Cowboys vs Falcons Initial Injury Report: IR activation doesn’t mean All-Pro will play K.D. Drummond The Cowboys initial injury report of Week 9 is out and it comes alongside what should be positive news. Dallas added cornerback DaRon Bland to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, placing him back with the full roster for the first time since his foot surgery over the summer. But fans should wait before they rejoice that he’s going to play in this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. See, Bland had his 21-day practice window opened before the club’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions. And while it appeared he was ramping up to play in that game, he missed the final practice before it then didn’t suit up. The bye week came next and Bland missed the following week of practice, not playing against San Francisco. Wednesday marked the expiration of the 21-day window. Bland either had to be activated or placed on IR for the remainder of 2024. The club activated, then he proceeded to miss Wednesday’s practice as well. Bland is one of seven players who didn’t participate in practice for the Cowboys, including edge rusher Micah Parsons. As for the Falcons, who are sitting at 5-3 and atop the NFC South, their injury report reads much cleaner. Only three of their players sat out on Wednesday. Dallas Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey, NIR-Other | Wednesday: Did Not Participate LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB DaRon Bland, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB Trevon Diggs, Calf | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday: Full Participant Linebacker Nick Vigil, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate DT Jordan Phillips, Wrist | Wednesday: Full Participant DT Linval Joseph, Back | Wednesday: Did Not Participate LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited OG Zack Martin, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited Atlanta Falcons LB Tory Anderson, Knee | Wednesday: Limited LB JD Bertrand, Concussion | Wednesday: Did Not Participate Center Drew Dalman, Ankle | Wednesday: Limited LB Kaden Eliss, Knee | Wednesday: Limited C Antonio Hamilton, Back | Wednesday: Limited OG Chris Lindstrom, Knee | Wednesday: Did Not Participate DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate Safety Justin Simmons, Hamstring | Wednesday: Limited Wednesday Rest Days: DL James Smith-Williams, LB Matthew Judon Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys and Bengals in Week 14 to have alternate Simpsons broadcast with Homer on Dallas’ side
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images It was announced this week that the Cowboys/Bengals game a few weeks from now will have an interesting twist. Will Homer Simpson be coming out of the bushes to show his love for the Dallas Cowboys, or disappearing into them following another loss? Yes, this is a real question, as it relates to the Cowboys Week 14 home game against the Bengals on Monday, December 9th. While Week 8 of the NFL season concluded in Pittsburgh with a Steelers win over the Giants this Monday, ESPN announced their week 14 Monday Night Football telecast from AT&T Stadium will have an alternate Simpsons character broadcast available on both ESPN+ and Disney+ streaming services. Some of America’s most recognizable characters from the show that’s been on the air since 1989 have been chosen to represent the two teams, with Bart Simpson on the visiting Bengals side and Homer repping the Cowboys. America’s animated comedy dad, meet America’s Team. Here’s a cold Duff beer. This dip into the Simpsons-verse for the Cowboys and Bengals is the fifth straight season with some kind of animated crossover being used for at least one game. The wacky concept has been done starting with Nickelodeon as the partner in 2021 when the Saints and Bears went underwater to play in the deep sea realm of Spongebob. ESPN got in on the action last year during a London game between the Falcons and Jaguars that was alternatively available as Toy Story characters. This same concept was actually used for a Cowboys home playoff game in 2021, as the Cowboys lost to the 49ers 23-17 in the Wild Card round. Talk about opening up fresh wounds, as the current 2024 Cowboys are coming off their fourth straight loss to the 49ers when this news broke. Would either game have been less painful to watch in animation? Anyway… There is so much to be said about the way football can make an event of itself both in person or on television. The NFL is so unique in this way, and has only continued to push the envelope of their target audience being “literally anyone that spends any amount of time looking at a screen”. Be it kids interested in Spongebob and Toy Story, or now the rabid Simpsons fandom that remains strong as the show is in it’s 36th season, there has truly never been more ways to enjoy a singular professional sport. Both Thursday Night Football having a more analytical second broadcast and Monday Night Football having the Manningcast adds to this on a more consistent weekly basis, making the entertainment side of the game unavoidable. Football on TV is as much of a tradition as anything. The games kick at the same times. The pregame shows start at the same times. Familiar voices and faces enter our living rooms, and by the end of the action you’re facing the reality of either turning to 60 Minutes and staring down another Monday or continuing to escape and maybe stick with the postgame Simpsons episode that was always