Report: Highly-praised Cowboys safety out for season; may require surgery after gruesome injury Todd Brock The annual war of attrition has claimed yet another Cowboy, with one member of the coaching staff offering an all-too-rare reminder this week of the human side to the sport and the very personal cost to the men who make it their life’s work. Safety Markquese Bell will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, it was announced Wednesday. That decision comes after the third-year man out of Florida A&M suffered a dislocated shoulder while making a tackle in Monday night’s game with the Texans. Per Todd Archer of ESPN, multiple sources report that the injury may require surgery. It looked quite serious in the moment, and Bell needed considerable help getting off the field after it happened in the second quarter of the 34-10 loss. After a second season that saw him get converted to linebacker under Dan Quinn, Bell had seen fairly limited action back at safety with Mike Zimmer’s defense in 2024. He had played just 34 defensive snaps, but Bell had become a real standout among special teams players. Special teams coordinator John Fassel visibly choked up talking about Bell this week during his weekly press conference. “That one hurts,” Fassel said when asked about the loss of the 25-year-old. “He’s played as good [on] special teams through 10 games as I can remember,” Fassel told reporters Tuesday. “He got hurt doing what he does best, just flying in there, diving. He’s going to be okay, but man. Just, gosh. I’ve just spent so much time with these guys in meetings and the practice field and the game field. And the emotions of [going] undrafted to wanting a little bit more and accepting his role and thriving in his role… damn. I’m hurting for him, because he was on a mission. He was as good as we’ve had in a while.” A reflective Fassel went on to talk about the relationship he’s developed with so many of his players, world-class athletes who typically don’t get the credit they deserve for sacrificing themselves over and over on seemingly routine plays that often fly well under the average fan’s radar. “These young men are very human. Gosh, and they want so much out of their career. And I want it for them,” Fassel explained. “They’re special humans, and what they do on a daily basis is very unique.” But injuries come part and parcel with the sport for everyone who plays it, and now the Cowboys must find a way to replace Bell on the field for the final seven games of the schedule. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Just like Bell went back to work the morning after getting hurt, to take the first steps down his road to recovery. Fassel talked about seeing Bell in the trainers’ room just that morning and was already looking ahead to seeing him back on a football field. Fassel hinted, though, that both men know that both being back in the star when that happens is not guaranteed. “He had the whole thing slinged up, and he was emotional, too, because he knew what he was producing. Maybe not everybody else does, but he was producing as good as it’s been. Hopefully he’ll heal up and be back better than ever. I’m sure he will, because he’s a tough-ass kid. He is an outstanding football player. He’s got some great stuff in his future.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

No. 1 WR Jalen Tolbert Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert (18) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 2 CB Jourdan Lewis Sep 25, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports No. 5 Punter Bryan Anger Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger (5) prepares for the game against the Giants, at MetLife Stadium. Sunday, September 10, 2023 No. 6 Safety Donovan Wilson Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: — No. 7 CB Trevon Diggs Apr 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs talks to a member of the Mavericks staff during the second quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers during game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports No. 9 WR Kavontae Turpin LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 04: NFL player KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys attends the NFL Pro Bowl Weekend Celebrity All-Star Game 2023 benefiting the charity D Up On Cancer at the Cox Pavilion on February 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) No. 10 QB Cooper Rush Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: DNP No. 11 DE Micah Parsons Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson (11) warms up during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 13 LB DeMarvion Overshown Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 14 Safety Markquese Bell Wednesday: Limited | No. 15 RB Ezekiel Elliott Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 17 Kicker Brandon Aubrey Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) watches his field goal in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 18 LB Damone Clark : Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 19 QB Trey Lance EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Lance #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) No. 21 CB Caelen Carson No. 23 RB Rico Dowdle ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) No. 24 Safety Israel Mukuamu Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 26 CB DaRon Bland Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) eats a turkey leg after the Cowboys victory over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Bland was returned to the 53-man roster in Week 9. No. 28 Safety Malik Hooker Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 29 