Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images The Cowboys have counted on young players to step up all season long and Sunday night will be no different. Heading into the 2024 season, the Cowboys were very upfront with their plan to rely on rookies and young players to fill holes in their roster left by free agency exits. Five of their 2024 draft picks have already had significant playing time in the first four games. Week 5 may bring that number up to six. The Cowboys suffered some major setbacks in the victory over the New York Giants last Thursday when it comes to injuries. Brandin Cooks, Micah Parsons, and DeMarcus Lawrence will all miss playing time in the next few weeks. If you’re wondering how the Cowboys plan to address these different positions, look no further than their original plan: the rookies and young players. It is currently uncertain how much time Cooks will need to recover from an infection from some injections he received after the Giants game, but he is currently ruled out for this week’s matchup against the Steelers. Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott have both mentioned that it is time for the young receivers to step up. The majority of the work will fall on the shoulders of Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin, and Jalen Brooks to carry the load in Cooks’ absence. However, it will also bring a big opportunity for rookie WR Ryan Flournoy as he looks to be activated for his first NFL game. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott on the loss of Brandin Cooks: “He damn sure will be missed.“ Added that it’s time for Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, and Ryan Flournoy to step up. pic.twitter.com/gGPJluACrc — Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) October 3, 2024 Many fans on X (Twitter) have been calling for Flournoy to get his chance long before the injury to Cooks. And during the first four games, he was anxiously waiting with them. Now that it looks like his time has come, he is ready to step up and help the offense be successful. Cowboys WR Ryan Flournoy ahead of NFL debut on Sunday: “Super confident. I’ve built that hunger. It’s week five and I haven’t played since that last preseason game. I’ve been hungry ever since. I’m thankful that I’m able to show what I got and prove to the world that I belong.” — Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) October 2, 2024 In a recent article by Patrik Walker on DallasCowboys.com, Flournoy talked about the inspiration and wisdom he has gained from Cooks’ leadership in the WR room. “Just respecting the game, the game of football,” he said. “You win, you lose but the next play, you respect it again by going out and playing your hardest. Brandin Cooks is an amazing football player, and an even more amazing person. What he’s taught me over the past few months that I’ve been here, man, I feel like I could play 11 years in the league just as he [is].” After he was drafted, Flournoy mentioned he compares to Dez Bryant in the type of WR he is. If Flournoy is able to showcase that and bring something different to this WR corps in Cooks’ absence, hopefully he will earn his permanent spot on the active roster. Great touchdown connection here between Trey Lance and Ryan Flournoy (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/0dR5Nkr3Ys — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) August 24, 2024 On the other side of the ball, there is a massive hole in the defensive line left by the injuries to Lawrence and Parsons. In order to help add bodies to the defensive line room, the Cowboys’ front office went out and added a pass rusher in K.J. Henry from the Bengals practice squad. However, their plan for these next few games without their star pass rushers mainly features the guys already in the room: rookie Marshawn Kneeland and Chauncey Golston. Marshawn Kneeland is the young player that the team is relying on to step up in these next few weeks, and it isn’t the first time he has been asked to do so. At the beginning of the season, he was asked to step up after Sam Williams tore his ACL and MCL. And he did. In his first four games he has done a pretty good job for a rookie. With six pressures and four QB hits, he ranks among the top of all rookie DL according to PFF. While those numbers are good for a rookie playing next to a few Pro Bowlers, he will now have to prove that he can step up again without them. #Cowboys Marshawn Kneeland stats among rookie defensive ends per @PFF: – 107 snaps (3rd)– 6 pressures (3rd)– 4 quarterback hits (T-1st)– 5 tackles (2nd)– 4 run stops (2nd) Dallas will be relying on their second round pick absence of DeMarcus Lawrence.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/GhFd6HP1CV — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 30, 2024 While this may seem like a very daunting task for the rookie to make up for the absence of a “tank” and a “lion”, Mike McCarthy hinted that his role will be a bit different than previous weeks and the coaching staff is looking for ways to make it easier for Kneeland this Sunday. “I think the biggest thing is to own his role,” said McCarthy. “His role will be different this week and, without getting into specifics, he just needs to focus on that. He’s been playing in a couple different spots and special teams responsibilities. Of all the rookies who have played the first four games, he’s played the most positions. … When we get to Sunday, he’ll be able to focus more and have a more limited menu.” This week (and possibly a few more weeks before the bye) will be a big week for these young players to try and hold down the fort until some of these injured players can return. The coaches and teammates around them have a lot of faith that they will be successful in doing so. They’ve got
Dallas Cowboys fans not moved by Giants win, see a loss to the Steelers
Wm. Glasheen-USA TODAY Sports Dallas Cowboys fans are pretty apathetic these days. The Dallas Cowboys were able to get a win last week over the New York Giants and even their record at 2-2. The victory was a little underwhelming compared to previous wins over the Giants, and the team lost some players long the way. They will be without Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Brandin Cooks for the Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday night. So even though the Cowboys won, on the road, in the division, it was still not enough to really inspire the fanbase. It will take more. We asked you earlier this week about your confidence in the direction of the franchise, and only 11% are confident the team is heading in the right direction. That is actually a 6% increase from last week’s figure of 5%. Clearly, the masses are unconvinced. We also asked you earlier in the week about whether you thought the Cowboys would win in Pittsburgh. The current line from FanDuel has the Cowboys as 2.5-point underdogs. Only 27% of Cowboys fans think Dallas will win. If the Cowboys come home with a win after Sunday night, they may start their road to recovering the faith of the fanbase.
