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. 4 QB Dak Prescott Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) smiles on the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-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. 25 CB Andrew Booth Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) looks on during the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-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. 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.
Cowboys vs Falcons Initial Injury Report: IR activation doesn’t mean All-Pro will play
Cowboys vs Falcons Initial Injury Report: IR activation doesn’t mean All-Pro will play K.D. Drummond The Cowboys initial injury report of Week 9 is out and it comes alongside what should be positive news. Dallas added cornerback DaRon Bland to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, placing him back with the full roster for the first time since his foot surgery over the summer. But fans should wait before they rejoice that he’s going to play in this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. See, Bland had his 21-day practice window opened before the club’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions. And while it appeared he was ramping up to play in that game, he missed the final practice before it then didn’t suit up. The bye week came next and Bland missed the following week of practice, not playing against San Francisco. Wednesday marked the expiration of the 21-day window. Bland either had to be activated or placed on IR for the remainder of 2024. The club activated, then he proceeded to miss Wednesday’s practice as well. Bland is one of seven players who didn’t participate in practice for the Cowboys, including edge rusher Micah Parsons. As for the Falcons, who are sitting at 5-3 and atop the NFC South, their injury report reads much cleaner. Only three of their players sat out on Wednesday. Dallas Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey, NIR-Other | Wednesday: Did Not Participate LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB DaRon Bland, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB Trevon Diggs, Calf | Wednesday: Did Not Participate CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday: Full Participant Linebacker Nick Vigil, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate DT Jordan Phillips, Wrist | Wednesday: Full Participant DT Linval Joseph, Back | Wednesday: Did Not Participate LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited OG Zack Martin, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited Atlanta Falcons LB Tory Anderson, Knee | Wednesday: Limited LB JD Bertrand, Concussion | Wednesday: Did Not Participate Center Drew Dalman, Ankle | Wednesday: Limited LB Kaden Eliss, Knee | Wednesday: Limited C Antonio Hamilton, Back | Wednesday: Limited OG Chris Lindstrom, Knee | Wednesday: Did Not Participate DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate Safety Justin Simmons, Hamstring | Wednesday: Limited Wednesday Rest Days: DL James Smith-Williams, LB Matthew Judon Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
This coaching change wasn’t supposed to be Cowboys instant fix, but it’s worse than expected
This coaching change wasn’t supposed to be Cowboys instant fix, but it’s worse than expected reidhanson When Dan Quinn left Dallas for the sunny streets of the nation’s capital last winter, the Cowboys had a significant hole to fill on their coaching staff. Quinn had successfully rebuilt the Dallas defense into a force to be reckoned with. Sure, they were prone to massive breakdowns against quality opponents, but overall, they ranked as one of the league’s best, year in and year out. Complicating matters in the search for Quinn’s replacement was the situation with the rest of the coaching staff. Mike McCarthy was entering the final season on his five-year deal and the rest of his staff was situated to play out the final year of their deals in 2024 as well. The Cowboys wanted their Quinn replacement to join the ranks and similarly play on an expiring deal this season. As if that wasn’t bad enough the Cowboys made it clear they weren’t interested in being spenders over the offseason either. Whoever came in to fix the defense would have to do so with rookies and the carryovers Dallas had on hand. It’s safe to say the terms weren’t very attractive and the list of candidates would be somewhat limited as a result. So, when Mike Zimmer’s name came up as the solution, many felt elated such an accomplished coach would even consider the Cowboys, let alone agree to the terms and hop aboard. But that’s what Zimmer did. Zimmer’s hire didn’t result in parades, but he did receive a fair degree of support from many in Cowboys Nation. As a former coach of the Cowboys, Zimmer had ties to Dallas and as a successful head coach in Minnesota, he had the respect around the league. Regarded as a disciplinarian, Zimmer looked like he was just what the doctor ordered for the Cowboys. Discipline had long been an issue on the Dallas defense under Quinn, with players freelancing all too often. It resulted in wide swings in run defense and avalanche-like breakdowns against the league’s more nuanced attacks. Zimmer didn’t just offer discipline and accountability, but he brought a track record of success against offenses like Kyle Shanahan’s. Shanahan offenses have been Dallas’ Achillies heel for years and its growth in popularity has made Shanahan one the NFL’s most prominent coaching trees in the league today. Seven games into the 2024 season and Zimmer’s defense looks even worse than it was before. While much of the differences can be blamed on injuries to players like DaRon Bland, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams, discipline towards run fits appear every bit as bad as they were under Quinn. Was Zimmer