CB C.J. Goodwin Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive back C.J. Goodwin (29) catches a pass for a first down on a fake punt in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 30 Safety Juanyeh Thomas Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) during pregame warm ups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports No. 31 CB Josh Butler Aug 1, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Josh Butler (40) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports No. 35 LB Marist Liufau No. 40 FB Hunter Luepke Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (43) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 41 LB Nick Vigil Sep 12, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Nick Vigil (59) reacts after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (np) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports No. 42 RB Deuce Vaughn ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 12: Deuce Vaughn #42 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) No. 44 Long Snapper Trent Sieg ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 01: Trent Sieg #44 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys after Golston’s two point conversion during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) No. 50 Linebacker Erick Kendricks Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (50) go through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 52 DE KJ Henry Oct 13, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end KJ Henry (52) lines up during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn

Cowboys open 21-day practice window for pair of starters Todd Brock Reinforcements could be coming on both the offense and defense ahead of the Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving gauntlet, even though it may be too late to salvage the greater 2024 season by the time they actually re-enter the lineup. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks and rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had their 21-day practice windows opened by the team on Wednesday. The Cowboys have three weeks to evaluate both players in a practice setting as they return from injury; that’s the deadline for either moving them back to the active roster or placing them on season-ending injured reserve. Head coach Mike McCarthy had identified both players as being close to a return during a Tuesday press conference. https://twitter.com/VoiceOfTheStar/status/1859255625298870598/ Cooks has been sidelined since just after the Cowboys’ Week 4 win over the Giants. Following the 20-15 win in which he caught just one pass for 16 yards, the 11th-year veteran, who had been dealing with a knee issue since training camp, underwent a meniscus procedure while in New York. The Cowboys’ WR2 option- behind CeeDee Lamb- developed an infection after that procedure, which led to him being placed on IR. Cooks, 31, has 19 targets on the year, with nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Kneeland, the team’s second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan, exited Week 5’s win over Pittsburgh with a non-contact knee injury after just four snaps. While an MRI showed the ACL to be intact, arthroscopic surgery was required to repair the tear. That injury proved especially costly for a team that was already perilously thin at defensive end well before mid-October; primary options Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence had gone down by that point, and Sam Williams was lost for the entire season during the summer. Kneeland had registered 10 tackles, three QB hits, a defended pass, and a tackle for loss before his injury. Both players are expected to resume practicing with the team on Wednesday, and both could be re-activated to the 53-man roster before Sunday’s divisional showdown with the Commanders. Someone else would need to be moved off the roster for that to happen. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Mike McCarthy’s game plan stunk Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys have turned to backup quarterback Cooper Rush over the last few years to help them keep their heads above water, and the veteran has played fairly well. With Rush, the key has been to run the ball and stay in down and distances where he doesn’t need to do too much. That’s the game plan to keep the offense on track with Rush under center, and it’s worked when the script is followed. Against the Texans, the game plan was putrid. Despite the contest being close until the fourth quarter, McCarthy pass-heavy approach did his team in. Starting running back Rico Dowdle had only nine rushes heading into the last 15 minutes, while Rush totaled with 55 pass attempts. Despite some ineffectiveness in the running game early, Dowdle never got a chance to find a rhythm, which was a curious strategy after saying all week how the veteran RB had earned a bigger role. With McCarthy deciding to throw it so much, it aided the Texans’ pass rush, who sacked Rush five times. Even if the game plan was to throw more, that idea should’ve gone out the window with the poor throws from Rush, who was only intercepted once, but could’ve been picked off five more times. Rush did throw for a career-high 354 yards, but McCarthy’s game plan wasn’t smart, nor was it effective, and it caught up with the team in the end. Kind of like McCarthy’s tenure as coach of the Cowboys. Zack Martin’s cooked Sam Hodde/Getty Images Fas have seen Martin play poorly more times this season than during the rest of his career combined, and he was embarrassed late in the game. Martin might be trying to fight through some injuries, but it’s clear he’s shot. Martin gave