Scott Galvin-Imagn Images Our latest mailbag features plenty of questions about the Dallas Cowboys. Every week, we take questions on X (Twitter) and Facebook about Dallas Cowboys players and other issues surrounding the team. So let’s get9 right into it. “After Dak signed his monster deal, how much does that effect deals for other players going forward?” (@Riley Braggington on Facebook) Mike: The front office has already freed up some space with the restructuring of Terence Steele’s contract. There are rumblings they are looking to do the same with Trevon Diggs contract but wait on that one. As it stands, the Cowboys have a little under $30 million in cap space next year with 40 players under contract which puts them in a reasonably good position. When you also take into account the cap space will look to go up next season this should help balance things out ready to make a deal with Micah Parsons long term. Dana: In the short term, it should free up cap space to be able to pay more players, however, the list of upcoming contracts is a long one. Guys like Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Tyler Smith, Jake Ferguson, DeMarcus Lawrence and others are going to need contract extensions soon as well. While the Cowboys might not be able to pay every one of these players top money for their positions, they should have enough to prioritize the guys they really want to keep. It also helps that the salary cap will continue to increase. “Now it’s confirmed Jake Ferguson has an injury. Will Dallas be in the market for a vet TE, or are we sticking with our guys?” (@Riley on Facebook) Mike: It’s unlikely the Cowboys go out to grab another tight end. For one, Ferguson isn’t out for the season which is great news and is deemed week-to-week, so he could be back within a couple of weeks. The other is who realistically can the Cowboys grab? There are guys like Jimmy Graham available, but he made six receptions last year. That’s the level of tight end on the open market right now. If Ferguson is a no-go this week then expect to see Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford take the leading roles at tight end. This may scare fans but there’s two major factors to look at. One factor is Marshon Lattimore may miss this game which puts rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at one of the starting cornerbacks spots. With the prospect of a rookie corner facing either CeeDee Lamb or Brandin Cooks you can be sure the Saints coaches will pull a safety to help him out. That leaves room in the middle of the field for Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford to get open and make plays. The other factor is last year the Saints defense allowed the second-most touchdowns to the tight end position, making this a positive matchup for the Cowboys tight end tandem. Dana: It looks like Jake Ferguson dodged a season-ending injury with a knee bruise/MCL sprain. According to the team, he still has a chance to play on Sunday against the Saints. If he does end up missing some time however, look for the team to use the guys that are already in house. Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and John Stephens Jr. will be the guys they rely on, but also look for Hunter Luepke to fill in as well. He got some work in with the tight end group at training camp and can help with blocking receiving. “So are the Cowboys distractions finally gone or might we see more in the next few weeks?” (@MrEd315 on Twitter) Mike: Distractions never go away and for a team as media-grabbing as Dallas. You can be sure there’s plenty to distract the players and coaches. The best teams in the NFL aren’t the ones that shy away from distractions, but are the ones that deal with them quickly and don’t allow them to effect the team. Dana: While the biggest distraction cloud looming over this Cowboys team has blown away with the news of Dak Prescott’s extension, there are still some clouds forming in the distance. Mike McCarthy is coaching on the last year of his contract and Micah Parsons’ contract will be next in line. There is still time for the Cowboys front office to make decisions on both of these but it will no doubt be something that is talked about all season. That being said, this Cowboys team does a very good job about keeping all of the distractions away from the field. It won’t be the focus of conversations in the locker room and shouldn’t affect the play on game days. Be sure to check Blogging The Boys as well as @kenfigkowboy and @day_nuh_bee on X (Twitter) and also Facebook for the weekly post, asking for your questions to include in the weekly mailbag. Many thanks to everyone who send in your questions and votes.

BILL INGRAM/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK Who wins tonight… Buffalo or Miami? The AFC East is on display tonight as the Buffalo Bills go on the road to meet the Miami Dolphins. Our partners at FanDuel have the Dolphins as 2.5-point favorites in the game. Both teams had struggles in Week 1, but both ultimately came back and prevailed. Even though Buffalo has owned Miami recently, in this game, take the Dolphins for the win at home. Dolphins 24 – Bills 20. Check out FanDuel for all of your NFL betting needs. This is an open thread for game chat.

Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images Here is the Dallas Cowboys injury report for Thursday The Dallas Cowboys resumed practice for day two of their on-field preparation for the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys enter the week tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the lead in the NFC East and are favored to win at home against the Saints as they look to begin the year 2-0. What’s interesting is that while a 2-0 start seems insignificant, the Cowboys have not started 2-0 in consecutive years since 2008. For the Cowboys to accomplish that feat, being as healthy as possible is at the forefront. Here’s where the Cowboys stand after day two of practice this week. Thursday’s injury report for Saints-Cowboys … Taliese Fuaga downgraded with a back issue. That’ll obviously be a big one to watch. Tyrann Mathieu and Lucas Patrick return to practice after missing Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/MLthRRjoJR — Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) September 12, 2024 Jake Ferguson was seen working with the coaches today but officially was cited as a DNP at practice. There was some optimism that Ferguson had an outside chance of playing against New Orleans, but seeing him on the report is trending in the wrong direction. After getting a limited practice due to rest yesterday, Eric Kendricks, Brandin Cooks, Demarcus Lawrence, and Zack Martin ramped up their involvement Thursday and were full participants. Tight John Stephens, who made the team as a second-year undrafted free agent, was seen working in a limited fashion at practice, yet was also marked down as DNP. Assuming that both Ferguson and Stephens are ruled out tomorrow, Hunter Leupke, Breveyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker will be the primary options to fill the void. Marshawn Kneeland was present during Thursday’s practice after missing yesterday with a calf injury and listed as limited. Hopefully, Kneeland can log another practice tomorrow to solidify his chances to play against the Saints, but we’ll see if his status changes tomorrow and Saturday. The Saints’ secondary welcomed back one of their most integral players Thursday. Tyrann Mathieu (heel), but Marshon Lattimore was cited as DNP again Thursday. Tight end Foster Moreau, who scored a touchdown last week against the Carolina Panthers, was upgraded to a full participant in recovery from a concussion. Finally, Saints tackle Tailese Fuaga was downgraded to DNP with a back injury. That is a very important one to monitor the rest of the week.

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images There are a couple of Saints players who present greater challenges than others. 2023 Overview The New Orleans Saints were a middling team in 2023. Finishing just over .500 and missing the playoffs, they showed shades of good, but not quite good enough. With internal drama centered around Michael Thomas, and up and down play of Derek Carr, the Saints look to turn the page this season and be more consistent. Saints File 2023 Record: 9-8 (2nd in NFC South) Last Meeting: 12/02/21 27-17 Cowboys victory. (Dallas leads all-time series 18-13) Head Coach: Dennis Allen (25-46 as head coach) Key Additions: EDGE Chase Young, OT Olisaemeka Udoh, LB Khaleke Hudson Key Departures: QB Jameis Winston, WR Michael Thomas, CB Issac Yiadom Player to watch… Alvin Kamara Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images It doesn’t matter how old he is, or how many injuries he’s fought through during his career—anytime Alvin Kamara is on a football field he is someone to watch out for. After a Week 1 performance that produced 85 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, Kamara is looking to attack a Cowboys rush defense that is still looking to prove they are formidable in 2024. Beyond just handing the ball off to him, Kamara is still a dangerous weapon in the passing game and it will be up to the linebackers and safeties of the Cowboys to ensure he doesn’t take the game over in a multitude of ways. Dallas will need to ensure Kamara is corralled early on, not letting him get going and it becoming a bit of a snowball effect. With other options that present challenges, Kamara still may be the biggest one to worry about in Week 2. Don’t forget about… Rashid Shaheed Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images Dallas would have every right to get lost in trying to control Kamara and pass-catching weapon Chris Olave. However, while doing so they can’t afford to let Rashid Shaheed be a forgotten man. Shaheed is coming off of a three-reception, 73-yard day with one touchdown to boot. He reminded the league how much of an explosive threat he is and the Cowboys secondary will need to be ready for the Saints to try big shots all afternoon. Dallas appears to have a strong secondary and a pass rush that is relentless in nature, boding well for them to be able to keep the Saints at bay. However, if they aren’t on their A-game, Shaheed and Co. could very well hand them their first loss of the season.