NFL fines 5 Cowboys for hits vs Eagles during Week 17 loss Todd Brock The Cowboys’ 41-7 blowout loss to the Eagles wasn’t just demoralizing for the team, as it assured them of their first losing record since 2020. The Week 17 trip to Philadelphia was also personally costly for a handful of Dallas players who took things just a little too far in the eyes of the league. Five Cowboys have incurred monetary fines for actions taken during the second half of the game, including the sideline altercation that saw a total of three players ejected late in the contest. Wide receiver Jalen Brooks and cornerback Troy Pride have been docked for their part in a fight that occurred after an Eagles punt with 2:32 left to play. Brooks and Philadelphia safety Sydney Brown tangled, gathering up an official as they fell, and then continued to scrap after getting up. Pride came in to deliver a blow of his own, and Brown retaliated with a takedown that drew players from both benches to the end zone tunnel in a scene that ended quickly but could have gotten much uglier. All three players were disqualified, the late-hit fouls offsetting. Brooks has been fined $5,083, while Pride will take a $5,198 hit. (Brown is being docked $6,981 for his part.) But they aren’t the only Cowboys players a little lighter in the wallet after Sunday’s drubbing. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been fined $16,883 for a violent late hit on Philadelphia quarterback Kenny Pickett early in the third quarter. That play resulted in a roughing the passer personal foul call and left Pickett visibly shaken. He would exit the game later in that same drive after a hit by Micah Parsons. (It should be noted, however, that Pickett already had broken ribs coming into the Week 17 matchup.) [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Left guard Tyler Smith also took a five-figure hit, for striking Eagles DT Jalen Carter in the head in the aftermath of Rico Dowdle’s early-fourth-quarter fumble. Carter did an impressive bit of acting in going to the ground at the feet of an official, but it worked. Smith’s momentary indiscretion cost the Cowboys 15 yards at the time; it will now also cost him $11,817. Finally, while right tackle Terence Steele was not flagged for a block he executed on Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith on a pass play midway through the third quarter, it was later deemed to be too low for the NFL’s liking. Steele has been fined $11,817. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys vs Commanders: 3 bold predictions for Dallas’ regular-season finale
Peter Casey-Imagn Images Here are our bold predictions for Sunday’s game. The Dallas Cowboys wrap up their regular season on Sunday afternoon as they face off against the Washington Commanders. Before the two teams go head-to-head, here are three bold predictions for the regular-season finale. Kara Durrette/Getty Images 1) Rico Dowdle eclipses 100 rushing yards in a game for the fifth time this season What a second half of the season it has been for Cowboys’ running back Rico Dowdle. After being handed the reigns to take over as Dallas’ lead back, Dowdle has been one of the most productive running backs in the league since Week 11. In those six games, Dowdle has totaled 605 rushing yards on 120 attempts, the second-most in football behind only shoo-in All-Pro Saquon Barkley. Dowdle also has the second-most explosive runs (16) and D15+ yard runs (7) during this span. The former undrafted free agent has been a true difference maker on Dallas’ offense and has made it abundantly clear he is more than capable of being a number one back on a competitive team. This week, Dowdle gets a favorable matchup against a Washington defense that is bottom-six in defensive rush EPA (-0.015) and total rushing yards allowed (2,187). The Commanders’ defense has given up 140 or more rushing yards seven times this season, and that number will go to eight on Sunday afternoon. Dowdle caps off his outstanding second half with one of his most productive games of the season, recording 130 rushing yards and a touchdown. Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images 2) KaVontae Turpin records the first multi-touchdown game of his NFL career In the past three weeks, we’ve seen the Cowboys finally start to use KaVontae Turpin in different ways on offense. Over that three-game span, Turpin, who was named to his first Pro Bowl this week, has totaled seven rushing attempts for 56 yards, averaging an extremely impressive 8.0 Y/A. Turpin’s game-changing speed was on display when Dallas lined him up as a running back, and he’s been very close to breaking a few huge runs. It’s only a matter of time before he uses that breakaway speed to take a run all the way, and that will happen this Sunday. The 28-year-old breaks a 20+ yard touchdown run in the first half to go with a receiving touchdown in the second half, recording the first multi-touchdown game of his NFL career. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images 3) Trey Lance records his first touchdown pass in three years It’s been a long time since Trey Lance has completed a touchdown pass in a regular season game. You’d have to go all the way back to January 2nd, 2022 against the Houston Texans to find the last time Lance achieved this feat. Three long years have separated Lance and his last TD pass, but on Sunday afternoon he’ll finally break the streak. With this game meaning virtually nothing for Dallas, they’ll turn to Lance early in the second half to give him some playing time. The young quarterback takes advantage, throwing his first touchdown pass as a Cowboy to KaVontae Turpin.