5 Cowboys legends in running for Hall of Fame Class of 2025 as Seniors
Five Cowboys legends are among the former players named as candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 as part of the Seniors category. A roster of 182 nominees was pared down to just 60 names by a specially-chosen screening committee. A separate panel will incrementally whittle the list further over the coming weeks, and three Seniors will be presented as finalists later this fall. To be eligible for the Seniors category, a player’s final game had to have come in the 1999 season or before. Among the notables still in the running for Canton: Jim Plunkett, Roger Craig, Mark Clayton, Sterling Sharpe, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, L.C. Greenwood, Tommy Nobis, Lester Hayes, and Steve Tasker. Here’s a look at the five Cowboys greats who will continue on this year as gold-jacket hopefuls in the Seniors category. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] OL Ralph Neely (1965-1977) Oct 9, 1977; St. Louis, MO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Cowboys tackle Ralph Neely (73) in action against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports Neely was drafted by both the NFL’s Baltimore Colts and the AFL’s Houston Oilers in 1965. The Little Rock, Ark. native and Oklahoma product planned to stay in the South and play for Houston… until the Colts traded his rights to the Cowboys. (Resolving the dispute between the two Texas teams over Neely actually became a sticking point in the merger between the two leagues.) Over his 13 seasons in Dallas, Neely went to two Pro Bowls, played in four Super Bowls (winning two), and was named a first-team All-Pro three times. He died in 2022 after battling dementia and the effects of CTE. DE Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones (1974-1978, 1980-1989) 4 Jan 1986: Defensive lineman Ed Too Tall Jones of the Dallas Cowboys (right) works against Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Jackie Slater during a playoff game at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Rams won the game, 20-0. At 6-foot-9, the nickname was a little obvious. Jones was the first overall pick in 1974’s draft, even though head coach Tom Landry had no idea what position he should play. After finally finding a home at left defensive end, all “Too Tall” did was dominate the league… until he abruptly retired from football at 28 years old to take up professional boxing. After just six bouts (all wins, five of them by knockout) he returned to the Cowboys for reasons he never publicly shared. Amazingly, he was even better in his second stint, playing another ten years and going to three Pro Bowls. The league began charting pass knockdowns as a stat because of Jones. Only two Cowboys have played in more games. DE Harvey Martin (1973-1983) Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Martin should be in the NFL record books as the all-time single-season sacks leader, having notched a staggering 23 of them in 1977 (and over just a 14-game schedule, to boot). But sacks weren’t an officially-kept stat then, leaving the feat that earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors largely lost between the cracks of football history. The third-round draft pick out of East Texas State went on to four Pro Bowls over his Cowboys career and was co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, along with Randy White. After retiring in 1983, he went on to a brief second career in pro wrestling. Martin passed away on Christmas Eve 2001, of pancreatic cancer. LB Lee Roy Jordan (1963-1976) MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 18: Lee Roy Jordan #55 of the Dallas Cowboys tackles Franco Harris #32 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl X January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Steelers won the Super Bowl 21-17. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) If Jordan had played in a different era, he would likely be widely regarded as one of the best defenders to ever play the game. The sixth overall pick by Dallas in the 1963 draft, the undersized Alabama product was the first Cowboys rookie to ever start a season opener at linebacker. He was a mainstay in the middle of the original “Doomsday” defense for 14 seasons, earning five Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl ring. When he retired after the 1976 season, he was the Cowboys’ all-time leader in tackles. Jordan was a Hall finalist in 1988; the following year, he became the first member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor to be inducted by Jerry Jones. DB Everson Walls (1981-1989) LOS ANGELES Ð AUGUST 13: Everson Walls #24 of the Dallas Cowboys stands on the field during a NFL game against the Los Angeles Raiders on August 13, 1988 at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Dean Steele/Getty Images) An undrafted free agent out of Grambling State, most thought Walls was too slow to play in the NFL, yet by Week 5 of his rookie season, he was starting. He finished that season with a record 11 interceptions. He played nine seasons in Dallas and led the league in picks in three of them. Perhaps unfairly, the four-time Pro Bowler is often remembered as the defender Dwight Clark beat to make “The Catch.” Walls went on to also play with the Giants and Browns, but he has always remained a Cowboy at heart. At 47, he made the incredible choice to donate a kidney to close friend and former Dallas teammate Ron Springs. He was a semifinalist for the Hall in 2023; Walls has called his exclusion “something I struggle with mightily.”