there. This sums up part of my experience growing up around football and learning to love it, and I know I’m not alone in this – also having some level of interest in seeing what a Bart vs. Homer game looks like later in the season. The matchup is fitting, as fans of both teams watching at home from their couches have probably felt like their team’s seasons are elaborate couch gags with no end in sight. This is of course how every episode of the Simpsons starts, with some variation of the Simpson family gathering on the couch but with a twist each time. Maybe at some point soon the twist can be sitting down to enjoy a Cowboys win? Dallas is currently 3-4 on the season having lost two straight, while Cincinnati is 3-5. Both teams sit at third in their divisions at the moment. Things can always change quickly in the NFL, but at the moment this feels like a game that every broadcast will have to fluff up however possible to keep interest, and playing in the alternate reality of Springfield with the Simpsons is certainly one way to achieve this. The #Cowboys vs #Bengals game will be a “Simpsons” alternate MNF broadcast special. pic.twitter.com/As6M239Fwz — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 29, 2024 Football and the Simpsons have gone together for a long time actually. Back in 2014, NFL.com’s Adam Rank put together this list of episodes that either have football tie ins and/or guest cameos by NFL players. In episode 12 of season 10, which aired on New Year’s Eve in 1999, former Cowboys QB Troy Aikman makes an appearance. Now in 2024, he’ll be calling a Cowboys game that also takes place in the Simpsons-verse for ESPN. Talk about full circle! It is worth noting that the town of Springfield, which is where the Simpsons takes place, also has their very own football team called the Atoms. Being America’s Team with a nationwide fanbase though, it’s established as early as season two that Homer is a Cowboys fan. We here at Blogging The Boys could not find a Bengals fan in Springfield to comment for this story. D’oh! Truth be told, there is not a whole lot of good news or positive things to talk about when it comes to the Cowboys right now. When it comes to things like new ways to bring in viewers and the cross section of marketing and football, it’s refreshing to have this Simpsons endeavor as a project of ESPN and ABC exclusively instead of something specific to the Cowboys that the Jones’ are trying to sell amidst a tough season. The alternate broadcast is sure to bring back a lot of memories for long times fans of either football, the Simpsons, or both. Like the show, it may just provide us with a few needed laughs as well. The Cowboys and Bengals kick off
Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs Falcons head-to-head breakdown
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images How much do you trust the Cowboys offense in Atlanta? The Dallas Cowboys are coming off another defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. The Atlanta Falcons are coming off a huge division win and now sit atop the NFC South. Which of these two offenses are playing better right now, Dallas or Atlanta? Let’s dive into and find out. QUARTERBACK Dak Prescott vs.Kirk Cousins As the season trudges on, defending some of Dak’s decisions and ball placements has turned into a daunting task. Three consecutive games marked by multiple interceptions is a troubling trend that hasn’t punctured the team’s identity since 1992. To make matters worse, the specter of ‘what if’ looms large over Prescott’s recent performances as he’s come close to adding to his interception woes, with near-misses where defenders failed to capitalize on golden opportunities. The question now is whether Prescott can recalibrate and reclaim his rhythm before more chapters are written in the annals of Cowboys misfortune? Or will this stretch of turmoil be just a point in a larger journey towards redemption? Time will tell, but the Cowboys faithful are hoping for an air of invincibility to return in their star quarterback’s play before another opportunity slips through his fingers. Kirk Cousins is also no stranger to the highs and lows of the NFL, and as he navigates this season, he finds himself in a familiar battle against turnover trends. Currently collecting interceptions at a rate that puts him right behind Dak Prescott—who holds the second-most picks—the Atlanta Falcons quarterback finds himself at a crossroads. While both quarterbacks grapple with their own share of ball security issues, the stark difference comes into play when comparing their touchdown production. Cousins has unleashed a torrent of scoring, standing proudly as the fifth-best in touchdown throws. This marks a quantitative edge over Dak, who has struggled to match that prolific output. Furthermore, while Cousins benefits from a more robust offensive line, providing him the time and security necessary to make impactful throws, Dak’s situation in Dallas has revealed vulnerabilities in protection. The result? A dynamic where Cousins can elevate his team through the air. Conclusion:As the stakes rise this week, both quarterbacks hold the balance of their seasons in their hands. Dak has more interceptions, fewer touchdowns, but is throwing for more yards per game. Unfortunately, that’s where this competition ends. Cousins is throwing with more accuracy, more touchdowns and with fewer turnovers.Win: Falcons Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images RUNNING BACK Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliottvs.Bijan