Is AJ Brown playing today? Injury news update for Eagles wide receiver K.D. Drummond The Eagles’ passing game has relied a great deal on one A.J. Brown over the last several seasons. In 2022, Brown 88 passes for 1,496 yards while scoring 11 touchdowns. He followed that up with 106 receptions in 2023, again approaching 1,500 receiving yards and adding another seven scores. Things have not been that smooth for Brown thus far in 2024, and injuries are to blame. After missing four games early in the season with a hamstring injury, Brown has returned to diminishing returns. And then last week, Brown exited the club’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a knee injury he didn’t return from. Will he be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10? The answer appears to be yes. Brown was limited in practice on Wednesday but has been a full participant both Thursday and Friday and surprisingly carries no injury designation into the game. All signs look like Brown will get another shot at playing against the Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs. The two did not get to face off against each other last season, as Diggs tore his ACL too early in the season to see Brown in Week 9 or Week 14. Back in 2022, Brown had 11 receptions on 16 targets in two contests against Diggs and company. Those 11 catches were good for 170 yards and a score. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Is Dak Prescott playing today? Injury news update for Cowboys quarterback K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys have spent the last month trying to figure things out, to no avail. The way the 2024 season has played out for them, it’s probably customary for them to assume the worst while hoping for the best. Well, the best has decided to take a break and keep sending the worst. After their third straight defeat, 27-21 in Week 9 at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons, the Cowboys sit with a 3-5 record and not much hope in sight. Dallas is in the middle of a crucial five-game stretch against the NFC’s best teams and they have not acquitted themselves well. In Test No. 4 they host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 10 and their quarterback situation is unideal. That’s because Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury during the third quarter of last week’s loss. On top of numerous other injuries the team has had to fight through in 2024, they now move forward without their field general. Prescott has been ruled out of the contest. Not only that, but it’s expected that Prescott is going to undergo season-ending surgery soon. It is expected that Cooper Rush will step in and play for Prescott this week against the Eagles.  The last time Rush played against Philadelphia was in 2022, in his fifth and final game as Prescott’s replacement. Now he will start in the first post-Prescott game of 2024. Prescott had been averaging 241 passing yards a game and had a career-worst 3.8% touchdown rate, against a 2.8% interception rate.  After signing a $240 million contract extension in the offseason, Prescott and the Cowboys have floundered on offense this season. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

The season is far from over for the Cowboys. Despite holding a disappointing 3-5 record, the possibility of the playoffs still exists. Granted, Dallas would have to overcome long odds by stringing together upset after upset all without the benefit of their starting quarterback, but crazier things have been seen so they play to win. Coming back for his Week 10 showdown with the Eagles is All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons, out since Week 4 with an ankle injury, will be eased back into action on Sunday. How much of a role he plays is anyone’s guess, but significant snaps are expected. CeeDee Lamb is also expected to be a major contributor on Sunday. A shoulder injury temporarily knocked him from action last week against the Falcons, but Lamb appears to be ready to go in this NFC East battle. The Eagles come to town in a quest to keep pace with the Commanders at the top of the division and the Lions at the top of the conference. They went all-in on 2024 and are determined to cash in at a time the NFC seems there for the taking. With many in Cowboys Nation already focusing on next year, few are expecting a Dallas victory. But upsetting the high-flying Eagles is always a welcomed proposition and if the Cowboys want to play the spoilers in Week 10, they’ll have to win a few key matchups Mike Zimmer vs Kellen Moore (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Since Moore went to Philadelphia to lead the offense, the Eagles have become a run-heavy unit, calling running plays seven percent over expected in 2024. Moving the QB under center and running on first downs has taken advantage of their strong run blocking and elite running back play. Saquon Barkley’s 925 rushing yards is second only to Derrick Henry. At 5.89 yards per carry Barkley ranks fourth in the NFL and his success rate is equally as strong, logging 53.5 