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Saints games have always been very interesting for the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys Week 1 win at the Cleveland Browns certainly isn’t going to cause anyone to prematurely rank Dallas among the top contenders in the NFL, the time for them to prove they can be that team is still months away. The exact same can be said about their Week 2 opponent in the New Orleans Saints, who lit up the scoreboard at home with 47 points to beat the Carolina Panthers and start 1-0. Only one team will emerge from AT&T Stadium with a coveted 2-0 start on Sunday, and when these teams get together, it’s typically a hard-fought win for either side. The Cowboys offense looked rusty for much of the game against the Browns, understandable given how many players sat out the preseason. The defense looked more than ready to help carry this team while they find their rhythm on offense, and Mike Zimmer’s group will be expecting to hold the Saints well under 47 points this week. The Cowboys have only given up more than 45 points in the regular season once under Mike McCarthy, and it was in his debut season with Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator. If the defense plays up to the standard set for all four quarters in the season opener, the Cowboys offense will have a chance to come to life in their first home game, something they did remarkably well last year averaging 37.4 points per game and over 305 passing yards in eight wins – six of them by more than one score. The Cowboys are within a touchdown favorite this week though because three of their last four games against the Saints have been one-score contests. The Cowboys have won two straight home games against the Saints dating back to 2014. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports The last two meetings between these teams have both come at the Superdome, with Dallas and New Orleans splitting two games won by an average of six points either way. The most recent game in 2021 went the Cowboys’ way 27-17 in a Week 13 Thursday Night Football matchup. Michael Gallup opened the scoring at the end of the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown, with the big play of the drive coming from CeeDee Lamb who ripped off a 33 yard run. Lamb also carried the ball three times for 25 yards against the Browns in Week 1. The explosive play from Lamb would stand as the team’s longest of the game until the third quarter. With New Orleans drawing closer on a Brett Maher field goal to make the score 13-10, Tony Pollard scored from 58 yards out to open the game up. Now working with a ten-point lead, Dan Quinn’s defense did what it does best and came up with a third-down sack, three and out, and three straight interceptions on the next five Saints drives to seal the game. The last interception which was returned for a touchdown came from the most unlikely player, defensive tackle Carlos Watkins who snatched a Taysom Hill pass and took it 29 yards. It is still the only interception of Watkins’ career, with the DT reunited with Quinn currently on the Commanders practice squad. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cowboys that season against the Chiefs and Raiders, starting a new four-game win streak down the stretch of a season that ended in the Wild Card round. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images The most recent meeting between these teams before the above Cowboys win in primetime came in the final year of Jason Garrett’s tenure. It was a week four road loss that was Dallas’ first of the season, after beating the Giants, Dolphins, and Redskins with relative ease to start the season 3-0. Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, now their head coach in his third season, frustrated the Cowboys all game as they were held out of the endzone until midway through the third quarter. Ezekiel Elliott scored from one yard out to give the Cowboys their second lead of the game at 10-9, but a fourth Will Lutz field goal put the Saints ahead for good 12-10 in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys would have three more possessions with a chance to win the game, but punted twice on two missed 3rd-and-2 passes, and ended the game with a Dak Prescott interception to Marcus Williams. Just like the Cowboys win against the Saints in 2021 started a win streak, this loss in 2019 led to more as the Cowboys lost to the Packers and Jets and fell to .500 on the season at 3-3, where they’d ultimately stay at 8-8 on the year. Cowboys and Saints games always seem to bring extra emotions and intensity, and this Sunday should be no different in a meeting of teams that feel they can stake their claim as favorites in their division should they continue a hot start. Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images Of course, no recap of the history between these teams can go without mention of an epic Cowboys win from deeper in the history books of 2009. This is personally one of my favorite and most memorable Cowboys wins of all time, and from interacting with fans here at BTB and elsewhere. Led by the defensive mastermind Wade Phillips, the Cowboys went on the road for a Saturday night game against the 13-0 Saints. At the peak of the Drew Brees and Sean Payton era, the Saints had won by an average of over 14 points per game in every game so far that season. They did show some signs of faltering coming into the game against the Cowboys, needing overtime to win by three at the Redskins and again winning by just a field goal at the Falcons the following week. Returning home to the Superdome was supposed to help this team get right, with few people