Robinson/Tyler Allgeier In a turn of events that none anticipated, Sunday’s game kicked off with the staggering news of Rico Dowdle being declared inactive. All eyes were now fixed on two celebrated but aging backs—Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook—who finally took the field together for the first time this year. It became evident right from the start that nerves preceded artistry; the two stars finding their rhythm would prove difficult. As the team embarked on their second drive, there was a split-second thrill when Cook finally received a handoff. He charged forward, but he managed a gain of merely one yard. With each subsequent carry and yard clocked, anticipation swiftly dulled into frustration. The duo, often heralded as a formidable force capable of rewriting the game script in the past, ended up merging to yield a most disappointing total of only 46 rush yards. Last week, 49ers backup running back Isaac Guerendo finally etched his name in the record books with his first rushing touchdown. Averaging an impressive 6.1 yards per carry, Guerendo showcased his potential, but also the Cowboys weakness. As the spotlight shifts to this week’s matchup, all eyes are on Bijan Robinson, the standout running back gearing up to challenge a Dallas run defense that has shown many vulnerabilities. Robinson has certainly made his mark this season, averaging 69 rushing yards per game and an efficient 4.7 yards per carry. With a total of 546 rushing yards to his name, he currently ranks ninth in the league. His five total touchdowns further underline his ability to find the end zone consistently. This week could be another defining moment for Robinson as he prepares to exploit the formidable gaps in the Dallas defense. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown and Robinson will look to leave his mark on the game. Conclusion:The Cowboys defense ranks dead last in rush yards allowed per game and conversely on offense, Dallas ranks dead last in rush yards per game. Running the ball is the easiest way to dominate a game and Cowboys fail on both sides of the ball. Win: Falcons Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images WIDE RECEIVERS CeeDee Lamb/Jalen Tolbert/KaVontae Turpin vs.Drake London/Darnell Mooney/Ray-Ray McCloud Last week against the San Francisco 49ers, CeeDee Lamb showcased his remarkable talent, racking up an impressive 13 receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns. This marked Lamb’s first outing exceeding 100 yards this season, but also his most substantial performance since the Detroit Lions last year. However, amidst the euphoria of Lamb’s accomplishments there’s an undeniable sense of disappointment born out of the team’s overall offensive performance. Jalen Tolbert added three receptions for 46 yards. The climax of the mini-drama unfolded when KaVontae Turpin found himself with a heart-stopping opportunity—a chance to bring the Cowboys closer to scoring position near the end of the game. Unfortunately, what could have been a game-changing moment was shattered by a crushing drop. For the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver corps all eyes are on their standout wide receiver, Drake London. The former USC star has certainly ignited the offense, tallying five touchdowns and ranks 13th among his wide receivers in receiving yards. However, the story of his skyrocketing success begins to take a dramatic turn—since Week 5, London has experienced a slight dip in his yardage with each passing game. Behind the electrifying London is the remarkably talented Darnell Mooney, standing just a breath away. With a mere touchdown less and 25 fewer receiving yards, Mooney
This coaching change wasn’t supposed to be Cowboys instant fix, but it’s worse than expected
This coaching change wasn’t supposed to be Cowboys instant fix, but it’s worse than expected reidhanson When Dan Quinn left Dallas for the sunny streets of the nation’s capital last winter, the Cowboys had a significant hole to fill on their coaching staff. Quinn had successfully rebuilt the Dallas defense into a force to be reckoned with. Sure, they were prone to massive breakdowns against quality opponents, but overall, they ranked as one of the league’s best, year in and year out. Complicating matters in the search for Quinn’s replacement was the situation with the rest of the coaching staff. Mike McCarthy was entering the final season on his five-year deal and the rest of his staff was situated to play out the final year of their deals in 2024 as well. The Cowboys wanted their Quinn replacement to join the ranks and similarly play on an expiring deal this season. As if that wasn’t bad enough the Cowboys made it clear they weren’t interested in being spenders over the offseason either. Whoever came in to fix the defense would have to do so with rookies and the carryovers Dallas had on hand. It’s safe to say the terms weren’t very attractive and the list of candidates would be somewhat limited as a result. So, when Mike Zimmer’s name came up as the solution, many felt elated such an accomplished coach would even consider the Cowboys, let alone agree to the terms and hop aboard. But that’s what Zimmer did. Zimmer’s hire didn’t result in parades, but he did receive a fair degree of support from many in Cowboys Nation. As a former coach of the Cowboys, Zimmer had ties to Dallas and as a successful head coach in Minnesota, he had the respect around the league. Regarded as a disciplinarian, Zimmer looked like he was just what the doctor ordered for the Cowboys. Discipline had