Cowboys doghouse: 2024 RB plan in Dallas was doomed from the start
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The Cowboys mishandled this issue immensely. The Dallas Cowboys had a ton of issues heading into last offseason. One that was at the forefront was the running back position and what their plan was going forward. Tony Pollard was set to be a free agent, and the 2024 NFL Draft had quite the selection of players at running back that Dallas could have chosen from. When free agency came, the Cowboys let Pollard walk and sign with the Tennessee Titans. They also went through the entire draft without selecting a running back and signed Nathaniel Peat as an undrafted rookie free agent. They brought in veteran Royce Freeman to compete, and signed former first-round pick Ezekiel Elliott for his second stint with the organization. Lastly, back in August, the Cowboys signed veteran Dalvin Cook to their practice squad. By the time the regular season came around, Peat and Freeman were no longer on the roster. This left the Cowboys with Elliott and Cook, two veterans that had seen better days. Deuce Vaughn, who hadn’t consistently shown anything yet, was also on the roster. Then, there was Rico Dowdle, who hadn’t proven that he could consistently stay healthy. That wasn’t exactly an ideal situation at the running back spot. What made this situation so frustrating is that it was completely avoidable. Although the Cowboys didn’t have a fourth-round selection, there was plenty of running back talent on the board in the first three rounds, and not getting one was a total lack of evaluating the room as a whole. However, that was the way Dallas wanted to move, which would once again put more responsibility on quarterback Dak Prescott and the passing game. Elliott got the start in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, and to his credit, he looked pretty decent running for 40 yards on 10 carries. Over the next four games, though, Elliott averaged less than three yards per carry in three of them. Meanwhile, Dowdle put up over four yards per carry in each, which included an 87-yard performance in a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is around the time that Elliott voiced his frustration with his role with the team. As a result, although he averaged five yards per carry against the Detroit Lions the next week, Dowdle only got five attempts while Elliott got eight. Mind you, he only amassed two yards per attempt. The Cowboys offense was already limited with a lack of talent and no real plan when it came to running the ball, but to purposely not use your most effective runner didn’t make any sense. Dowdle didn’t play against the San Francisco 49ers due to an illness. The Cowboys finally smarten up and made Dowdle the unquestioned lead back in November, which is when he took off. He goes into the final week of the season with four 100-yard games in the last five weeks, and he’s also hit the 1,000 yard mark for the year. While that’s great for Dowdle, seeing as he’s in a contract year, he may have priced himself out of Dallas with how frugal they are in free agency. So, if he is to go elsewhere, the Cowboys will once again be left in dire straits at the running back position. It’s pretty simple for the Cowboys. They can’t let the 2025 NFL Draft go by without getting a running back. In fact, they may even need to consider double-dipping at the position with how deep it is and how much they need quality talent in the room. The only thing is, the Cowboys need to fill a lot of holes, and they don’t make a lot of moves in free agency, which makes the draft where they do the most damage. They’re without a fourth-round pick again in 2025. So, it will be interesting to see how they address the needs or if they value the running back spot to invest seriously in it. Building a roster is difficult enough in the NFL, and the Cowboys have made it harder on themselves when it comes to having a quality rushing attack.