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The latest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys. ‘Phenomenal feet’: Dalvin Cook, on practice squad, gets compliment from Dallas Cowboys coach – Aaron Kasinitz, LoneStarLive.com Running back by committee won’t be an issue with Dallas’ RB room. On a few occasions, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy has trained his eyes on four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook at recent practices. Cook remains on the Cowboys’ practice squad after signing with the team in late August, and he was not activated to play in Sunday’s season-opening rout of the Browns. But the 29-year-old did rake in compliments from his coach Wednesday. “I’m glad he’s here,” McCarthy said of Cook during a midweek news conference. “Impressive. Phenomenal feet. I’ve had a chance to watch him a lot. He looks really good. He really fits into the room very well.” It’s unclear whether Cook will earn elevation to the game-day roster for Sunday’s Week 2 contest against the New Orleans Saints. After the ball-carrier spent the offseason working out on his own, McCarthy still believes he — and other August free agent additions — will benefit from more practices with the team. “If you look at his time frame and how much time he’s been here, I think the biggest thing is hopefully we can get a full week’s work this week and next week,” McCarthy said. “That’s only going to help the guys that got here late.” The Cowboys can activate a practice squad player like Cook to play in three games before they’d need to sign him to the full roster or place him on waivers. “Dalvin looks great. Fits in,” McCarthy said. “I’m excited about him.” Mailbag: How did Mazi look at Cleveland? – Nick Eatman, Mickey Spagnola, DallasCowboys.com Some Cowboys writers weigh in on Mazi Smith’s Week 1 impact. What did you see from Mazi Smith in the game against the Browns? I didn’t hear his name a lot, but I know that doesn’t always tell the whole story when talking about defensive tackles. – Les Hoffman/Pell City, AL Nick Eatman: While Aaron Donald was the exception to the rule, you’re really not supposed to hear a lot from the defensive tackles. I know some of them can be playmakers and disrupt the game, but for the most part, the Cowboys just need Mazi to hold his own in the middle and not get pushed back to create running lanes. Anything on top of that is a bonus. The name you did hear was Eric Kendricks, and many times the DTs, such as Mazi and Jordan Phillips and Osa Odighizuwa, were taking on blocks, freeing up the linebacker to make plays – and they did. That’s the real job of Mazi Smith and the defensive tackles. They stopped the run and created room for the edge rushers and linebacker to get to the ball. Mickey Spagnola: After scouring over Mazi’s season opening play, this is what I discovered. First, he only played 23 snaps in the game with the Browns in so many nickel formations and throwing the ball 45 times. He’s not much of a pass rusher yet, though did a nice job of pushing the pocket. And though did not make any tackles from his nose tackle role, he did a fine job of holding his ground, taking on double teams, which keeps linebackers clean to make plays, and plugging holes against the run. So far, so good. The Dallas Cowboys proved the doubters wrong in Cleveland – Mario Herrera Jr., InsideTheStar.com Those in Cowboys Country were pleased with how Dallas opened the season. Rookies One of the biggest concerns heading into the matchup in Cleveland was the fact that three Cowboys’ rookies were being thrown into the fire as week 1 starters, and a fourth was pegged as a heavy contributor to the defensive line rotation. Tyler Guyton On top of the pressure of his first start at left tackle, Guyton had the added pressure of blocking the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the majority of the game. Myles Garrett is an absolute monster on the edge, and Guyton held his own with a little help from an occasional chip block from the running back. At the end of the day, Garrett was credited with three pressures and one sack that led to a forced fumble. Whether it was a fumble or an incomplete pass is irrelevant. The point is that Garrett only touched Dak Prescott once in the entire game when Guyton was the primary blocker. Cooper Beebe Beebe, with his proud parents in attendance, gave up zero pressures in pass coverage. That’s an impressive stat when players like Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris were lined up across from him for the majority of the game. Dalvin Tomlinson did get home up the middle of the line to sack Prescott with a helmet to his chest, but the film showed Tomlinson was actually Zack Martin’s responsibility on the play. More good things to come for Beebe as he develops at his new position. Our offense vs their defense: Dallas Cowboys – Luke Hubbard, CanalStreetChronicles.com Dallas will be a gigantic step up in competition from the Saints’ previous opponent. Wow. I’m going to be honest, I expected to the New Orleans Saints to win this past weekend, but I don’t think anybody predicted that. The offense looked fresh, and the defense looked just as good, if not better. Don’t get too excited though. The Saints have to go from playing one of the worst teams in the league at home to traveling to face one of the best teams in the league this weekend. The Dallas Cowboys also enjoyed a smooth week one. They decimated the Browns 33-17, but if it weren’t for a late touchdown, it would’ve been 33-10. Derek Carr had one of his best games as a Saints, completing 19 of his 23 pass attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn’t asked to do