Cowboys injury report: Cooks & Parsons ruled out, Carson, Diggs questionable
Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Friday The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a rash of injuries. DeMarcus Lawrence was sent to injured reserve, and Micah Parsons was ruled out for Sunday’s game and will likely miss multiple games. Playing undermanned to go on the road and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at less than full strength will take a gutsy performance. Here’s where Dallas and Pittsburgh stand regarding injuries after the week’s final injury report. CB Trevon Diggs is QUESTIONABLE for the Cowboys. WR Brandin Cooks is OUT. Here’s the full Dallas Cowboys-Pittsburgh Steelers injury report. pic.twitter.com/kGxjyLAJHo — Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) October 4, 2024 Additionally to Parsons, Brandin Cooks was ruled out, to no one’s surprise. Cooks was discovered to have had an infection from his knee procedure and will miss at least Sunday’s game. Caelen Carson was limited in today’s Friday practice and is considered questionable to play. The Cowboys did not activate DaRon Bland. Therefore, if Carson misses Sunday’s game, Dallas will be thin at cornerback again. Tyler Guyton popped up on the injury report yesterday (shoulder) and practiced fully again today. He should be good to go against Pittsburgh, and so should Markquese Bell. Trevon Diggs was also limited Friday and is questionable, yet expected to play against the Steelers. Marist Liufau is also questionable with a quad injury. Pittsburgh will be without two of their reserve running backs. Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) have been ruled out. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has also been ruled out with a groin injury. Backup quarterback Russell Wilson has been limited all week at practice and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi has been limited at practice the last two days and is questionable for Sunday night.
Falcons game-tying field goal set up officiated very differently than recent Cowboys playoff loss
Brett Davis-Imagn Images Something about Thursday night’s game felt horribly familiar to Dallas Cowboys fans. If you did not watch it, Thursday night’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers was incredible. Unlike the previous Thursday night when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Giants, points were quite common. Atlanta and Tampa combined for 66 points through the game’s end which came beyond regulation as things needed overtime to be properly settled. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards, four touchdowns and an interception on the night when Atlanta honored Matt Ryan by placing him in their Ring of Honor. Amazingly, Cousins broke Ryan’s single-game record for passing yards with all of that happening. Sports can be funny like that sometimes. Something that no Cowboys fan was laughing at though was the way in which Cousins helped the game get to overtime. Down by three with 12 seconds left, he found wide receiver Drake London for 14 yards to put the Falcons in easy-ish field goal range. Given that Atlanta did not have any timeouts, that they were able to execute the play and spike the ball so quickly was impressive. GOT THE FIRST DOWN AND SPIKED WITH ONE SECOND TO GO OMG pic.twitter.com/lJafzVlvip — NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2024 Watch it again. You may not laugh either. London gets up after making the catch, clearly aware of the situation and that Atlanta needs to spike the ball and hands the ball itself to his center. Not the official. Atlanta’s center, Ryan Neuzil, places the ball on the ground for the official to touch. You can sort of assume that this is all he is expecting to happen. If that is the case, that assumption was proven to be true as the official merely touches the ball (where Neuzil placed it, not where the official himself did) and the Falcons are able to snap the ball to spike it with a second left. The rest, as they say, is history. On the subject of history, this specific sequence of events is a sensitive subject for Dallas Cowboys fans. You will recall the Wild Card round following the 2021 season when the Cowboys, trailing against the San Francisco 49ers (what else is new), tried to get a bit cute with Dak Prescott running a quarterback draw in the final seconds. The hope was to set Dallas up with a more doable Hail Mary, make the supremely improbable only pretty improbable. When Prescott got up from his run he handed the ball to Tyler Biadasz, the then-center