long been an issue on the Dallas defense under Quinn, with players freelancing all too often. It resulted in wide swings in run defense and avalanche-like breakdowns against the league’s more nuanced attacks. Zimmer didn’t just offer discipline and accountability, but he brought a track record of success against offenses like Kyle Shanahan’s. Shanahan offenses have been Dallas’ Achillies heel for years and its growth in popularity has made Shanahan one the NFL’s most prominent coaching trees in the league today. Seven games into the 2024 season and Zimmer’s defense looks even worse than it was before. While much of the differences can be blamed on injuries to players like DaRon Bland, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams, discipline towards run fits appear every bit as bad as they were under Quinn. Was Zimmer the wrong man for the job? It’s understandable if hindsight prompts this question. The Cowboys have a historically bad defense and don’t appear to be on the road to recovery. Letting the injury-depleted 49ers roll over them for 30 points in Week 8 showed it doesn’t take offensive All Stars to post All Star-like performances against the Dallas defense. But asking Zimmer to fix the defense under the Cowboys’ circumstances in 2024 is almost an impossible ask. Dallas horrifically misevaluated their situation at defensive tackle. Even when the players show a knowledge and commitment to the task, they get beaten and bullied out of position. The ramifications of which aren’t hard to see as linebackers and safeties are regularly met with 300+ pound linemen squaring up with them at the second level, running play after running play. Zimmer’s playbook itself takes time to digest and perfect. As a coach who likes to disguise and misdirect, he’s more complicated than many defensive coordinators around the league. It’s not something a coach can impart in just seven games and given the chronic issues on the defensive line, it’s probably not something that can be fixed in Dallas without upgrading the talent. Zimmer was given an impossible task and the results, while worse than any of us imagined, shouldn’t be overly surprising given the circumstances. It’s possible a more vanilla scheme would be easier to digest for players, but Zimmer isn’t teaching rocket science here either. At some point the accountability has to fall onto the players themselves and these Dallas defenders look like they are the biggest problem. Zimmer’s first seven games back in Dallas have been an unmitigated disaster but he was never supposed to be an instant fix. He’s a culture coach and a disciplinarian who needs the right pieces and viable alternatives to properly implement his defense. Neither time nor alternatives have been afforded the coach. Zimmer needs blame because at the end of the day he’s responsible for the defense, but he’s not the problem with the defense. The problem is the impossible circumstance and dearth of talent given to him. That falls on a different man. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys injury report: Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs don’t practice
Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Wednesday At 3-4, the Dallas Cowboys are facing an early crossroads in their season. With last Sunday’s 24-30 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys are three wins behind the NFC East-leading Washington Commanders. Injuries have decimated the team’s depth and have left them without a pass rush and quality options in their secondary. However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. The #DallasCowboys have activated DaRon Bland, and placed Amani Oruwariye on Reserve/Injured. — Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) October 30, 2024 DaRon Bland has been activated off injured reserve but did not practice. Bland started the year on injured reserve, and if he had not been activated this week, he would have been out for the season. In a corresponding move, the team sent Amani Oruwariye to injured reserve. As for the full injury report, here’s where the Cowboys are to begin their week of preparation for the Atlanta Falcons. Here is the full practice report for the #DallasCowboys and Atlanta Falcons: DaRon Bland, Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, Linval Joseph, Zack Martin and Nick Vigil all miss practice for injuries. Chris Lindstrom among the DNP’s for Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/W0zwMDf1cx — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 30, 2024 Running back Rico Dowdle, who missed the game against the 49ers after becoming ill before the game, returned to practice and was off the injury report. To begin the week, Micah Parsons still has not practiced. Parsons hasn’t practiced since sustaining an ankle injury against the New York Giants in week 5. Trevon Diggs also did not practice with a calf injury. Cornerback Caelen Carson did, however, fully practice. He’s missed multiple games with a shoulder injury and a full practice is trending in the right direction for his availability at Atlanta. Additional DNPs were Zack Martin (shoulder) and defensive tackle Linval Joseph (back). For Atlanta, Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, who suffered an ankle injury against Tampa Bay last week, did not practice and neither did guard Chris Lindstrom (knee). Linebacker Troy Andersen (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday for the Falcons. Also listed as a limited participants, were Justin Simmons with a hamstring injury and Matthew Judon (rest).