up one of the worst sacks of his career in the fourth quarter when he was beaten by defensive tackle Tim Settle. It was third sack this season where Martin hasn’t looked anything like the dominant right guard he’s been known as in his 11 years in the league. A few plays later, Martin went down with an injury and didn’t return. It was clear on Martin’s face how disappointed he was, either by his play or the injuries that are affecting him. Either way, Martin’s time as one of the league’s best players appears to be over. If it wasn’t clear before Monday Night Football, it was obvious in the Week 11 loss. KaVontae Turpin’s speed needs to be utilized Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports One of the biggest missing pieces to the Cowboys’ offense is speed, and the diminutive kick returner, who is sometimes disguised as a wide receiver, needs to be utilized more. Turpin’s acceleration and quickness was on display during his 64-yard yard touchdown catch, where he hit a speed of over 22 mph, a high for the NFL this season. The sudden movement to fake outside before going inside was a beautiful route from Turpin, who then had no problem eating up the space between defenders and going for the score. The Cowboys need more of that type of explosiveness in their offense, and no one has that speed on the team except for Turpin. He doesn’t need to be used as a deep ball threat, but the Cowboys have to find ways to get Turpin open in space so he can use his speed and elusiveness to make big plays. Murphy’s Law continues Sam Hodde/Getty Images For the Cowboys, this season can be summed up in two ways in the loss to the Texans. The first microcosm of how Dallas’ year has gone was in the third quarter. With the team down 10 points, McCarthy sent out his best player, kicker Brandon Aubrey, who missed a short field goal on the possession earlier after slipping on a field goal attempt. That didn’t dissuade McCarthy from using Aubrey to try a 64-yard kick, which Aubrey nailed to make the score 20-13. The Cowboys would’ve been down just one score. However, a penalty by the Texans gave the Cowboys a chance to put more than just three points on the board, and the offense drove into the red zone. But on fourth-and-2, the designed sprint out for Rush failed as the pass fell incomplete and Dallas turned the ball over on downs, still trailing by two scores, and not just the seven points they wouldv’e been down by if there was no penalty. On the next series, Rush was strip sacked. Left tackle Tyler Guyton recovered and tried to run with the ball instead of going down to retain possession. The result was a second fumble which was returned for a touchdown by the Texans. The Cowboys were then down 27-10, and the game was essentially over. Only the Cowboys could fumble twice on the same play and give up a score. The offensive line is atrocious Sam Hodde/Getty Images The Cowboys might have the worst offensive line in the league, and the injury status from Week 11 didn’t help. Three OL pieces left the game in the loss, but it didn’t matter, the unit wasn’t playing well before the injuries. Rush was sacked five times, was hurried all night and the offensive line couldn’t open up holes in the running game. It was a discouraging effort from Dallas’ offensive line, who continues to regress, which shouldn’t be the case with two rookies who should be improving. Additionally, the struggles of right tackle Terence Steele and Martin not playing well didn’t help. It’s clear offensive line coach Mike Solari isn’t doing a good job, and he should be held more accountable. Week 11 was another putrid outing for the Cowboys’ offensive line.

It’s at this point of the season where fans and media have to start thinking outside the box. The season is nowhere near being over, yet it already is. The Dallas Cowboys are now 3-7, losers of five in a row, winless at home and having a worse point differential than most of the teams that somehow have a worse record. The club currently sits with the ninth overall pick in the 2025 draft’s first round and are just one day into a three-game-in-10-day span that has a chance to guarantee a losing record before the calendar turns to December. And with that is the stark realization that the watch this website has been on since January is officially in Go Time Mode. Mike McCarthy will be replaced and likely by someone who has been talked about on these pages. Several outlets have finally caught up to what Cowboys Wire has been doing in earnest for a month now. Often imitated, never duplicated. One thought that has arisen that wasn’t there before. What if Jerry Jones chooses to be new by revisiting the past? One name that is rarely discussed but probably should be is the former heir apparent Kellen Moore. Moore was Jason Garrett 2.0; brought in to the coaching staff as a wunderkind who the Jones family thought a lot of. He carried over as offensive coordinator from Garrett to McCarthy. Being shown the door in 2023 after a playoff failure as McCarthy vowed taking back over play calling would take the offense to a new level. It did, for a year, before bottoming out in 2024, even before all of the injuries hit. Meanwhile Moore attached himself to Brandon Staley’s sinking ship in L.A. for a year, but has revitalized his reputation thanks to Saquon Barkley’s arrival in Phiadelphia. The Eagles are sitting at 8-2 with an offense that is focusing on running to set up the pass. Could Moore saving the Eagles’ offense from the misery that was their 2023 season be enough to have him back in the head coach conversation? He joins our Honorable Mention list as we rank 20 candidates who could replace McCarthy. Honorable Mentions: Dan Pritchard, Cincinnati