for the Cowboys. This is exactly what Drake London did on Thursday night. Unlike Thursday night’s official with Neuzil the official in the playoff game grabbed the ball and had to re-place it. The ruling was noted to be that the official has to spot the ball. Dak Prescott ran a QB draw with 14 seconds left and handed the ball to the center, who placed the ball himself. However, the ref is supposed to spot the ball. The move cost Dallas a chance at a game-winning play. The 49ers advance. @NFL pic.twitter.com/1LifgBFDAj — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 17, 2022 As you can imagine there were many Cowboys fans who were reminded of this moment when Atlanta executed theirs. The situations are identical (in terms of needing to spike the ball quickly) with the ball-carrier in question handing the ball directly to the center. In Dallas’ case though, the official made sure to re-spot the ball and even moved it back a bit. The point of this conversation isn’t to say that Dallas should have beat San Francisco, but rather to highlight the inconsistencies that exist with such important things. At the time of this writing no reasoning has been given as to why what Atlanta did was permissible (good for them, by the way) and why what Dallas did was not. They are the same exact thing.
Quiet on Set: Cowboys’ silent count to be tested Week 5 vs Steelers
Quiet on Set: Cowboys’ silent count to be tested Week 5 vs Steelers reidhanson The Cowboys are no strangers to loud stadiums. They have to endure yearly matchups against the Giants in New Jersey and the Eagles in Philadelphia, in addition to oddly frequent pilgrimages to the noise chambers in Minnesota, Seattle and San Francisco. Playing on the road is part of the job and in many cases those road games change the job entirely. Crowd noise is meant to stymie communication for opposing offenses. Snap counts, audibles and just about every other verbal communication on the field can be extremely difficult on the road. As such, offenses must learn to communicate through a series of gestures and motions to signal snap counts and audibles. When allowed to communicate openly, the Cowboys have historically been one of the best teams in the NFL. Before their recent home losing streak, Dallas was undefeated within the confines of AT&T stadium. In 2023 they went 8-0 at home in the regular season, compared to just 4-5 on the road. They won their last eight home games of 2022. Crowd noise and its impact on the offense’s ability to communicate likely played a big part in that. Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh is regarded as one of the loudest in the NFL. Ranking top 10 in decibel levels, the Cowboys will have their work cut out for them in Week 5. And adding to the volume of this matchup is the rivalry between the two teams. While players on the field may not feel it, fans in Pittsburgh certainly do. With bad blood going back 50 years, this is not just any old interconference matchup. The primetime nature of Sunday Night Football also adds an element of fervor to the event. More time for day drinking in the parking lot often means an extra jolt of energy from the stands. Plus, the Steelers have started out the season 3-1 and currently have Dallas positioned as the underdogs. They smell blood in the water. The stage has been set for this to be the Cowboys loudest game of the season, so for the sake of the offense, players better be prepared. Right tackle Terence Steele and left tackle Tyler Guyton will specifically be under extra pressure to avoid false starts in these silent count scenarios. The Cowboys can’t be giving away yards this week. Dallas’ ability to survive the noise could make all the difference in this Week 5 showdown. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Dallas Cowboys motion usage has dramatically decreased on offense this season
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Motion has been a hot topic around the Dallas Cowboys and it is undeniable that they have regressed in terms of using it. A few years ago Cris Collinsworth appeared on NFL Total Access one day and spoke on the idea of play-action. This was at the peak of football fans debating that play-action was only effective when you “established the run”, a point that Collinsworth mentioned it took him a “lifetime” to understand was not the case. Here is the clip in question: Cris Collinsworth on Wednesday’s NFL Total Access talking play action and the Dallas Cowboys: “Play action is effective regardless of how you’re running the football. Now it took me a lifetime to get to where that became a fact in my brain.”pic.twitter.com/C7xvhZYBB7 — RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 5, 2019 Collinsworth, a fan of data and analytics in the modern NFL given his involvement in PFF, noted that play-action is effective not because any run game has been established, but essentially because of the mental hurdles that involving it in your offense creates. By pretending (for lack of a better word) to do one thing you are forcing defensive players to provide some level of reaction to it