percent based on PFR tracking and 41.4 percent based on Sumer Sports EPA-based tracking. Next Gen Stats says the Cowboys are second worst in the NFL in giving up rushing yards over expected. At 38.4 percent most Dallas fans probably think, “that’s it?” At 263 Barkley has amassed the second most yards over expected as a RB. The combination doesn’t bode well for the Cowboys. It will be up to Zimmer to match tit for tat to stop Moore and his dominant rushing attack. The Cowboys have struggled against the run all season and will need to match personnel to keep up with Philadelphia’s heavy 12 personnel usage. Moore plays 12 personnel on 31.9 percent of his snaps and of those snap he runs the ball 67.5 percent of the time. All Pro vs All Pro Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Over the years A.J. Brown has established himself as one of the leagues best WRs. The 6-foot-1, 226-pound playmaker has had a fairly quiet season in 2024. He hasn’t logged a single 100-yard game in nearly a month and will be looking to breakout big against Dallas in Week 10. The Cowboys will, in all likelihood, commit to stopping the run. It means plenty of one-on-one opportunities downfield for Brown and a great excuse to shadow him with Dallas’ top cornerback Trevon Diggs. Diggs can play either side of the field and at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, he matches up well against someone like Brown. Diggs himself has had a mostly down season, the former All Pro has struggled to get turnovers and has often found himself more involved in run stopping than he has been in coverage. Jalen Hurts is going to have great opportunities to heave the ball downfield and it will likely be up to Diggs to stop it. Micah Parsons vs Fred Johnson Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Parsons makes his return to the Cowboys without a moment to spare. In this must-win game for Dallas, Parsons will have to hit the ground running serving as an elite and unstoppable pass rusher as well as a disciplined and trustworthy edge against Hurts and the read option. The Eagles are without Jordan Mailata again this week, pushing the hobbled Johnson into the LT spot for at least one more week. It should be a priority of Zimmer’s to target Johnson in Week 10. The best way to do that is to deploy Parsons from the right side instead of his traditional left. It’s not just about sacks for Parsons this week. Hurts will see plenty of opportunities to run against the weak Dallas run defense. Even with a sore ankle, Hurts should be able to give the Cowboys fits with his various read option and RPO looks. Stopping it all starts with Parsons. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Conclusion Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Lamb will likely be bracketed into oblivion by Vic Fangio’s defense. The Cowboys, devoid of weapons outside of Lamb, will have to get creative to put the ball into their playmaker’s hands. Look for a lot of touches to Rico Dowdle on the ground and through the air. Related articles Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

‘Eagles Week’ lost its luster amidst Cowboys’ reset 2024 season reidhanson In most seasons, “Eagles Week” is a time to celebrate in the NFC East. The Dallas and Philadelphia franchises have been the crème de la crème of the division in recent seasons. Only one time since the 2016 season has a team other than the Cowboys or Eagles claimed NFC East crown. It’s why the rivalry runs deep and why both teams circle each other on their regular season calendars each year. 2024 might put an end to that. The Commanders’ rise, coupled with the Cowboys’ fall, indicates it might be a changing of the guard at the top of the NFC East. Dallas has fallen out of most reasonable playoff forecasts and is now on pace for a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. With 2024 serving as a reset year in many ways, the Week 10 matchup just doesn’t mean much anymore. While the Eagles seem to be clicking on all cylinders, the Cowboys are injured beyond all recognition. Viewers dialing in hoping to see the likes of Dak Prescott will be sadly disappointed when Cooper Rush gets the start in his absence. Out for an undetermined period of time due to a hamstring tear, Prescott’s 9-4 record against the Eagles will have to stand. No. 4 has been wildly successful against Philadelphia in the past, something that no doubt boils the blood of those from the City of Brotherly Love. Micah Parsons will get eased back into action this week, but Eagles killer DeMarcus Lawrence is still out. Carl Lawson and Chauncey Golston are a far cry from the Parsons and Lawrence duo everyone’s accustomed to. The Cowboys are nearly unrecognizable and NFL irrelevant at this point in the season. This reality has indefinitely paused their rivalry for not only this Week 10 matchup, but also likely the Week 17 matchup as well. The 2024 Eagles have their sights set on the Super Bowl. Their 6-2 start has them positioned near the top of the conference alongside the Detroit Lions. Even with bigger goals in sight they’re sure to take delight in beating the pants off the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. The Cowboys are in a much different situation heading into the week. Few want to overtly tank the season but all efforts to win feel like a lost cause. Even with a healthy Prescott, Dallas was struggling to move the ball. The Cowboys need to reinvest in the skill positions and the offensive line needs reps in order to improve. The growing pains of 2024 seem like a necessary evil the Cowboys must endure. For Dallas, the 2024 season is about getting to 2025. Unfortunately, that puts a damper on what’s traditionally been one of the most anticipated weeks of the season. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