Bengals OC Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks OC Adam Stenovich, Green Bay Packers OC Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers, DC Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers, DC Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos, DC Lincoln Riley, USC, HC Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles, OC University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; rGeorgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports The best collegiate head coach since Nick Saban.. he likely makes way too much ($13 million per year) coaching at his alma mater to move, but there’s no process that is sane without at least kicking the tires on the possibility. Minnesota VIkings DC Brian Flores Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Will Flores get another shot at a head coach gig? He was dumped by the Dolphins in their owner’s “I’m rich I can do what I want” attempt to lure Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach. The revelation about trying to have a coach to tank games may have pulled the curtain back on the innerworkings of the league, but it likely didn’t do Flores much favor. What has though, is the job he’s done righting the ship in Minnesota with their defense. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith Nov 2, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith at press conference at the PSD Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Grabbing from a fruitful tree is always a wise idea, and snatching Smith from under Mike McDaniel as part of the Kyle Shanahan limb system seems like a wise call. Dallas rarely uses motion at the snap and isn’t particularly good at it; and that’s literally the forte of Smith. Doesn’t currently have play-calling duties though, which could be seen as a knock. Former NFL head coach Mike Vrabel Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel reacts to a Titans penalty against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Vrabel was fired by owner Amy Adams Strunk Monday after having two losing seasons back-to-back. Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who was able to achieve strong levels of success in Tennessee with a veteran QB who wasn’t well regarded (Ryan Tannehill) prior to their time together. Known as a disciplinarian, pairing him with Dak Prescott would require finding the next big thing as offensive coordinator. Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick Sep 30, 2018; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline as they take on the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports For better or worse, the clubhouse leader. Belichick is a huge Prescott fan, Jerry Jones is a huge supporter of retreads and it would be interesting to see if given a competent front office… oh wait. Lions DC Aaron Glenn Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn watches practice during OTAs at Detroit Lions headquarters and practice facility in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Glenn obviously has ties to Dallas, playing two of his 15 seasons with the organization, but the growth of the Lions’ defense under his tutelage has been impressive on its own. In 2020 they ranked 32nd in defensive DVOA. Since Glenn joined they moved to 29th, 27th, 13th and ranked 2nd going into Week 12 action. He’s consistently being highlighted by their players as a phenomenal leader of men. Comanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury against the

McCarthy: Cowboys players ‘better be frustrated’ after latest loss; ‘We deserve to win’ Todd Brock This Cowboys Tuesday is presented by the letter F. Fans were undoubtedly throwing the letter around liberally as they watched their team get mauled again on Monday night. Fifth loss in a row. Fouls. Flags. Fumbles. Fourth-down failures. A foolish fake punt. There was no shortage of opportunities for plenty of F-words in the 34-10 loss, but head coach Mike McCarthy kept coming back to a different one in his postgame press conference. “It’s very frustrating. It’s frustrating for everybody. Frustrating for the players, frustrating for the coaches, I know it’s disappointing for the fans,” McCarthy told reporters late Monday night from the podium at AT&T Stadium. He used the word frustrating (or some derivative) nine times in a ten-minute Q&A session. “Hell, they’d better be frustrated,” he said of his players. “I mean, we’re all frustrated. I think there would be something wrong if they weren’t frustrated.” Well, something is definitely wrong, even with the rampant frustration. Yet the coach struggled to pinpoint exactly why this team keeps losing so badly. “We’re not playing well enough or executing well enough, coaching well enough to overcome some of the mistakes we’re making at critical times in the game.” Like going 0-for-4 on fourth down conversion attempts. Like committing nine penalties (not to mention having four defensive players flagged for personal fouls on the same snap). Like getting into the red zone just once and not having a single snap in goal-to-go. Like fumbling twice on the same play and helplessly watching it turn into a scoop-and-score for the opponent. Like taking Brandon Aubrey’s field goal off the scoreboard and then coming away empty after a slapstick series of plays that turned the ball over on downs inside the Houston 10. Like that ill-advised fake punt in the Cowboys’ own end and on the offense’s first possession, the second such debacle in three weeks, and one which McCarthy described as “a poor call by us.” Like asking the backup quarterback coming off a historically bad performance to attempt the most passes in his career and the most throws by any Cowboys