which creates (theoretically) an advantage for you with regards to what you actually want to do. Even if the advantage created is minute, it exists. This Collinsworth quote came to mind this week when a clip of former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly began to surface. Speaking to Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks about offenses using motion so much in 2024, Kuechly described the mental gymnastics that defenders have to go through when it is all happening before the snap. Luke Kuechly on impact of motion on a defense pic.twitter.com/CMoHVBGqGQ — Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) October 2, 2024 These things are not apples to apples, but the general point is understood. If you are creating havoc, eye candy, whatever you want to call it, all before the ball is hiked and the play begins, you are challenging a defense to be ready for anything and everything which is very difficult. We have seen the impact that motion has on the Dallas Cowboys defense over time and how it is their most glaring weakness. Given the heavy usage we have seen across the NFL, particularly from Kyle Shanahan and the branches of his tree spread all across the league, it remains frustrating that Dallas cannot find a way to mitigate this. That is a subject for a different day, though. Today we are here to talk about how the Dallas Cowboys offense has significantly regressed in terms of utilizing motion, which is also frustrating given how successful and almost necessary it is in the NFL in 2024. Four games into the season we have seen enormous regression from the Dallas Cowboys offense in terms of motion usage We are about to compare four games from one season against 17 (talking regular seasons here) of another. The data sets are very different in terms of size. But the fact of the matter is that this year’s Dallas Cowboys have only played in four games and that is all we use. While four games is not 17, it is enough to draw some legitimate opinions. Looking back before we do sideways for a second, here is where the Dallas Cowboys ranked across the rest of the league last season in terms of motion usage by quarter (shout out to Tom Downey who inspired this whole exercise with his tweet on Thursday). Dallas Cowboys Motion Usage By Quarter, 2023 Q1: 7th Q2: 18th Q3: 15th Q4: 14th This kind of lines up with what we remember from last year’s team. They did a great job of getting involved on offense early, built up leads and then coasted a little bit (not all of the time) while the defense went to work across the second half of games. Before we get to this year, let’s break this down by average amount of motion plays per quarter. Keep in mind that games vary significantly and that sometimes you don’t touch the ball a ton in a certain quarter. Consider that Dallas held the ball for under 25 minutes total last week against the New York Giants as an example of how volatile this can be. Nevertheless, here are those averages. Average Dallas Cowboys Motion Plays Per Quarter, 2023 Q1: 10.6 Q2: 9.1 Q3: 8.3 Q4: 8.8 The decimals make it weird so round up or down, however you’d like and depending on what kind of mood you are in. The overall point of this discussion and exercise is not to look at the variance by quarter across last season but rather against what the team is doing through four games this year. On the subject of this year, here is where the Cowboys rank across the league by motion usage on a quarterly basis. Dallas Cowboys Motion Usage By Quarter, 2023 Q1: 8th Q2: 26th Q3: 31st Q4: 27th This is, to say the least, significant regression. We are seeing much less motion from the team this year which is stating more than the obvious. It is difficult to explain why the Cowboys would regress so hard, especially given when the NFL as a whole is leaning into this so much. When looking at this season it is somewhat fair to say that the games against the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens got out of hand so quickly and this changed some of the calculus involved, but that if anything enlarged the need for offensive success and creativity. Average Dallas Cowboys Motion Plays Per Quarter, 2024 Q1: 5.4 Q2: 8.5 Q3: 6.5 Q4: 6.25 In addition to games getting a bit out of hand for the Cowboys, they are also down playmakers relative to last season. The complete and total lack of a running game to this point is something that is weighing a lot of things (and opportunities)
Cowboys news: The keys to a Dallas win against the Steelers