The real reason why Cowboys seem undecided on Mike McCarthy’s future
The real reason why Cowboys seem undecided on Mike McCarthy’s future reidhanson The idea of Jerry Jones still being undecided on the future of Mike McCarthy sounds preposterous. Jones has nearly five full seasons of data with McCarthy to reference so it’s unlikely one more seemingly meaningless game is going to sway the Dallas Cowboys’ owner in either direction. If Jones values regular season success most, he should be thrilled with McCarthy. McCarthy had posted three consecutive 12-win seasons as head coach in Dallas and routinely ranked at the top of the league in offense, which just happens to be his bread and butter. Bringing McCarthy back under this circumstance should be a no-brainer. If Jones prioritizes postseason success, he should be severely disappointed in his head coach. Despite being handed a ready-made Super Bowl contender, McCarthy hasn’t been able to do any better than the coach who failed before him. He’s routinely lost in embarrassing fashion and has been out-schemed in nearly every instance. Under this circumstance letting McCarthy walk would be a no-brainer. It seems the only thing this situation can’t be is an undecided matter, yet a deeper look at the coaching carousel this offseason may make the case for just that. Major multimillion dollar corporations rarely make a change at CEO unless they have a better option in mind. Unless they’re simply looking for a scapegoat for a particularly bad situation, they only make a move if it’s for an upgrade. If the Cowboys were seeking to achieve the former (scapegoat) they probably would have cut bait with McCarthy after the debacle against Green Bay last postseason. Whereas if the Cowboys are more focused on an upgrade, they are probably just waiting for a more promising alternative to pop up this winter. Speculation has been rampant for months as to which head coach candidates will be looking for jobs this offseason. Some are sure bets while others are a flip of the coin. The uncertain candidate pool could be contributing to Jones’ uncertain stance on his head coach. Based on all the regular season success, Jones knows McCarthy is far from a poor option. Based on all the disappointing postseason performances, Jones also knows there are far better coaching options out there in the NFL as well. Who they are, if they’ll be available and if they’ll be interested in the Cowboys are the questions Jones must be considering. Being good enough to win in the regular season seems to be good enough for the fanbase. McCarthy’s Cowboys remain a ratings juggernaut, win or lose. The value of the Cowboys franchise remains the highest in the world, win or lose. Merchandise sales, media coverage and attendance also seem to be impervious to team failures. Jones doesn’t have to force the replacement if he doesn’t see a clear and obvious upgrade. There’s an excellent chance the Cowboys decided McCarthy’s fate last winter and his exodus is simply a forgone conclusion. Jones doesn’t like to spend money if he doesn’t have to (see also the Cowboys annual free agent spending) and firing McCarthy with one year left on his contract would essentially require Dallas to pay two head coaches in 2024. Under this very realistic premise the Cowboys are just allowing McCarthy to save face and stay marketable even if they’ve already decided a new direction for the franchise. Based on the wealth of data McCarthy has given them over the years, the odds are Jones knows exactly what McCarthy’s fate is. But there remains a possibility Jones really is undecided and simply waiting until the full candidate pool has shown itself. McCarthy’s contract expires on January 14, so Jones has time to see who hits the coaching market and who does not. If a clear and obvious upgrade isn’t available for the Cowboys, Jones may simply decide McCarthy is good enough. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Follow all of your favorite Texas teams at Cowboys Wire, Longhorns Wire, Texans Wire, Rockets Wire and Aggies Wire!