quarterback in a game in over three years. “I would have liked to have been a lot more balanced, run to pass,” McCarthy explained. “I don’t want to throw the ball 40 times.” Except it was 55 (56 if you count Bryan Anger’s four-yard lob… in a situation that needed nine). But despite all the mistakes, miscues, and missed plays, McCarthy says he won’t be doing anything radically different as the team prepares for two more games in the next 10 days. “We’ve just got to stay after it,” the coach said. “I’m disappointed, I’m frustrated for our guys because I know how much they put into this. We’ve just got to keep banging away.” Don’t expect much to change during this short week of practices, because McCarthy says practices aren’t the issue. “Our problem isn’t effort during the week; I haven’t seen that. We’re just not making critical plays.” Don’t look for some massive overhaul of the roster, either. Despite a record that currently has the team staring at a top-10 draft pick, McCarthy has no interest in giving up on his starters in favor of simply getting younger guys game reps. “We’re playing the best players to win the game,” he said. “I have every reason to believe that we can get better. We have to be cleaner. The discipline and the details; you’re tired of hearing about it, but I’ve just got to keep pushing it and making them focus on it. And I do believe we’ll come out on the other side. “We’ve got to win. We deserve to win. We deserve the opportunity to win, and that’s about putting the best people out there, and right now they’re young. Our young guys are getting a lot of experience, but we need to do whatever the hell we need to do to win.” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] By that logic, then, McCarthy should be at least open to the idea of making a change. Many Cowboys fans are ready to move on from backup quarterback Cooper Rush and get third-stringer Trey Lance a lot more involved. Even McCarthy himself admitted he should have done so Monday night. “I think the one thing I should have done at the end, and I didn’t do it, was put Trey in there. I could have gotten him a series. That’s one thing I would second-guess myself on,” he told media members… though whether that was an oversight or a message to ownership is up for debate. “I really just didn’t want to get into putting him in for a play or two, because he’s more than a gadget player, in my opinion. We had him prepared to take a series, and frankly, there at the end, I should have given him that series. I regret not doing that.” Add that to the long list of frustrations to come out of the Monday meltdown. But come Tuesday, McCarthy will be back at work, looking to turn it around the only way he knows how: by leaning on the coaches and players around him to keep putting in the work and trusting that the process will lead to something positive. “Just trust the people in the room, the people that are doing the work. I do, I believe in this locker room,” McCarthy explained. “There is good coming out of this. You don’t see it because we’re not winning games, but there’s young men that are getting an opportunity to do more, and I do believe that will pay it forward. It needs to hurry the hell up, because we need it in six days.” Forward. Another F-word. And right now, for a very frustrated Cowboys team desperate to distance themselves from some of the losing squads of the franchise’s past they’re being lumped in with, it may

Overmatched Cowboys add more injuries to insulting play in fifth straight loss, 34-10 to Texans K.D. Drummond The Dallas Cowboys placed QB Dak Prescott on injured reserve prior to Monday night’s contest against the Houston Texans. The Week 11 move was anticipated for the last several weeks, but the fact it took so long to make was a significant admission. There’s no cavalry coming, so the need for the roster spot wasn’t really a pressing issue for the 3-6 Cowboys. Make that 3-7, as the club was once again in a street fight without any weapons in falling to the Texans 34-10. The club’s fifth straight defeat came with the required number of head scratches and face palms pretty much from the onset of the game. Dallas gave up big plays, turned the ball over and had a myriad of new injuries to keep piling on the miserable season. Dallas saw three different starting offensive linemen leave the contest with injuries, along with their starting tight end. Jake Ferguson suffered a concussion early on, and then the second half saw Tyler Guyton, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith all get knocked out; the latter two within three plays of each other. With Cooper Rush continuing to struggle to push the ball downfield on a regular basis, the Dallas defense was once again asked to do something they were incapable of doing. The Houston offense scored on a 77-yard opening play that was called back, but were undaunted with numerous big plays. CJ Stroud released the ball quickly, often finding his returning star WR Nico Collins, on the way to 257 passing yards. He didn’t throw for a score, but it wasn’t necessary with RB Joe Mixon adding three touchdowns on 109 rushing yards. In comparison Rush threw for over 300 yards, but Mike McCarhty’s non-existent commitment to the running game saw Dallas rush just 16 times compared to over 50 passing attempts. The Cowoys offense remains disfunctional as the team lost their sixth straight home game Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Play design matters . (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) KaVontae Turpin isn’t a great receiver, but Mike McCarthy gave him an easy play to work with on his 64-yard TD catch. It was a simple slant route from a spread formation using his