There’s nothing like beating your rival when things feel like they aren’t going your way, and that’s the challenge for the Dallas Cowboys heading into Week 10. They’re undermanned, have less talent and are the underdogs at home, but there are some things to love about the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys will be playing a backup quarterback and facing one of the best offenses in the league, but there is a path to victory. The Eagles are far from a juggernaut, despite their 6-2 record. They have been in close games and failed to close a few out. As the saying goes, throw the record books out when the Cowboys and Eagles get together, and hope Mike McCarthy’s team gives their best outing to date. Here are three things to love about the Week 10 opponent for the Cowboys. Their record is a bit of a mirage Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Eagles are currently 6-2, and just a half-game behind the Washington Commanders for first place in the division, but they’ve had one of the easiest roads to get to six wins. Aside from beating the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, where strange things tend to happen, the Eagles have played against just one team currently over .500 and lost. Philadelphia’s six wins have come against teams that are a combined 18-36. And even in their wins, they have barely hung on to come away victorious, beating three 2-7 teams by an average of just four points a game. That’s hardly dominating, as the Eagles have played a lot of close games despite not playing top competition. To their credit, the Eagles have won most of those games and beat a few of the teams the Cowboys couldn’t, but there are a lot of contests that have come down to the wire. Nick Sirianni’s team has made mistakes that allowed their opponents to stay in game’s late, so they aren’t immune from making critical errors. If Dallas can keep it close and make the big plays instead of mistakes, they’ll have a chance to pull off the upset in Week 10. CeeDee Lamb feasts on the Eagles’ defense Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports In the last four matchups, the top wide receiver for the Cowboys has torched the Eagles’ defense. Lamb’s caught 33 passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns as the All-Pro WR has been over 120 yards receiving twice, as well as having two double-digit reception games during that span. The only time Lamb was under 70 yards receiving in those four contests, unfortunately, came with backup Cooper Rush at quarterback. There is also the issue of Lamb’s shoulder, which has him as questionable for the game. The injury affected Lamb’s performance against the Atlanta Falcons, and time will tell if he can fight through the pain to play. Lamb is a matchup nightmare for the Eagles, who haven’t had much success stopping the top WR for the Cowboys. Philadelphia’s defense against the pass is good, but they’ve given up 75% of their passing scores to offenses inside the top eight in passing offense, so if Lamb can play, he’ll have the opportunity to be a difference maker. Micah Parsons returning Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images The injuries have taken their toll on the Cowboys, but it looks like they could be getting one of their best defensive players back for the meeting with the Eagles. Edge rusher Micah Parsons should be back to play in Week 10, according to Jerry Jones. That’s a big deal for a defense that has struggled to create pressure without him. Parsons is one of the best defensive players in the league and he affects the game more than any other Cowboys defender. Without the All-Pro pass rusher in the lineup, there is no one to game plan for and the defense has forced just one measly turnover. Parsons can’t beat the Eagles by himself, but he’ll help a shorthanded group that’s struggled in all phases this season. The Cowboys must love having their best defensive player back on the field, even if he’s not 100%. Related Links