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images The latest in Cowboys news heading into the weekend. 3 keys to a Dallas Cowboys victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium – Abraham Nudelstejer, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys will need to excel in these three areas in order to have a good chance of beating the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. Scoring first The Cowboys will need to take an early lead. Dallas scored the first touchdown against the Browns and Giants and won both games. In a recent “Coach” podcast with Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi, former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick praised the Cowboys’ ability to play with the lead. “Nobody’s better at playing ahead than Dallas is. They can control the ball offensively, and they can play from ahead on defense with their pass rush and their coverage players. That really plays into their hands.” In their four games, the Cowboys have scored an average of 14 points in the first half, ranking ninth in the league. Dallas is averaging 10.3 points in the second half, ranking 18th in the NFL. Fun fact: The Cowboys’ win-loss record when they score first is 564-415-6 all-time. Kicking game Sunday’s game will be a duel between two of the league’s best kickers. Brandon Aubrey has connected on 12 of 13 field-goal attempts for the Cowboys including a 65-yarder, the second-longest in NFL history. Aubrey is perfect on extra-point attempts (seven), totaling 43 points so far this season. Chris Boswell is having a stellar season as Pittsburgh’s kicker, with 11 of 12 field-goal attempts and six extra points for 39 points. The Steelers are second-best in the league in made field goals, posting an average of 2.8 per game. The Cowboys are first with an average of three field goals made per game. Don’t rule out a last-second heroic kick by Aubrey to give Dallas the victory. Next man-up attitude Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will have to find ways to compensate for the absences of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. The linebacker and defensive end are the team’s defensive anchors, and both will be out due to injuries. Parsons’ injury (high ankle sprain) typically takes two to four weeks. Lawrence (Lisfranc injury to his foot) will be out even longer. “Those are two dynamic guys,” Zimmer told The Dallas Morning News’ David Moore. “Good leaders, good team guys. We’ll have to make some adjustments and see how it goes.” In a surprise Wednesday, it was revealed receiver Brandin Cooks will miss Sunday’s game with an infection in his knee that developed following a medical procedure. Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks and KaVontae Turpin will be looked upon to fill the void. Will Dalvin Cook play in Week 5? Jerry Jones sheds light on plan – Josh Sanchez, Sports Illustrated Jerry Jones told interviewers that Dalvin Cook will likely remain on the practice squad this week. During his appearance on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), Jones was asked about Cook making his debut. According to Jones, that “probably” won’t happen this week. “When you look at a roster, you look at the entire roster and you have to adjust it for injuries or you have to adjust for availability. That’s a big thing and you have to adjust it for how you’re going to use them,” Jones said. “The other day, we didn’t run the ball much at all. You’ve got to evaluate how you’re going to look at any position, whether it’s his position, with receivers or what.” Dallas is playing a dangerous game. Cook has said he’s staying ready for when he gets the opportunity to see the field, but the longer he is stashed on the practice squad, the more opportunities teams around the league could poach him if they find themselves in need of a running back. Hunter Luepke finding inspiration from fullback legends – Kyle Youmans, DallasCowboys.com After a great start to the 2024 season, Hunter Luepke talked to the media about the fullbacks who inspired him. “Back in college we used to have motivational videos that my position coach would pull up,” Luepke said. “Coach would pull up Mike Alstott pretty much every Friday, if not every other Friday before a game and just watch his film. So yeah, he’s a legend.” Mike Alstott played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being selected in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He cemented his legacy as one of the most versatile and decorated fullbacks in history, tallying three All-Pro selections, six Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl title. But growing up in Spencer, Wisconsin, Luepke also had a front-row seat in watching his current head coach, carve out a role for John Kuhn at the fullback position, who also finished his career with multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, winning two Super Bowls as well. “Kuhn was one of my favorites growing up as well,” Luepke said. “Third and goal on the one-yard line. He comes in, and everybody’s just screaming ‘Kuuuuuuhn!’ That was awesome.” Two role models that Luepke has been fortunate to see in person and learn from on tape to help further his game, and build expectations for himself, that can help this offense improve. “Teams can use you in different scenarios,” Luepke said. “I’m not always just going to be lined up at the F position, straight fullback. That was my mindset rolling into it. Showing my versatility and be everywhere on the field that I possibly can be to make this team, and now to help this team win games.” Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott battling through slow start, limited carries in Dallas reunion – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News Ezekiel Elliott is trying to make the most out of his limited opportunities. On the season, Elliott has just 81 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown. Last week, Elliott rushed for a season-high 40 yards on a season-high 10 carries in a win over the Giants. He’s