The Dallas Cowboys offense was good enough for a win in Cleveland. Under Dak’s leadership, bolstered by his new contract, the unit displayed confidence and fluidity in their movements. As the game advanced and the team established an early, commanding lead, they became less aggressive and their stats suffered. This week, the team will encounter a different challenge on the offensive front against the New Orleans Saints. While the pass rush threat may not be as significant this week, they will contend with a secondary that recorded the second-highest number of interceptions in the league last season and secured two interceptions in their recent match against the Carolina Panthers. So how do the offenses stack up against each other? Let’s battle it out by position and find out. QUARTERBACK Dak Prescott vs. Derek Carr Dak got his deal right before kickoff on Sunday against Cleveland. He exhibited commendable composure and executed several precise passes during the game. However, his performance was somewhat inconsistent. He effectively guided the offense and orchestrated several impressive drives, yet the momentum waned in the second half. This decline can partly be ascribed to the play-calling, influenced by the substantial lead held by the Cowboys, but for the overall game it may also reflect Dallas trying to avoid letting the Browns pass rush disrupt things and cause turnovers. It is essential for Dak to demonstrate improvement this week to reassure fans that his difficulties from the previous game were merely a minor early-season jitter. Dak should experience a more favorable situation this week due to the support from his offensive line. Last season, the Saints’ defensive line recorded the fourth-lowest number of sacks, and they were unable to secure any against the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line in their last matchup. All of the team’s sacks from the previous week were attributed to either a linebacker or cornerback. It is imperative for Dak to exercise caution regarding his ball placement this week, as this has been a recurring challenge for him. The Saints possess the ability to dominate a game through interceptions, having achieved 18 last season, surpassed only by San Francisco and Chicago. Last week against the Carolina Panthers, Derek Carr had himself a day. He threw for a passing total of 200 yards, boasting an impressive completion rate of 82% along with three touchdown passes. However, the inconsistency of Carr remains a puzzling aspect. It’s always uncertain which version of Carr will appear on the day. This season, he’s started with three touchdowns and no turnovers, contrasting sharply with the previous year, during which he recorded only six touchdowns against four interceptions in his first seven games. The element of pressure has proven to be significant; when Carr faces pressure, he struggles to locate his intended targets, although in the Panthers game he handled it very well. Last season, in games where he was sacked two or more times, his performance dwindled. He experienced ten games where he was sacked twice or more, resulting in a tally of 12 touchdowns against five interceptions, alongside three games in which he failed to score. Conclusion: It’s a positive start for both quarterbacks this year but the lack of pressure the Saints defense creates bodes well for Dak. Whereas the high amount the Cowboys defense creates makes a tough day for Carr to find a rhythm.Win: Cowboys Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images RUNNING BACK Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliott vs. Alvin Kamara/Jamaal Williams It was a pleasure to witness Ezekiel Elliott’s touchdown last week, reestablishing his presence on the Dallas scorecard. There had been concerns regarding Zeke’s athleticism and whether he had lost some of his agility as he’s aged. However, his performance demonstrated that he remains in fine form. The hurdle he executed showcased his explosiveness and ability to run with strength. Unlike Tony Pollard’s experience last year, Zeke exhibited no difficulties in reaching the end zone when inside the opponent’s 10-yard line. Dowdle provided solid support, contributing with an explosive play that gained 10 yards. Additionally, Deuce Vaughn made an appearance with a rush that resulted in four yards. This running back group will encounter a Saints defense that struggled with run defense last season, permitting the 11th-highest rushing yards at an average of 119 yards per game. However, the Saints improved their performance against the run within their red zone, indicating that Mike McCarthy will need to employ greater creativity as the field becomes more confined. Alvin Kamara recorded 83 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 1. This performance marks the highest rushing yardage Kamara has attained in a single game since 2022, a game that, coincidentally, was also against the Panthers. Kamara had an impressive season in 2020, during which he accumulated a total of 21 touchdowns. However, his performance has significantly declined since then; last season, he managed only five touchdowns and rushed for a total of 694 yards, marking a career low. Jamaal Williams also found the end zone last week, yet he too is far from his 2022 form, in which he recorded 17 rushing touchdowns. In the previous year, he averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and managed to score only one touchdown. Conclusion: Last season both these defenses had issues stopping the run, but had good days in Week 1 of this season limiting rushers. In both cases what is also true is the level of offensive power both defenses faced in terms of rushing attack. Both sides still have questions at the position, this week maybe some of those questions get answered.Win: Push Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images WIDE RECEIVERS CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/Jalen Tolbert vs. Chris Olave/Rashid Shaheed/A.T. Perry Anyone have Bradin Cooks as the Cowboys first touchdown scorer for this year? The pass was executed perfectly. Cooks had a fluctuating presence on the field last week but still managed to secure the second-most receptions on the team. Given the uncertainty surrounding the other receivers further down the depth chart, it is anticipated that Cooks will play a