Cowboys roster move: DaRon Bland activated from injured reserve, Amani Oruwariye placed there
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images DaRon Bland is officially back for the Dallas Cowboys. The inevitable has happened. DaRon Bland has officially been activated off of injured reserve for the Dallas Cowboys. The @dallascowboys placed CB Amani Oruwariye on Reserve/Injured and activated CB DaRon Bland off Reserve/Injured. — Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) October 30, 2024 This was inevitable as Bland had to be activated from injured reserve this week or else he would have had to have stayed on there for the duration of the season. This was the case because the Cowboys first opened his window for potential return ahead of the game against the Detroit Lions three weeks ago. Bland’s return, to the active roster at least, is certainly welcome for a Cowboys team that could use any help that it can get right now. DeMarcus Lawrence and Marshawn Kneeland remain on injured reserve while Micah Parsons has not played since the Thursday night win against the New York Giants. That game was now over a month ago. Whenever Bland does officially return to the gameday roster we will finally get to see him and Trevon Diggs patrol the secondary as the team’s premier outside corners. You will recall that Bland’s emergence came last season when Diggs was injured. To make room for Bland on the 53-man roster the Cowboys also announced that cornerback Amani Oruwariye is heading to injured reserve.
Cowboys Headlines: Dak deficiency under scrutiny, Diggses delayed
Brotherly battle between Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Texans’ Stefon postponed again by injury :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was supposed to face off against this brother and fellow All-Pro Stefon Diggs when Dallas hosts Houston but another devastating knee injury postpones the highly anticipated matchup once again. It’s time for Cowboys to bench this highly-paid player and try something new :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cap problems in Dallas are nothing new so if Dallas wants to move on from some high-priced players, the time to gauge value starts now. This starting offensive lineman could be a wise money decision that could clear up to $14 million in cap space. Detailing Cowboys’ injuries and return timetables :: The Mothership Link: The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries so having a timeline for when those players return gives hope that this team can turn things around with capable bodies. From Defensive ends Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, Dallas should get healthy soon. Michael Irvin says Cowboys have to make NFL trade deadline deal: ‘It’s bad right now’ :: Dallas Morning News Link: The Playmaker, also known as Michael Irvin, says the Cowboys should make a trade before the November 5th deadline. The Dallas front office has already said they won’t make a deal but have reversed course in the past. Before confronting local media members, Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs should check the film :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs confronted journalist Mike Leslie right after the game for a tweet he sent criticizing Diggs’ effort on a long run play. Video evidence suggests the player should check the film before another outburst occurs. Jerry Jones explains why Dak Prescott is hesitant to use his legs :: SI Link: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not hide the fact that he does not want quarterback Dak Prescott to use his legs as a weapon citing injury as the biggest reason. Prescott was hurt running before and limiting his opportunities is a conscious effort to keep their franchise QB healthy. Dallas Cowboys 2025 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Defensive Line Upgrades Are Priority :: The 33rd team Link: Poor play on the field has sent some to start scouting for the 2025 NFL draft. An early seven-round mock draft for the Cowboys is filled with defensive players with a dash of skill guys in hopes of elevating the team’s talent in their ranks. Cowboys Today: How many wins will Dallas finish with this season? :: The Athletic Link: Predicting how many wins the Cowboys will wind up with is a popular game to conduct prior to the start of the season. Doing so at about the halfway mark suggests things aren’t going well. A quick look at the remaining schedule offers a potentially grim outcome. Cowboys much-needed trade proposal lands $4 million Pro Bowler from Dolphins :: The Sporting News Link: A new trade proposal that some experts would like to see is the Cowboys sending emergency quarterback Trey Lance to Miami for Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert. The Dolphins running back has a salary of $4 million this season. Best and worst Cowboys from Week 8, according to PFF :: Blogging the Boys Link: PFF grades don’t often tell the whole story but they do give a great baseline for how the player is playing overall. The best and worst PFF grades include receiver CeeDee Lamb as the top performer while safety Donovan Wilson entered the bottom half.