Cowboys Headlines: Young WRs eye big opportunity, setbacks for more stars, Stephen Jones explains Davante Adams non-pursuit
CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott message to Cowboys WRs vs. Steelers: ‘It’s time’ :: The Mothership Link Lamb says he can’t wait for Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin, and Ryan Flournoy to “showcase their abilities” as they all see an increased role due to the temporary loss of Brandin Cooks. Prescott pointed to his own past in the league as an example of how an unexpected chance can lead to much bigger things: “When your number’s called, jump in, show that you belong here, show that you can prepare the right way, and make the most of your opportunity.” To prepare for larger roles, young Dallas Cowboys receivers lean on the mentor they’re replacing :: Lone Star Live Link Cooks was quick to lean into his mentor role upon learning his knee infection would keep him out of the Week 5 game. “He just told me to be me,” said Tolbert. Flournoy says he’s learned much just by watching how Cooks warms up, works out, and takes care of himself. The youngsters say they’re ready to take on higher expectations in the offense and will be motivated to play well as a tribute to the 11-year veteran. Cowboys vs Steelers: Diggs added to injury report, dehydration makes appearance with Elliott :: Cowboys Wire Link A Cowboys squad that already has several banged-up playmakers added a few new names to the practice report on Thursday. CB Trevon Diggs (ankle), LT Tyler Guyton (shoulder), and RB Rico Dowdle (wrist) will be worth watching, but the real surprise was RB Ezekiel Elliott and Flournoy being listed as limited due to “dehydration.” Caelen Carson not as close to game-ready as previously hoped :: Nick Harris As injuries abound, schedule gets tougher, Cowboys look to show ‘what we’re made of’ :: Dallas Morning News Link The Cowboys like to say they’re “built for adversity.” They’re about to find out. Down several top stars, they’ll play Pittsburgh and then Detroit, a title-contending team looking to end a six-game losing streak to the Cowboys. After the bye comes a visit to San Francisco, a franchise that’s reached the NFC title game the last three seasons, with a Super Bowl appearance last season. The Cowboys have lost their last three games to the 49ers. ‘One block away’: Cowboys vow to stick with current rushing attack despite lack of results :: Cowboys Wire Link The Cowboys’ running back committee has amassed a league-low 301 yards through four games, but the team seems set on sticking with exactly what they’ve been doing. “We’re close,” fullback Hunter Luepke said. “It’s going to break through one of these games.” Week 5 in Pittsburgh will be a tough week for a turnaround; only two squads have allowed fewer rushing yards in 2024 than the Steelers. And they’re second-best leaguewide in yards-per-carry allowed. When will Dalvin Cook take the field for a suffering Cowboys running game? :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Five weeks after joining the team, the four-time Pro Bowler still hasn’t seen the field despite a dead-last run game. Jerry Jones ruled out a gameday elevation for Cook this Sunday. “We need to get more attempts,” Mike McCarthy said of the current options. Whether there’s improvement over the next two games or not, the bye week will bring deeper offensive evaluations; that may be the most practical time for the team to make Cook active. Stephen Jones explains Cowboys’ decision not to pursue Davante Adams :: KTSM.com Stephen Jones downplayed the team’s interest in making a trade for the Raiders star. “No. I don’t think there is anything to that. We just signed our No. 1 guy CeeDee Lamb, and Adams is a No. 1 receiver,” he said. “When you have the challenges cap-wise that we have, that would be a long putt for us.” The explanation will not sit well with fans, who wouldn’t see two top-flight receiving threats as a problem. Quiet on Set: Cowboys’ silent count to be tested Week 5 vs Steelers :: Cowboys Wire Link Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium is one of the loudest in the NFL, so the Cowboys have to assume crowd noise will be an issue… especially in primetime. And the Cowboys were disturbingly poor in road games last season. Right tackle Terence Steele and left tackle Tyler Guyton specifically will be under extra pressure to avoid false starts in silent-count scenarios. Dallas’s ability to survive the noise could make all the difference in this Week 5 showdown. Steelers the perfect opponent for Cowboys to try changes against :: Cowboys Wire Link With injuries to several top players, the Dallas defense may need to get extremely creative this week. It may actually be the perfect week to do