the wrong man for the job? It’s understandable if hindsight prompts this question. The Cowboys have a historically bad defense and don’t appear to be on the road to recovery. Letting the injury-depleted 49ers roll over them for 30 points in Week 8 showed it doesn’t take offensive All Stars to post All Star-like performances against the Dallas defense. But asking Zimmer to fix the defense under the Cowboys’ circumstances in 2024 is almost an impossible ask. Dallas horrifically misevaluated their situation at defensive tackle. Even when the players show a knowledge and commitment to the task, they get beaten and bullied out of position. The ramifications of which aren’t hard to see as linebackers and safeties are regularly met with 300+ pound linemen squaring up with them at the second level, running play after running play. Zimmer’s playbook itself takes time to digest and perfect. As a coach who likes to disguise and misdirect, he’s more complicated than many defensive coordinators around the league. It’s not something a coach can impart in just seven games and given the chronic issues on the defensive line, it’s probably not something that can be fixed in Dallas without upgrading the talent. Zimmer was given an impossible task and the results, while worse than any of us imagined, shouldn’t be overly surprising given the circumstances. It’s possible a more vanilla scheme would be easier to digest for players, but Zimmer isn’t teaching rocket science here either. At some point the accountability has to fall onto the players themselves and these Dallas defenders look like they are the biggest problem. Zimmer’s first seven games back in Dallas have been an unmitigated disaster but he was never supposed to be an instant fix. He’s a culture coach and a disciplinarian who needs the right pieces and viable alternatives to properly implement his defense. Neither time nor alternatives have been afforded the coach. Zimmer needs blame because at the end of the day he’s responsible for the defense, but he’s not the problem with the defense. The problem is the impossible circumstance and dearth of talent given to him. That falls on a different man. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys Headlines: Dak deficiency under scrutiny, Diggses delayed
Brotherly battle between Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Texans’ Stefon postponed again by injury :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was supposed to face off against this brother and fellow All-Pro Stefon Diggs when Dallas hosts Houston but another devastating knee injury postpones the highly anticipated matchup once again. It’s time for Cowboys to bench this highly-paid player and try something new :: Cowboys Wire Link: Cap problems in Dallas are nothing new so if Dallas wants to move on from some high-priced players, the time to gauge value starts now. This starting offensive lineman could be a wise money decision that could clear up to $14 million in cap space. Detailing Cowboys’ injuries and return timetables :: The Mothership Link: The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries so having a timeline for when those players return gives hope that this team can turn things around with capable bodies. From Defensive ends Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, Dallas should get healthy soon. Michael Irvin says Cowboys have to make NFL trade deadline deal: ‘It’s bad right now’ :: Dallas Morning News Link: The Playmaker, also known as Michael Irvin, says the Cowboys should make a trade before the November 5th deadline. The Dallas front office has already said they won’t make a deal but have reversed course in the past. Before confronting local media members, Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs should check the film :: Fort Worth Star Telegram Link: Cowboys All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs confronted journalist Mike Leslie right after the game for a tweet he sent criticizing Diggs’ effort on a long run play. Video evidence suggests the player should check the film before another outburst occurs. Jerry Jones explains why Dak Prescott is hesitant to use his legs :: SI Link: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not hide the fact that he does not want quarterback Dak Prescott to use his legs as a weapon citing injury as the biggest reason. Prescott was hurt running before and limiting his opportunities is a conscious effort to keep their franchise QB healthy. Dallas Cowboys 2025 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Defensive Line Upgrades Are Priority :: The 33rd team Link: Poor play on the field has sent some to start scouting for the 2025 NFL draft. An early seven-round mock draft for the Cowboys is filled with defensive players with a dash of skill guys in hopes of elevating the team’s talent in their ranks. Cowboys Today: How many wins will Dallas finish with this season? :: The Athletic Link: Predicting how many wins the Cowboys will wind up with is a popular game to conduct prior to the start of the season. Doing so at about the halfway mark suggests things aren’t going well. A quick look at the remaining schedule offers a potentially grim outcome. Cowboys much-needed trade proposal lands $4 million Pro Bowler from Dolphins :: The Sporting News Link: A new trade proposal that some experts would like to see is the Cowboys sending emergency quarterback Trey Lance to Miami for Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert. The Dolphins running back has a salary of $4 million this season. Best and worst Cowboys from Week 8, according to PFF :: Blogging the Boys Link: PFF grades don’t often tell the whole story but they do give a great baseline for how the player is playing overall. The best and worst PFF grades include receiver CeeDee Lamb as the top performer while safety Donovan Wilson entered the bottom half.