The Cowboys should consider extending Tyler Smith as early as this offseason
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images It would be wise for the Cowboys to get ahead of some extensions this offseason, Tyler Smith among them. When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Tyler Smith in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, many criticized the pick, considering him a developmental project at best. Three years later, Smith has been named to his second Pro Bowl and has one second-team All-Pro nomination. Smith was thrust into the starting lineup his rookie year, but out of emergency with left tackle Tyron Smith going down for half the season with an injury. He spent his second season as a left guard, and that started to earn him respect as one of the NFL’s best young offensive linemen, getting nominated for his first Pro Bowl. #Cowboys Tyler Smith has allowed just 10 pressures in 1-on-1 pass-blocking matchups for a 3.5% pressure rate. That’s the lowest among left guards this season and the 2nd-lowest among all left guards since 2018 with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps, per NFL Pro. Pro Bowler pic.twitter.com/8wdCVVIdm3 — Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) January 2, 2025 With Zack Martin on injured reserve and his future with Dallas and the NFL in question, Smith has emerged as the next man up to lead the offensive line room filled with young players. Terence Steele has the most experience, but Smith has become a captain-like figure in handling business on and off the field. “Being in the o-line room, being around the great guys that I have [been around],” Smith said during an interview back in training camp. “They imparted on me a lot of knowledge. It’s my job to pass that knowledge on and continue to make sure that the standard of our room is held long after I’m gone and especially while I’m here.” The Cowboys have a lot to figure out this offseason, and at the top of that list sits the question of who will be the team’s next head coach and how much money Micah Parsons will command. However, outside of those two glaring questions, the front office should consider signing Smith to a long-term extension as soon as possible. Not only will he need to be what the o-line is built around for the foreseeable future, but contracts for the offensive guard position are not getting any cheaper. In the 2024 offseason, Philadelphia Eagles guard Landon Dickerson signed a four-year. $84 million deal. That contract is the richest at that position in NFL history. Dickerson has been one of the league’s best, but Smith has been right up there regarding consistent dominance in the trenches. Offensive line play has become more mainstream over the last few years, making more eyes visible on how important the position has become. Specifically at guard, the versatility needed to be excellent in run blocking and pass blocking is critical. Teams with dominant guards aren’t letting them walk out the door, like the Eagles, Dickerson, and the Washington Commanders with Sam Cossmi. The only 2025 free agent at the guard position of note is Zack Martin, who could be retiring at the end of the year. Outside of the future Hall of Famer, there aren’t many other names who could re-set the market at the position, but that doesn’t mean other teams will not look to extend their in-house with the bubble building around guard salaries. Smith has all the boxes that must be checked to warrant a long-term deal: Pro Bowls, All-Pros, a leader in the locker room, and high-caliber play between the tackles. The Cowboys can pick up his fifth-year option for 2026, pushing him to hit the market to 2027. However, depending on what happens over the next two offseasons, signing an All-Pro, multi-Pro Bowl guard could cost nearly $27 million a year. The Cowboys have tried to get ahead of negotiations with their own before, as recently as Trevon Diggs, Terence Steele, and all the other premier offensive linemen like Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin in the past. If they want to figure out who will be the building blocks for the next era of Cowboys football, having Tyler Smith locked up would benefit everyone.
Cowboys news: DeMarvion Overshown named Ed Block Courage Award winner
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images The latest amd greatest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys is here. DeMarvion Overshown wins Ed Block Courage Award – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com The promising young star was given quite the honor. The hard work, dedication and commitment to returning from knee surgery is the reason DeMarvion Overshown was voted by his teammates as the annual winner for the 2024 Ed Block Courage Award. Unfortunately for the young linebacker, he’ll have to do all of that again next season as he now rehabs his other knee that was injured back on Dec. 9 against the Bengals. But his initial recovery from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2023 preseason is the reason Overshown was voted for this annual NFL award, given to a player from each team has overcome adversity to