speed to take it to the house. His breakaway catch and run was over 22 mph, which according to Next Gen Stats is the fastest of any player this season. This factoid is an indictment on a coaching staff that’s targeted him just 28 times and given him just five carries prior to tonight. Speed kills in the NFL and the Cowboys haven’t used their fastest killer enough on the offensive side of the ball this season. Effort remains Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Jerry Jones once begrudgingly fired Wade Phillips midseason because he believed his team had given up on the head coach. It seemed clear from the start of the season the only way Mike McCarthy would meet the same fate is if he gave Jones the same cause. Say what one will about this roster, but this team has not quit. Young players and veteran alike were working hard for the blue star on Monday Night Football. It was especially good to see Trevon Diggs lead blocking for Malik Hooker on the first half interception. Diggs gets heat for his disinterest in tackling, and rightfully so, but it’s not because of selfishness or lack of physicality. Cornerbacks just don’t like to tackle players twice their size. Diggs showed he has plenty of fight in him even if he’s not hawking balls play after play. On Turpin’s long catch and run, it was Rico Dowdle downfield blocking with extra effort. The 2024 Cowboys may not be very disciplined in their assignments, but they aren’t quitters and that’s something to rebuild around. Throws beyond the sticks Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Cowboys offense obviously suffered an enormous loss when Dak Prescott was lost to a hamstring injury for the rest of the season. In previous years, Cooper Rush was up to the task and the offense was able to survive. But in 2024 it’s behind a rebuilding offensive line and alongside a stripped-down receiver corps, making it a difficult task. Throws beyond the sticks is a great way to gauge an offense’s trust in the passing game. Not all offenses are designed to create run after the catch and Mike McCarthy’s offense is a perfect example of such an offense. Throwing beyond the sticks is a required element in his offense yet he was extremely hesitant to unleash Rush. Excluding the final two minutes of each half, Rush threw just nine passes beyond the sticks upon first review; less than 50% were completions, and one resulted in an interception. To re-sign or not re-sign, that is the question , Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) Chauncey Golston, the Cowboys’ third round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has developed into a real NFL player this season. There’s a world where he’s even a key player on a legit playoff caliber defense. He keeps his assignments, plays the run, and works hard for scrappy pressures. He’s not a pass rusher but he’s not a liability on passing downs either. Injuries have forced the Cowboys to give him opportunities this season and they’ve been rewarded for playing him. The only problem is Golston is a free agent in 2025. With so many players making big money on the roster, it will be tough for the Cowboys to justify middle class level contracts like him, but Golston might be cheap enough and solid enough to justify it this winter. He’s a free agent to watch. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Related articles

Breaking, Literally: AT&T Stadium roof piece falls on field before Cowboys-Texans Todd Brock Cowboys fans may have thought nothing else could go wrong this season. As if. For a brief period late Monday afternoon when it looked as though the retractable roof at AT&T Stadium would be open for Monday night’s primetime meeting with the Houston Texans. Now that’s in doubt after some sort of mechanical issue sent a giant piece of metal fall to the turf below and left more torn-away scrap hanging in the rafters. Stadium workers began opening the roof several hours before kickoff, signalling a rather rare event for the venue that first opened in 2009. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones famously said recently- after the most recent complaints about the setting sun shining through the east/west-oriented windows causing problems for players- that the stadium, with its glass walls and retractable roof, was constructed to mimic the feel of an outdoor venue. Yet the roof hadn’t been opened for a game in two years, and it’s been opened for less than 25% of all Cowboys games ever played there. With perfect conditions forecast for Monday night (and possibly to distract slightly from the team’s godawful 3-6 record), Jones and the team made the decision to open the roof for the nationally-televised game. But shortly after the roof opened, a large piece of metal fell from the structure. Media members from the various TV outlets were already on the field doing pregame reports. The debris is seen in video posted by NBC DFW’s Noah Bullard. The roof was closed again and per The Athletic‘s Jon Machota, crews are investigating, ostensibly to determine whether or not it can be safely opened again. Update: The mandated 90-minute countdown to kickoff has started. The roof will officially remain closed for the game, as it would have had to have been opened prior to that deadline. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] While there were thankfully no injuries, the punchlines surrounding the incident in this “train wreck” of a Cowboys season will write themselves for some time. ESPN’s Ryan Clark, speaking from the Monday Night Countdown desk set up on the turf at the stadium, cracked, “The bottom done already fell out in Dallas; the top might as well, too.” Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.