Another Cowboys starter ‘very limited’ in practice ahead of divisional clash Todd Brock Halloween may feel like it was eons ago, but things are still downright scary for the Cowboys roster as they head into a divisional tilt this weekend looking like a veritable skeleton crew. To be sure, the latest news from along the offensive line could end being more trick than treat for a backup quarterback already getting his first start in over two years. Rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton is dealing with a neck/shoulder injury, said Mike McCarthy on Friday. The Cowboys head coach called Guyton “very limited” in practice, having taken just “minimal reps” in the day’s walkthrough session. “He’s fighting through it,” McCarthy added. That does not sound overwhelmingly encouraging when forecasting his status for Sunday’s game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Guyton apparently suffered the injury during the first half of last week’s loss to Atlanta. Second-year man Asim Richards took over for him to start the second half, and although the first-round draft pick returned for the offense’s next possession, the issue was apparently serious enough to keep the 23-year-old officially listed as “limited” on both Wednesday and Thursday of this week. (Friday’s report had not yet been released as of this writing.) The team will already be without starting quarterback Dak Prescott. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is less than 100% with the lingering aftereffects of an AC shoulder sprain, Brandin Cooks is still on injured reserve, and right guard Zack Martin missed two days of work earlier this week with a shoulder injury of his own. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] (While McCarthy said that Martin “did everything in the [Friday] walkthrough,” it is not yet decided if he’ll be able to go on Sunday. T.J. Bass would be the likely replacement if Martin cannot suit up.) Backup quarterback Cooper Rush could indeed be seeing a lot of familiar faces from the second team in the Cowboys’ huddle come gametime. Richards was a fifth-round draft pick last year out of North Carolina. He played on a total of 39 offensive snaps as a rookie and another 23 so far this season. Guyton has been in on over 77% of the offense’s snaps through eight games, but he leads the team in enforced penalties (and is tied for second-most in the league) with nine. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Did Eagles lie about a Jalen Hurts injury ahead of clash with Cowboys? Todd Brock Even in a season when both teams are playing below their standard, the Cowboys and Eagles always bring a little extra juice when they face off. Trash talk and bulletin-board quotes are common in the days leading up to the next installment of the rivalry. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni even let his wardrobe do the smack-slinging back in 2018. This year, though, it appears he may have crossed the line from motivational tactics and strategic gamesmanship to flat-out lying about the health of one of his star players ahead of Sunday’s matchup in Arlington. Sirianni had a head-scratching exchange with the Philadelphia media on Friday regarding quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had been listed as “limited” on the first practice report of the week. Sirianni was asked about it, and things got confusing in a hurry. “Yeah, you know, he’s dealing with the– it was on the injury report– dealing with the ankle,” Sirianni began. “Just making sure we’re precautious [sic] with everything.” Except that’s not what was on the injury report. “Rest” had been the official reason given for Hurts’s limited participationon Wednesday, not an ankle injury. Though a day off for “load management” is common for many veteran players- including several Cowboys- it was apparently rare for Hurts to have received the classification, prompting the original inquiry. After a stunned and awkward silence to Sirianni’s answer, several Philadelphia media members followed up at once, with one finally reminding the coach that Hurts wasn’t listed with an ankle issue. Sirianni was asked to confirm: “I’m sorry. Jalen Hurts: it was an ankle injury?” “What’s that?” Sirianni asked, looking off to the side to a team PR representative. That individual answered, “It was a rest.” And Sirianni’s story suddenly changed. “It was a rest, yeah. Yeah,” the coach offered before continuing, “Sorry, I thought you were talking about somebody else. All right.” It was even more thoroughly unconvincing to those in the room than it reads in a transcript. Despite Sirianni’s attempt to quickly move on, the media pressed. “Is Jalen dealing with an ankle problem, then?” “Unh-unh,” Sirianni said with a showy shake of the head and a smirky grin, to the laughter of the assembled reporters. “No. Rest,” he said with extra emphasis. It certainly seemed as though Sirianni was more forthcoming with his original answer than perhaps the team meant for him to be and then tried to walk it back in order to stick to the agreed-upon version. The Athletic‘s Eagles beat writer Brooks Kubena posted on X shortly thereafter that Hurts was warming up on a separate field from the team’s other quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee. A few minutes later, though, Hurts was seen taking a snap, dropping back, and following through on a throw. He did not appear to be hobbled in the eight-second video clip posted by NBC reporter Dave Zangaro. Hurts was listed as a full participant on Thursday’s report as well as Friday’s. But ESPN’s Tim McManus notes that, according to his league source, Hurts has, in fact, been dealing with a mild ankle issue “for a couple weeks.