return to the field. “Can’t say enough about him. Great to see him back here – going through the rehab,” said head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. “Thinking about the injury he went through last year and all the work he did to get ready for this year, he was an impact player for us. He was getting better each week. He has an excellent personality. We’ve definitely missed him since the injury but it’s great to have him back in town for the rehab process. Trey Lance to get significant reps in Cowboys’ regular-season finale vs. Commanders, per report – Jared Dubin, CBS Sports Dallas is finally going to let Trey Lance showcase himself. The Dallas Cowboys — and the rest of the NFL — may be getting their first extended look on Sunday at former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance. Since arriving in Dallas, Lance has largely operated as the third-string emergency quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush, though he has been backing up Rush since Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring tear earlier this year. In the regular-season finale, according to NFL Media, Lance is expected to get a lot of work. The San Francisco 49ers traded up to select Lance with the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He sat for most of his rookie season behind Jimmy Garoppolo, making two spot starts but otherwise operating as the backup and taking the very-occasional short yardage run. The Niners handed Lance the starting job the following offseason, expecting to trade Garoppolo. Instead, they were unable to find a trade partner and came into the season with Garoppolo as Lance’s backup. Lance then broke his ankle early in Week 2, so Garoppolo resumed the starting role. When Garoppolo himself went down with an injury, Brock Purdy stepped into the lineup and never relinquished the job. At the tail end of training camp in 2022, the Niners sent Lance to Dallas in exchange for a fourth-round pick. The Cowboys have kept him on the bench ever since — even as they saw their starter lost to a season-ending injury, and even as they were eliminated from the playoffs. Now, it appears we might finally get a chance to see Lance in action for the first time in quite a while. Cowboys injury report: Donovan Wilson, Mazi Smith questionable – LP Cruz, Blogging The Boys The Cowboys are reasonably healthy heading into Week 18. The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders injury report: pic.twitter.com/etJJL4F7db — Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) January 3, 2025 Defensive back Kemon Hall (hamstring) did not practice this week and has been ruled out. Linebacker Nick Vigil (foot) managed to get a limited practice today and is questionable. Micah Parsons (wrist) was a full participant and has no injury designation for this week. Mazi Smith (pelvis) was limited again today, and he too, is questionable. Also deemed questionable is Donovan Wilson (knee). Jalen Brooks (calf), Jourdan Lewis (elbow) and Jalen Tolbert (finger) were full participants and have no injury designation. T.J. Bass is also good to go. Mike McCarthy wants to return to the Cowboys; Jerry Jones has these factors to weigh first – David Moore, Dallas Morning News The Cowboys have plenty to consider when it comes to Mike McCarthy’s future with the organization. Owner Jerry Jones set all of this in motion by allowing McCarthy and his staff to enter the final year of their contracts. Now it’s time to make a decision. The Dallas Morning News has had background discussions with multiple principals in recent weeks. Cut through all of the machinations and posturing and deadlines and those people believe it comes down to how Jones ultimately views this disappointing season. Is it a referendum on the job done by McCarthy and his staff, or on the approach he and son Stephen took in building this team? If Jones lands on the first option, he’ll likely let McCarthy walk. He’ll be effusive in his praise for what McCarthy brought to the organization then go about the business of finding a replacement so he can sell the hope and excitement that comes with a new face on the sidelines. But if Jones acknowledges he was culpable in what took place, that in trimming the payroll to accommodate extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and the eventual signing of Micah Parsons he handcuffed McCarthy and his staff, he’ll likely lean toward keeping the head coach he respects and genuinely likes. Jones has given no indication to those in the building which way he’s leaning. That’s not surprising. This has always been his approach. The more information Jones collects, the closer he nears a major decision and the quieter he becomes. Decisions on these in-house free contributors will be most significant part of Cowboys offseason – Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire The Cowboys have several free agents in the building to decide on. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has been an excellent player for the price of a third-round pick, but in a weak defensive tackle market, his price could skyrocket. Odighizuwa is slightly less productive than Nnamdi Madubuike of the Baltimore Ravens, but his projected market is in that same