it. The Steelers rank 20th in EPA offense this season and have been having significant struggles running the ball. Mike Zimmer may elect to experiment with new players, new alignments, and blitz packages he may not otherwise feel comfortable with. Kneeland taking extra lessons to prep for big Week 5 opportunity :: Ed Werder Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey has won this award 60% of time since joining NFL :: Cowboys Wire Link Aubrey was named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for September after going 12-of-13 in field goals for the month and nailing two kicks of 60 yards or more. He also won the award last October and December, making this his third time being so honored in an NFL career that has spanned just five regular-season months total. 2025 NFL mock draft: Could Travis Hunter go No. 1? Who’s the top QB? :: The Athletic Link Using one set of 2024 projections to establish next spring’s draft order, the Cowboys have the 16th overall selection. (Yes, they likely miss the postseason in this model.) With that mid-round pick, Dallas takes Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker. The explosive junior is a massive 6-foot-6 and 345 pounds… but he could easily move way up draft boards over the course of this college season and go
NFL Week 5 rooting guide for Cowboys fans
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Here is what we are rooting for (besides the Cowboys) in Week 5. As rough as the first four weeks of the 2024 season have been for the Dallas Cowboys, they still find themselves at 2-2 and in the middle of the pack for playoff consideration. They’ve been helped by some surprising flops by other NFC teams, and they’ll probably need more of those if they want to extend this season. How could the Week 5 schedule help? Two key NFC teams are on a bye this week; the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. The early break comes at a good time for the 2-2 Eagles, who are struggling on the field and dealing with a lot of negative media attention. Detroit might have preferred a later bye, not wanting to lose momentum after two good wins. They’ll be well-rested for a Week 6 showdown in Dallas. The Cowboys have another tall task in Week 5, on the road against the 3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers. While Pittsburgh may not be as good as that record indicates, we could easily say the same about Dallas. They don’t feel like a .500 team right now, and they’ll be trying to beat the Steelers without Micah Parsons or DeMarcus Lawrence. Clearly, we’re not exaggerating when we say the Cowboys need all the help they can get. Let’s get to the other NFC teams who are playing this week with the latest Cowboys fans rooting guide: Browns over Commanders Washington is looking more and more believable as a contending team. A loss to Cleveland would not only help in the NFC East standings but also to bring down the positive vibes swirling around the Commanders. The more confidence QB Jayden Daniels gets, the more dangerous he’ll be. The rookie sensation feels like Washington’s reward for finally fixing their organization at the highest level. Giants over Seahawks Returning home after a tough loss to the Lions, Seattle is probably going to take out their frustrations on the hapless Giants. But if New York can figure out how to finish drives with touchdowns instead of field goals, they have the firepower in the passing game to pull off some upsets. If New York can hang some losses on other NFC teams throughout the year, it will potentially help Dallas down the road and worsen the Giants’ position in the 2025 Draft. Buccaneers over Falcons If you think Dallas is going to win the NFC East, you’d root against the other likely division winners so they have worse records. But if you think the Cowboys are more likely to be a Wild Card team, as we do, then you want their competition for those three spots to take losses. The Bucs look like the favorites in the NFC South right now, so we’ll root for them to keep on winning. Rams over Packers Jordan Love’s back ahead of schedule and makes 2-2 Green Bay dangerous with so much season left to go. The 1-3 Rams feel like a non-factor this year, so hurting the Packers here is a good thing for Dallas. Cardinals over 49ers Similar logic here; Arizona’s 1-3 and Frisco is 2-2. A Cardinals win makes both teams 2-3, which is good for the standings and for throwing gas on the 49ers’ fire. Panthers over Bears While we do want Carolina to have a better draft pick than New York, we also don’t want Chicago taking a wild card spot away from the Cowboys. The 2-2 Bears are a potential problem as QB Caleb Williams figures things out throughout the season, so a loss here would help. Jets over VikingsChiefs over Saints Two interconference matchups in which we can root for the AFC teams. While Minnesota is 4-0 and leading the NFC North, there’s still a lot of time for 3-1 Detroit to get back into their projected spot as the division winner. If the Vikings are fated to fall into the wild card race, we need their record to be reachable for the Cowboys.