Good, Bad, Ugly: Wasted possessions, controversial penalty, ST miscues latest face palm Cowboys moments
When it mattered the most, the Cowboys offense turned in their worst possessions Sunday night. But a few ill-timed incompletions obviously don’t tell the whole story of the 30-24 loss to the 49ers; there were plenty of other contributing factors that make up the bad and the ugly in this week’s recap. The run game couldn’t get out of first gear (again) despite the one personnel move that the fanbase had been screaming for, a controversial penalty might have altered the disastrous third quarter had it gone the other way, and even John Fassel’s special-teams unit couldn’t get out of their own way in an unusually sloppy outing. There was some good to be found, though… if you looked hard enough. CeeDee Lamb actually had one of his best performances, for example, perhaps putting to bed the bye-week storyline that there’s something wrong with the way he runs routes. And while most rookie offensive linemen prefer to fly well under the radar, one Cowboys youngster showed out and turned heads with a particularly flashy play that’s worth a second look. Here’s are some of the trends, plays, and players you may have forgotten about that comprise the good, the bad, and the ugly of Week 8’s disappointing loss. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Good: CeeDee Lamb’s never-say-die performance Route-running critiques from franchise legends notwithstanding, Lamb continues to be the bright spot for the Cowboys offense in 2024. He had his most productive outing- by far- of 2024 on Sunday night, and his two late scoring grabs somehow helped turn a game in which Dallas trailed by 17 points with eight and a half minutes to go into an honest-to-goodness nail-biter. The comeback bid came up short, but Lamb turned in one of the best statistical performances of his career. His 17 targets and 13 catches tied personal bests, his 146 yards are a top-seven total for him, and he scored two touchdowns for just the eighth time as a pro. Given the lack of reliable pass-catchers around him to draw the defense’s attention, what Lamb is doing as the only legitimate offensive weapon on the team is remarkable. Bad: Run game didn’t cook up any improvements over bye Cowboys Nation clamored for seven weeks to put Dalvin Cook in the backfield, and when they finally did, he gained… 12 yards on six carries. (Sigh.) Rico Dowdle was a surprise last-minute scratch due to a mysterious illness, Deuce Vaughn never got onto the field, and Ezekiel Elliott managed just 34 yards on 10 tries. Even the first two series’ worth of plays- all ostensibly scripted over the previous two weeks- earned Dallas just eight yards on four rushes, with two of them gaining nothing. And it actually got worse after halftime: the Cowboys averaged just 0.6 yards per carry in the third and fourth quarters combined. The team apparently has no answer for how to spark a ground attack; at their current clip, they’ll end the season with just 1,260 team rushing yards (three clubs have more than that now) and their 74.1 rushing-yards-per-game average would rank as the lowest in franchise history for a season. Ugly: Wasted possessions when they mattered most That Dallas had a shot at a walk-off win at all defies belief. After forcing a three-and-out, the defense handed the ball back to Prescott & Co. with 3:05 to play, down by six points. Even with no timeouts, that’s an eternity for an experienced quarterback to lead his unit 75 yards. Except Prescott threw four straight incompletions (the only time all night he had more than two missed connections in a row) for a drive that used 16 seconds of clock and gained zero yards. Most painful was the deep-ball drop by KaVontae Turpin on third down, a gorgeous ball that he should have- and a taller receiver likely would have– caught. It wasn’t the only wasted opportunity; Dallas went three-and-out with under two minutes to play in the second quarter, when a touchdown would have increased the Cowboys’ halftime lead to 11 points and had San Francisco two scores down coming out of the break. Things could have been very different. Good: Cooper Beebe shows hustle, continued progression The rookie is trending in the right direction in his first pro season. His PFF grade for Week 8, a 77.3, was good for fifth-best among NFL centers (prior to Monday night’s