Cowboys-Commanders Final Week 18 Injury Report: Micah Parsons, Tyler Biadasz injury updates
The Dallas Cowboys have one more game to play in the 2024 season. In less than 48 hours it will all be over and when the game clock strikes 00:00, the clock on several personnel decisions will begin. In the meantime, Mike McCarthy’s troops are preparing for their finale, and Friday’s practice offers a glimpse into who will be making it onto the field. The Cowboys have ruled just one player out, cornerback Kemon Hall, while giving four players questionable designations due to various injuries. On the opposite sideline, Dan Quinn’s sideline, they are preparing for the playoffs and managing their roster from a different perspective. Three players have been ruled out, two more are doubtful with three questionable as they look to enter the postseason as healthy as possible. The Cowboys’ “out” list is of course under the caveat of the myriad of All-Pro and Pro-Bowl caliber players who are on the Reserved/Injured list, such as quarterback Dak Prescott, WR CeeDee Lamb, OG Zack Martin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, LB DeMarvion Overshown and CB Trevon Diggs. Those players will have the offseason to try and heal up, but for now here’s the final injury report of 2024. After missing Wednesday’s walkthrough and being limited on Wednesday, edge rusher Micah Parsons does not have a game designation over his wrist injury. DT Mazi Smith is questionable with a pelvis injury. On Washington’s side CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is ruled out and former Dallas center Tyler Biadasz is doubtful (ankle) Dallas Cowboys OUT CB Kemon Hall, Hamstring QUESTIONABLE OT Chuma Edoga, Toe DT Mazi Smith, DT LB Nick Vigil, Foot Safety Donovan Wilson, Knee NO DESIGNATION OG T.J. Bass, Thugh WR Jalen Brooks, Knee TE Princeton Fant, Calf CB Jourdan Lewis, Elbow DE Micah Parsons, Wrist WR Jalen Tolbert, Finger OT Matt Waletzko, Knee Washington Commanders OUT CB Marshon Lattimore, Hamstring LB Jordan Magee, Hamstring Safety Tyler Owens, Ankle DOUBTFUL Center Tyler Biadasz, Ankle OT Cornelius Lucas, Groin QUESTIONABLE RB Austin Ekeler, Concussion WR K.J. Osborn, Illness LS Tyler-Ott, Personal NO DESIGNATION WR Dyami Brown, Hamstring OT Andrew Wylie, Groin
Cowboys vs Commanders: Accolades, outside interest for those that turned Washington around
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Taking one last look at the Commanders side of things. Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury would like to be head coach again ‘at some point,’ shares what he’d do differently – Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports Washington’s OC enjoys his current role, but wants another shot as a head coach. The Washington Commanders have been one of the top surprises of the 2024 NFL season. Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Jayden Daniels has come in and led Washington to its most wins since its last Super Bowl campaign in 1991, while offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has constructed a unit that ranks in the top five in both total offense and points per game. The future is bright in Washington, but will the Commanders be able to keep all of their pieces from this remarkable season? Kingsbury, someone who could be hired away to become a head coach for a different franchise, was asked Thursday by reporters if he would like to be a lead man again. “Yeah, I’m sure at some point,” Kingsbury replied with a smile, via the Washington Post. Kingsbury was then asked if he would take head-coaching interviews this offseason. “I won’t comment on that,” Kingsbury said, “but we’ll see how everything plays out but I’m very happy here. This has been an awesome, awesome place and has really helped me kind of rekindle my love for the sport.” “I don’t think I set a foundation the way I would do it after watching DQ and how he set the foundation from Day 1,” Kingsbury said. “And it was, ‘These are the standards. This is what we won’t compromise. This is what we’re going to be.’ I definitely could have done a better job with that, and once you don’t lay it out like that, it’s hard to put it back in, it’s hard to kind of reset it.” While Kingsbury can’t accept interview requests right now, there has been some speculation around the Chicago Bears gig. Kingsbury worked with quarterback Caleb Williams during his time as an offensive analyst for the USC Trojans in 2023, so he has a relationship with the player Chicago hopes is the face of the franchise for years to come. Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin named to 2025 Pro Bowl – Commanders.com The historic season in Washington has placed their QB and top receiver in the Pro Bowl. LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The National Football League announced this [Thursday] morning that quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin were named to the 2025 Pro Bowl. Both players were primary selections. Washington is sending two offensive players to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2017 when T Trent Williams and G Brandon Scherff were selected. It is the first time that Washington is sending a quarterback and wide receiver to the Pro Bowl in the same season since 1991 when Mark Rypien and Gary Clark were both selected. Washington has two Pro Bowlers named after not having any in last year’s Pro Bowl. Prior to the 2024 Pro Bowl (2023 season), Washington produced at least two Pro Bowlers in seven consecutive seasons (2016-22). Through Week 17, Daniels is 325-of-468 for 3,530 yards, 25 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has also added 864 yards rushing on 144 carries and has scored six rushing touchdowns. Daniels currently leads all quarterbacks in rushing this season. Daniels also ranks No. 8 in the NFL in passer rating and completions and No. 6 in completion percentage. This season, Daniels broke the NFL rookie rushing record for a quarterback and has thrown more touchdowns in the fourth quarter of games than any rookie in NFL history. Through Week 17, McLaurin has registered 74 receptions for 1,034 yards and 12 touchdowns. McLaurin’s 12 touchdowns are tied for second in the NFL and first in the NFC. McLaurin is one-of-five players in the NFL this season with 70-plus receptions and 10-plus touchdown receptions and joins Amon-Ra St. Brown and Justin Jefferson as the only NFC wide receivers to accomplish the feat this season. McLaurin’s 12 touchdown receptions this season have tied a single season franchise record. Commanders Focused on Cowboys, Not Playoffs – Jeremy Brener, Wavy.com Despite having a playoff spot secured, beating Dallas is still the main objective. The Washington Commanders have one final regular season game before the playoffs as they take on their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. Even though a playoff berth has been secured, Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is keeping the intensity on the same level. “I’m going to call it the win, I mean, we need to win this football game, period,” Whitt Jr. said. “That’s what it is, it’s a divisional game. It’s the Dallas Cowboys, we keep the six seed, we need to win this football game. So, everything else doesn’t really matter. From my standpoint, we’re going to do everything we can to win this football game.” The Commanders also want to carry the momentum into the playoffs so they can compete at their best against the Los Angeles Rams or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whichever team ends up as the matchup. But for now, the Commanders are putting all of their focus into beating the Cowboys to put them in the best spot possible. Kickoff between the Commanders and Cowboys is set for 1 p.m. ET inside AT&T Stadium. Here is the final injury report for the Dallas Cowboys’ season finale against the Washington Commanders. The final regular season injury report for the Cowboys-Commanders. Dallas’ season ends Sunday if you guys forgot. pic.twitter.com/dJ8CXk1mjE — Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) January 3, 2025
Report: Extra security expected at AT&T Stadium for Cowboys’ season finale, Cotton Bowl Classic
Report: Extra security expected at AT&T Stadium for Cowboys’ season finale, Cotton Bowl Classic Todd Brock Fans heading to either the Cowboys’ regular-season finale or the upcoming Cotton Bowl Classic should be prepared for heightened security measures at AT&T Stadium, the host venue for both events. Arlington police are reportedly deploying additional resources at the Cowboys’ home stadium following the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more just hours before the Sugar Bowl. The Cowboys host the Washington Commanders this Sunday. The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns then square off on Jan. 10 in a highly-anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal matchup. “As a precaution, we will be bringing in additional police resources into the entertainment district for both the Cowboys game this Sunday and for the Cotton Bowl next Friday,” said Leo Daniels, the deputy chief of Arlington’s police event management unit. “We also will be closely evaluating our areas where we typically see high values of pedestrians making their ways to and from the stadium as they move around, and will adjust resources if necessary for safety and improved efficiency.” Authorities said that they are not aware of any specific threats but plan to beef up security for both games. Apart from additional personnel, though, no drastic alteration to the venue’s normal security plan is expected. “I can assure the public that our law enforcement community is actively looking at New Orleans’ situation to see if there’s any lesson that we can learn,” added Arlington mayor Jim Ross. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Last week’s attack in New Orleans occurred on Bourbon Street, about a mile from the Caesars Superdome. A man later identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran from Houston thought to have been inspired by ISIS, rammed a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers and then opened fire on pedestrians and police officers before being shot and killed by responding police. While investigators believe Jabbar acted alone, a recent report from Reuters confirms that law enforcement officials are wary of a possible copycat attack near similar high-visibility events. “Fans should expect to see a more visible police presence when they are moving from the parking lots to the stadium,” explained Tim Ciesco of Arlington Police Department media relations. Those attending either game are encouraged to call 911 if they see anything suspicious. “Citizens are our best line of defense,” Daniels said per the Dallas Morning News. “They’re letting us know what’s going on, and we want to be able to adjust.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Report: Trey Lance to see ‘significant’ snaps in Dallas Cowboys season finale