Cowboys front office counting on returning injured players to turn season around
Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images The Cowboys appear content to count on players coming back from injury as the only help they need right now. The Cowboys are now 3-4 on the season after suffering yet another loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. Seven games have come and gone and the Cowboys are still looking for answers to overcome the deficiencies of this team. The defensive line is still struggling to generate a pass rush and fill gaps in the running game. On the offense, the offensive line is struggling to protect Dak Prescott, the receivers are struggling to get separation, and the running backs have yet to break a run over 13 yards this season despite elevating Dalvin Cook on Sunday. This season has been one of the lowest in terms of rankings amongst the other NFL teams. Currently, the Cowboys sit dead last in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game. They are also tied for last in rushing yards allowed per game (Carolina Panthers) and 31st in points allowed per game. The Cowboys are even struggling in the turnover category, one where they excelled in previous seasons, ranking 30th in the NFL with a -8 turnover differential. It is no secret that this season has been disappointing through the first seven games, and the sand in the hourglass is running low for this team to turn things around. With 10 games left, currently third in the NFC East, there should be a sense of urgency to do just that. In order for this Cowboys team to have a chance in doing so, self-reflection needs to take place at every level of this organization. However, the front office for the Cowboys is determined to continue selling hope to the fans. On Monday, Stephen Jones spoke with 105.3 The Fan to reiterate his confidence in the roster as it sits currently, citing the injuries on defense as the main contributor for this early adversity. Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan said he hasn’t had any thoughts this season that maybe this team just isn’t good enough. “This team is made up of a lot of the same players that won 12 games the last three seasons. Right now we’re just going through adversity. We’ve had… — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 28, 2024 Jerry Jones joined 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday with the same sales pitch: hope that the players coming back from injury will somehow solve all of the issues and turn the season around. “That’s what we’ve got. That’s the reality”. #Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones: I have a lot of faith in these players. I have a lot of faith in this coaching staff.. We’ll have some players coming back (from injury) that will play critical roles for us. We ought to get better. Seventeen-game season, lets get this thing turned… pic.twitter.com/qwmpHC2dGl — The Cowboys Network (@TheCowboysNet) October 29, 2024 While these returning players will no doubt be an improvement, it is a bit negligent to say that it will be enough to get the season back on track. A lot of the struggles that are present today are the same struggles that the team faced last year and early this season when healthy. Mind you, the 49ers were also riddled with injuries this past weekend and were able to overcome it. If the hope is that retuning players will turn this season into a “storybook ending” as Jerry Jones called it, there may not be time left for that. DaRon Bland and Micah Parsons’ status for this week is still unknown and it will be a few weeks at least before we will see the return of guys like DeMarcus Lawrence and Brandin Cooks. When looking at where the Cowboys stand in the division, there is very little room for error. The Washington Commanders are 6-2 atop the division and the Philadelphia Eagles are on a three-game winning streak at 5-2. The Cowboys are multiple games behind and the upcoming schedule isn’t doing them any favors. Before the season even started, it was understood that the Cowboys would have a really tough schedule, as previous playoff teams do. However, in Week 9, it looks even more daunting based on how well their opponents are doing. The next four games are the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Washington Commanders. Three out of the next four games are against current division leaders and likely 2024 playoff contenders. As it looks right now, the Cowboys are sticking with the personnel and staff that they have, holding steadfast in their plan of relying heavily on young players and the guys already in-house. The trade deadline is approaching next week and there is no sign of movement on that front for the Cowboys. The window for making the playoffs in 2024 is closing quick and there is very little room for error. Will hope be enough for the Cowboys to create that storybook ending? Right now, it’s getting difficult for even the most hopeful optimists to buy in.