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] The quarterback has rushed for 322 yards in eight games this season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Of his eight rushing touchdowns in 2024, six have come over the last three weeks. He tried to laugh it off in the moment, but Sirianni’s apparent slip-up on Friday could invite a league investigation. If the team is found to have violated the NFL’s clearly-stated policy by withholding a bona fide injury (even minor), there could be fines or other punishment meted out. In any case, it sounds as if Hurts may not be 100% heading into Sunday’s clash with the Cowboys. And in this rivalry, any little edge could loom large for either team. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys shouldn’t let recent draft busts cloud eval of Michigan prospects reidhanson Michigan draft prospects haven’t exactly panned out for the Cowboys in recent years. Two draft cycles ago the Cowboys double-dipped from the Ann Arbor powerhouse, using their first two draft picks on Michigan players. In 2023’s first round, the Cowboys selected defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The 337-pound interior lineman didn’t have many skins on the wall, but he had a physical skillset that couldn’t be matched. One round later Dallas went back to Michigan to snag a tight end. Unconvinced Jake Ferguson was the long-term answer, the Cowboys pounced on the experienced Luke Schoonmaker at No. 58. Schoonmaker didn’t have a very inspiring highlight reel playing in Michigan’s run-heavy offense, but he was an accomplished run blocker and represented one of the safer picks in the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. Neither has worked out for Dallas. Smith’s rookie season delivered the lowest defensive snap count from a first rounder in over a decade. His sophomore season has been decidedly worse with Smith grading 124th of 124 interior linemen in 2024. Schoonmaker hasn’t been much better. The second-year tight end hasn’t just been playing behind Ferguson, but he’s working behind rookie undrafted free agent Brevyn Spann-Ford as well. The 26-year-old hasn’t seen a target in four weeks and has been hit or miss in many of his blocking assignments. Both players have fallen considerably short of expectations, and both are on the path to becoming certified busts. Dallas, an organization known for their draft prowess, hasn’t had a first-round pick struggle like Smith since they selected Taco Charlton in 2017. Charlton, a defensive end from (you guessed it) Michigan, flamed out in spectacular fashion. He only lasted two seasons in Dallas and hasn’t played a down of football since the 2022 season. It’s not lost on the Cowboys fanbase some of the organization’s biggest draft mistakes have come from the University of Michigan. So, it’s only natural many of those fans balk at the idea of selecting another Michigan player in the 2025 NFL draft. While this is an understandable posture, it’s a mistake to give such bias legs to stand on. Based on the Cowboys’ current trajectory, Dallas will be picking in the top 10 of the draft next April. Picking inside the top 10 will position them well for blue chip talent. A player the Cowboys could be looking at when they go on the clock in the first round might just be another player from the University of Michigan. Mason Graham, 6-foot-3, 320-pounds, is widely regarded as the top defensive lineman in the draft class. The well-rounded DT is a model prospect who comes with a Pro Bowl profile. He’s versatile and he’s experienced. He doesn’t come with the same degree of projection as Smith and Charlton, and as an accomplished pressure player, he offers value that goes beyond the typical run-stuffing often associated with the DT position. Right behind Graham on the prospect list is fellow Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. Grant, 6-foot-3, 339-pounds, is a physical marvel at the DT position. Like Smith before him, Grant makes Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. He’s stout enough to play nose tackle but explosive enough to penetrate as a pass rusher. Grant has conditioning concerns as a man his size often does, but he should not be passed over simply because there are similarities between him and Smith. He’s a different player. The Cowboys weakest position on the field is generally believed to be their interior defensive line. Given development time and bust potential associated with the DT position in Dallas, it’s recommended the Cowboys use free agency to bring in a top flight DT this spring. But if the Cowboys don’t want to spend big on a veteran, Michigan has a couple intriguing talents who need to be considered. They shouldn’t be disregarded simply because of the school they come from. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.