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Trey Lance is reportedly going to see “significant” snaps for the Cowboys on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys have a single game left on their 2024 season and it will feature the third quarterback to play significant snaps for them this season. That is the verbiage being used as it relates to Trey Lance, according to Friday’s report from NFL media. From 2022 through 17 weeks of 2024, Trey Lance has thrown a grand total of 20 passes. He may eclipse that total on Sunday. Big opportunity for him on Sunday. https://t.co/6DcgzTv0Ak — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2025 Sunday’s game will be the third that Dallas will play after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Aside from the first where it was the case against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we have seen the Cowboys dial back the intensity ever since they were formally eliminated from consideration for the playoffs. It is worth noting the elimination came just a few hours before that Tampa game which is why they (in all likelihood) went at that game the way they did. With time for the situation to take though we saw the Cowboys shut CeeDee Lamb down for the season last week, the most glaring indication that they were waving the white flag on 2024. Ever since this season took a turn at the quarterback position specifically, we have seen the Cowboys insist on competing to win and to their credit they have managed to do that in impressive manner with Cooper Rush under center. Obviously circumstances have changed though which is why the Cowboys feel comfortable going with Trey Lance at quarterback to whatever degree the word “significant” ultimately yields. While this will mark the third quarterback to play a large role for Dallas this season as noted, it marks the first of this variety for Lance in a Cowboys uniform. What’s more is it marks his first legitimate action period since his last start which he made for the San Francisco 49ers way back in Week 2 of the 2022 season. He went 2 for 3 for 30 yards (with 3 rushes for 13 yards) before being injured and lost for that year. It was almost a full 365 days later when the Cowboys traded for Lance and it took until November 10th of the 2024 season for him to throw a pass in a regular season game for the team in some mop up duty against the Philadelphia Eagles. We have noted this several times over, it was a horrific trade for Dallas having sent a fourth-round pick for Lance’s services. Importantly, Lance is a free agent after this season so the idea that the Cowboys could have been getting a look at him for the future wasn’t exactly a genuine one. Still though, it will be interesting to see how he looks in a game that isn’t in the preseason. For what it’s worth, the Cowboys are hosting Washington in the season finale for the first time in nine years. During that 2015 season finale the Cowboys also started a quarterback down the roster in a meaningless game and he had quite the day. The quarterback in question was Kellen Moore who threw for 435 yards. At the time it was the sixth-most passing yards in a game for a Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Additionally, consider that the Cowboys are making this decision despite a potential incentive that Cooper Rush could reach based on playing time. Cowboys QB Cooper Rush gets $500,000 in incentives if he plays 55% of the team’s snaps this season. Going into Sunday he’s played 52.5%. Depending on snaps, he’ll need to play most or all of the game to reach that incentive, otherwise he’ll only earn $250k for reaching 45% mark — Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 2, 2025 The word “significant” is obviously vague as it relates to Lance, but Ian Rapoport noted that he could wind up throwing more than 20 passes. It stands to reason that this would inhibit Rush from reaching that incentive. If Lance were under contract for the future then this move could be more justified from the Cowboys. While many have argued to see him, it isn’t talking out of both sides of the proverbial mouth to say that this isn’t necessarily the best way to go about it. Rush has been an incredible soldier for several years now and the Cowboys may be purposefully making a decision that is going to cost him money all in a meaningless game, and all in a likely vain effort.