Cowboys news: Latest updates on Dallas’ injured stars and their return dates
Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images The latest news and notes around the Dallas Cowboys Detailing Cowboys’ injuries and return timetables – Tommy Yarrish, DallasCowboys.com Unfortunately, this injury update list is much longer than it should be. Micah Parsons (ankle) – Dallas’ premiere pass rusher has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain against the New York Giants back in week four. The Cowboys decided not to put Parsons on IR. He was out with the rehab group on the practice field in the week leading up to the Cowboys matchup against San Francisco and did not practice, focusing on cord work off to the side. This week, both Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy have said it’s too early in the week to determine whether or not Parsons has a chance to play against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. DaRon Bland (foot) – Jones and McCarthy also said that it was too early to say whether or not DaRon Bland will be available against the Falcons. Bland suffered a stress fracture in the last week of training camp, and has yet to play this season after his All-Pro campaign in 2023. Bland was nearly able to return to the lineup against the Lions in Week 6, but suffered a setback later in the week that held him out of the game and has still lingered. Bland was also part of the rehab group this past week leading up to the 49ers game, where he did not participate in any practices during the week. The Cowboys will have to make a decision on Bland by Wednesday, as his 21-day practice window closes then. Bland will either need to be added to the active roster, or be placed on season-ending injured reserve. DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) – The Cowboys’ other high-end defensive end also went down in the Week 4 contest against the Giants, but Lawrence’s injury was more severe. He was placed on injured reserve by the team on October 1, and his already missed three of the required four games since he sustained his injury. Whether or not Lawrence will be ready to go after the Cowboys play Atlanta on Sunday is still to be determined, with Cowboys executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones saying after Lawrence sustained the injury that he was “week to week” but not ruled out of any contests. The earliest Lawrence would be able to play is November 10, when the Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles. Brandin Cooks (knee) – The veteran wide receiver was the third Cowboy to come out of the Giants game in Week 4 with an injury, after undergoing a procedure on his knee that led to an infection, which led to a clean-out surgery. While Cooks’ 21-day window has yet to be opened, he was seen off to the side on the practice field doing cord work for the first time last week. He too will be eligible to return on November 10 against the Eagles. Jerry Jones not OK with idea of Dak Prescott running the ball more for Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com Limiting Dak Prescott’s rushing attempts could be about protecting the team’s $60 million investment. “You really don’t want to see him really take off with that ball,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, following the team’s fourth consecutive loss to the San Francisco 49ers. “These quarterbacks that run, you know they’re gonna get injured. That happens. It happens to the youngest and it happens to the best. It’s happened to Dak.” Prescott suffered a season-ending broken ankle on a scramble play in 2021, against the New York Giants in Week 5, and has been reticent to use his legs to gain yards ever since. He’s done it on rare occasions, but not like he once did — e.g., during his Mississippi State days. Jones is perfectly fine with it, carrying the belief that the risk isn’t worth the reward. “To the end that we rely on him to stay healthy, that’s an important part of it,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t say it’s up there in red letters at the facility to not run, but I’d say we want him to be smart about it. And he is being smart about it. However, he will, when he sees the opportunity, pull it down and run with it — as we know.” The Cowboys took a 10-6 lead into halftime against the San Francisco 49ers before Brock Purdy began to use his mobility to help lead his offense to three touchdowns in three drives in that quarter alone, and that’s not a fact lost on Jones. “It’s easy to compare, and that’s fair, when the opposing quarterback is really complementing what they’re doing with their offense with his running,” said Jones. “But I’m satisfied with Dak, in terms of his ability to run. It’s there, as far as physically, he can run. We want Dak, in the future, to do the kind of job with his arm and get the ball out to the outside, you see us trying to do that a lot, and make up for anything that we might want to do [with his legs].” Cowboys’ offensive struggles can all be traced back to one moment of the 2023 season – Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News Could the Cowboys lack of success in 2024 be tied directly to the Trey Lance trade? How did we get here? For me, it all goes back to the Trey Lance trade, a move that made no sense at the time it happened in 2023 and will ultimately net the Cowboys nothing but the loss of a fourth-round pick. That is, unless you’re so dissatisfied with Dak’s play that you’re ready to leapfrog Cooper Rush on the depth chart and take a gamble on Lance. When we last saw him, Lance was throwing five interceptions in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Or maybe you’d like to keep
Good, Bad, Ugly: Wasted possessions, controversial penalty, ST miscues latest face palm Cowboys moments