game) and marked his best grade- easily- of the 2024 season thus far. He showed off the hustle that at Kansas State earned him the nickname “The Dancing Bear” on one first-quarter play in particular. After pancaking 49ers lineman Sam Okuayinonu on a Turpin end-around, Beebe followed the play and just happened to be in the right spot when Turpin coughed up the ball 11 yards downfield. Beebe pounced to retain possession and extended what turned out to be the Cowboys’ first touchdown drive of the game. Bad: Seemingly obvious call doesn’t go Dallas’ way George Kittle was all alone in the end zone for his third-quarter touchdown catch. And for good reason: Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson had been blown up by 49ers receiver Chris Conley. It looked like a clear and obvious pick, yet officials waved off the offensive pass interference flag. Incredibly, NBC’s Terry McAulay seemed to put the blame on Wilson for stepping in front of Conley, but also on cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who he claimed “kind of rides [Conley] into [Wilson].” Cris Collinsworth was baffled by both the no-call and the explanation, suggesting that teams will start copying Conley’s technique to similarly “act” their way into legal pick plays. Had the penalty stood, the 49ers touchdown would have been nullified, and it would have been 4th-and-goal… from the Cowboys’ 12. San Francisco likely would have settled for a field goal, and Dallas might have been able to stop the bleeding sooner. Ugly: Special teams have not-so-special night The Cowboys’ usually-spectacular special teams unit had an uncharacteristically rough outing. It started early when C.J. Goodwin was
Brotherly battle between Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Texans’ Stefon postponed again by injury
Brotherly battle between Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Texans’ Stefon postponed again by injury Todd Brock The highly-anticipated professional battle between the NFL’s Diggs brothers will have to wait… again. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was set to square off against Houston wide receiver and older brother Stefon when the Cowboys hosted the Texans in Arlington in Week 11. The siblings’ first head-to-head showdown was supposed to take place last season, when the Cowboys visited Buffalo in December, but a knee injury suffered by Trevon shelved him early in the season. Stefon’s move to Houston for 2024 had put a new Diggs-vs.-Diggs matchup in the spotlight, in a game that already carries an extra bit of juice as the two Lone Star State teams vie for the Governor’s Cup and bragging rights within the state. Just like last year, a torn ACL has scrapped the brother-on-brother grudge match. But this time, it’s Stefon’s. The Texans wideout, 30, suffered the injury last Sunday in the team’s 23-20 win over Indianapolis. The Diggs brothers have always been close, often training together and competing against one another at events like the Pro Bowl skills challenge. Trevon even lobbied for Dallas to go acquire Stefon when the Bills wide receiver was unhappy with the Buffalo organization in a contract dispute. Stefon wore a special message on his eye black after his younger brother’s injury last September; it would not be a surprise for Trevon to return the favor somehow when the Cowboys next take the field in Atlanta. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Trevon, 26, would likely be all too happy to take the spotlight off himself after getting into a heated exchange with a Dallas reporter over a tweet following Sunday night’s Cowboys loss in San Francisco. Diggs later went on teammate Micah Parsons’s podcast and explained his emotional reaction while justifying his play; Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said in a press conference that he would expect his players to “be better” when facing outside criticism. Trevon, a two-time Pro Bowler and 2021’s league interceptions leader, signed a five-year contract extension with the Cowboys last summer. Stefon, a four-time Pro Bowler and the NFL’s receptions and receiving yards leader in 2020, is on a one-year deal in Houston and could be on the hunt for a new team following this season. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys Headlines: McCarthy’s advice for Diggs; Purdy makes history vs Dallas; was Dowdle really sick?
