleveland, Aubrey was ready to line up for a 66-yard field goal. Even though it was ruled a delay of the game, Aubrey still attempted the kick and still made it, clearing the crossbar with room to spare. In Monday’s