When it mattered the most, the Cowboys offense turned in their worst possessions Sunday night. But a few ill-timed incompletions obviously don’t tell the whole story of the 30-24 loss to the 49ers; there were plenty of other contributing factors that make up the bad and the ugly in this week’s recap. The run game couldn’t get out of first gear (again) despite the one personnel move that the fanbase had been screaming for, a controversial penalty might have altered the disastrous third quarter had it gone the other way, and even John Fassel’s special-teams unit couldn’t get out of their own way in an unusually sloppy outing. There was some good to be found, though… if you looked hard enough. CeeDee Lamb actually had one of his best performances, for example, perhaps putting to bed the bye-week storyline that there’s something wrong with the way he runs routes. And while most rookie offensive linemen prefer to fly well under the radar, one Cowboys youngster showed out and turned heads with a particularly flashy play that’s worth a second look. Here’s are some of the trends, plays, and players you may have forgotten about that comprise the good, the bad, and the ugly of Week 8’s disappointing loss. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: CeeDee Lamb’s never-say-die performance Route-running critiques from franchise legends notwithstanding, Lamb continues to be the bright spot for the Cowboys offense in 2024. He had his most productive outing- by far- of 2024 on Sunday night, and his two late scoring grabs somehow helped turn a game in which Dallas trailed by 17 points with eight and a half minutes to go into an honest-to-goodness nail-biter. The comeback bid came up short, but Lamb turned in one of the best statistical performances of his career. His 17 targets and 13 catches tied personal bests, his 146 yards are a top-seven total for him, and he scored two touchdowns for just the eighth time as a pro. Given the lack of reliable pass-catchers around him to draw the defense’s attention, what Lamb is doing as the only legitimate offensive weapon on the team is remarkable. Bad: Run game didn’t cook up any improvements over bye Cowboys Nation clamored for seven weeks to put Dalvin Cook in the backfield, and when they finally did, he gained… 12 yards on six carries. (Sigh.) Rico Dowdle was a surprise last-minute scratch due to a mysterious illness, Deuce Vaughn never got onto the field, and Ezekiel Elliott managed just 34 yards on 10 tries. Even the first two series’ worth of plays- all ostensibly scripted over the previous two weeks- earned Dallas just eight yards on four rushes, with two of them gaining nothing. And it actually got worse after halftime: the Cowboys averaged just 0.6 yards per carry in the third and fourth quarters combined. The team apparently has no answer for how to spark a ground attack; at their current clip, they’ll end the season with just 1,260 team rushing yards (three clubs have more than that now) and their 74.1 rushing-yards-per-game average would rank as the lowest in franchise history for a season. Ugly: Wasted possessions when they mattered most That Dallas had a shot at a walk-off win at all defies belief. After forcing a three-and-out, the defense handed the ball back to Prescott & Co. with 3:05 to play, down by six points. Even with no timeouts, that’s an eternity for an experienced quarterback to lead his unit 75 yards. Except Prescott threw four straight incompletions (the only time all night he had more than two missed connections in a row) for a drive that used 16 seconds of clock and gained zero yards. Most painful was the deep-ball drop by KaVontae Turpin on third down, a gorgeous ball that he should have- and a taller receiver likely would have– caught. It wasn’t the only wasted opportunity; Dallas went three-and-out with under two minutes to play in the second quarter, when a touchdown would have increased the Cowboys’ halftime lead to 11 points and had San Francisco two scores down coming out of the break. Things could have been very different. Good: Cooper Beebe shows hustle, continued progression The rookie is trending in the right direction in his first pro season. His PFF grade for Week 8, a 77.3, was good for fifth-best among NFL centers (prior to Monday night’s game) and marked his best grade- easily- of the 2024 season thus far. He showed off the hustle that at Kansas State earned him the nickname “The Dancing Bear” on one first-quarter play in particular. After pancaking 49ers lineman Sam Okuayinonu on a Turpin end-around, Beebe followed the play and just happened to be in the right spot when Turpin coughed up the ball 11 yards downfield. Beebe pounced to retain possession and extended what turned out to be the Cowboys’ first touchdown drive of the game. Bad: Seemingly obvious call doesn’t go Dallas’ way George Kittle was all alone in the end zone for his third-quarter touchdown catch. And for good reason: Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson had been blown up by 49ers receiver Chris Conley. It looked like a clear and obvious pick, yet officials waved off the offensive pass interference flag. Incredibly, NBC’s Terry McAulay seemed to put the blame on Wilson for stepping in front of Conley, but also on cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who he claimed “kind of rides [Conley] into [Wilson].” Cris Collinsworth was baffled by both the no-call and the explanation, suggesting that teams will start copying Conley’s technique to similarly “act” their way into legal pick plays. Had the penalty stood, the 49ers touchdown would have been nullified, and it would have been 4th-and-goal… from the Cowboys’ 12. San Francisco likely would have settled for a field goal, and Dallas might have been able to stop the bleeding sooner. Ugly: Special teams have not-so-special night The Cowboys’ usually-spectacular special teams unit had an uncharacteristically rough outing. It started early when C.J. Goodwin was