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs goes after reporter outside locker room following criticism in loss :: Cowboys Wire Link WFAA reporter Mike Leslie took to social media to question the effort Diggs showed on a big play in Sunday’s third quarter. The cornerback must have checked his phone immediately upon hitting the locker room afterward to see what people were saying about him, because he came back out in full uniform to have it out with Leslie face-to-face. “Out of that whole play, that’s what you took from that?” Diggs barked. “You don’t know football. You can’t do nothing that I do. You can’t go out there and do nothing. Stay in your lane, buddy.” Cowboys’ McCarthy: Diggs has to ‘be better’ after reporter incident :: ESPN Link When the coach was asked about Diggs’s confrontation with Leslie over his tweet, he acknowledged, “I’m not ignorant or naive to the fact that this generation, that’s part of the world they live in, the social media world.” But McCarthy also cautioned, “I think we have to be better in those moments. I always talk about staying on a high road… You have to manage that. That’s part of being a professional athlete and that’s part of representing this organization properly.” Trevon Diggs responds to firestorm over confronting Cowboys media member :: Cowboys Wire Link Diggs hopped on Micah Parsons’s podcast to give his side of the story. While he admitted that his emotions got the better of him in the moment after a tough loss, he also explained that his man-coverage responsibilities and post-catch pursuit angles on the play in question were, in fact, technically sound. Rico Dowdle mystery illness sparks Dallas Cowboys conspiracy theories :: SI.com Link Dowdle was on the field early signing autographs and greeting fans, even after being ruled out of the Week 8 game. Many observers quickly assumed a secret agenda: was the team quietly tanking for a better draft pick? Were they saving Ezekiel Elliott from the embarrassment of being a healthy scratch? Little else has been revealed about Dowdle’s mystery “illness.” Cowboys’ Prescott takes blame for interceptions in loss: ‘I’ve got to clean that up’ :: Cowboys Wire Link “I don’t have to be perfect,” Prescott said after Sunday’s loss, “but I damn sure can’t be having the turnovers.” He and head coach Mike McCarthy both said pressure forced a bad throw on the first interception. The quarterback called his third-quarter pick “as boneheaded an interception as I feel like I’ve had,” but McCarthy also took some blame for the play call. Prescott’s eight picks through seven games are just one less than Prescott threw all of last season. How offensive line inconsistencies are setting Dallas Cowboys offensive production back :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link Prescott has been under pressure 75 times through seven games, taking 18 sacks. Some of the inconsistency along the O-line are on Cooper Beebe and Tyler Guyton in their rookie seasons. But Zack Martin has had an uncharacteristically rough start, too, giving up 16 pressures and two sacks thus far. Playing from behind and with no run-game threat hasn’t helped. “When they know you’re throwing it, it makes it more difficult for you,” said OC Brian Schottenheimer. Costly special teams errors haunt Cowboys :: The Mothership Link Even the most consistent unit on the team had an off night in Santa Clara. Opening kickoff: illegal formation. Then Brandon Aubrey came up short on hitting the kickoff landing zone, KaVontae Turpin got flagged for an illegal forward pass on a return, and another illegal formation helped set up a 49ers field goal. Cowboys-49ers postgame analysis :: Cowboys Wire Prescott, Cowboys suffering this dubious feat for first time since 2019 :: Cowboys Wire Link Sunday’s loss marked the Cowboys’ second two-game losing streak in 2024. Dallas didn’t lose two in a row in either 2023 or 2022. It happened just once in 2021, and when it happened more than once in 2020, it was while Prescott was injured. You have to go all the way back to the 2019 season to see a Prescott-led Cowboys team down this bad. Jerry Jones’ family members involved in car accident prior to Cowboys-49ers game :: Dallas Morning News Link The vehicle carrying Jerry Jones Jr., Charlotte Jones, and her son Shy Anderson Jr. to Sunday night’s game was struck by a rising barricade outside Levi’s Stadium. They were checked out by team medical personnel and then watched the game as normal. The Cowboys owner was in another vehicle at the time of the incident. Wild Purdy stat puts 49ers QB in rare company after win vs. Cowboys :: NBC Sports Bay Area Link The Cowboys were on the wrong end of a bit of football history made by 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy on Sunday. Of the 26,276 NFL quarters played since 2000, including playoffs, Purdy became the only quarterback to throw for more than 100 yards while completing 100 percent of his passes while also rushing for at least 30 yards in a single quarter. He finished the night with 56 rushing yards, matching the entire Cowboys team. Cowboys DE to serve 3-game suspension while on injured reserve :: Cowboys Wire Link Sam Williams is already missing all of 2024 with a torn ACL and MCL. Now he’ll miss three game checks, too, after a league investigation into his 2023 arrest on marijuana and weapons charges. The second-round draft pick is eligible for reinstatement after Week 10’s game with Philadelphia. He’ll lose over $211,000 in salary but won’t have to sit out further games once he returns to the field.
It’s time for Cowboys to bench this highly-paid player and try something new
It’s time for Cowboys to bench this highly-paid player and try something new reidhanson Not much is going right in Dallas these days. Fresh of their 30-24 loss to San Francisco, the Cowboys find themselves saddled with a losing record, 2.5 games back in the NFC East, and facing one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NFL. Changes are needed and all options deserve consideration. One such idea is to make a change at the right tackle position. On one hand the Cowboys have stalwart Terence Steele locked and loaded for the foreseeable future. Steele was re-signed in the offseason of 2023 and is under contract through 2028. On the other hand, Steele isn’t playing well and at a cap charge of $18,125,000, he may be too costly for the Dallas front office to justify next season. The player working behind Steele at RT has been Matt Waletzko. Waletzko, a fifth-round pick from 2022, has been a project player for the past two seasons. Injuries have slowed his development, and preseason action has looked rough, but Waletzko is an inexpensive player who’s signed through next season. If the Cowboys plan to move on from Steele over the winter, it makes sense to test his replacement in advance. Although maybe Waletzko isn’t the answer. Maybe that’s just swapping one problem with a bigger problem. With reserve tackle Asim Richards, it’s possible the Cowboys have Steele’s replacement somewhere else on their roster. Richards, a former college left tackle who Dallas took in the fifth round in 2023, is a low-cost alternative the Cowboys have been determined to develop. The only problem is that’s been on the left side. Richards is signed through the 2026 season, meaning Dallas would get over two more years of cheap labor from the former Tar Heel if they went his direction instead. That may not matter much to fans but to the front office such a possibility is golden. Steele has always been a controversial figure in Dallas. The former undrafted free agent was thrown into the fire as a rookie and morphed himself into a success story. Prior to a catastrophic knee injury suffered late in 2022, Steele was regarded as an elite run blocker capable of dominating opponents at the line and on the move. His pass protection often left something to be desired, so when the Cowboys re-signed Steele coming off the injury, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Now nearly two years removed from the injury, Steele is still dividing fans over his value. Steele has reclaimed much of his glory as a run blocker, ranking in Pro Football Focus’ top 10 amongst run blocking OTs this season. But as a pass protector he’s been nothing short of terrible. Despite playing in only seven games, Steele’s 23 pressures allowed are tied for third worst amongst OTs in 2024. Of the 76 OTs PFF graded this season, Steele ranks just 53rd. He’s one of the NFL’s highest paid OTs but he consistently grades in the bottom in pass protection, a score validated by film review and total pressures allowed. Waletzko and Richards may not be the answer but five years into the Steele experiment, it’s clear he isn’t either. According to Over the Cap, cutting Steele becomes financially feasible this coming offseason. The team would save $14 million in 2025 by designating him a post-June 1 cut. If the writing is really on the wall for Steele, it makes more sense to test his replacements now than to wait until March when the real decisions become due. Something for the Cowboys to think about over the next few weeks. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
NFL Power Rankings: New No. 1 mane, Commanders and Bills join Top 5
32 Carolina Panthers ( 1-7 ) | Last Week: 31 Sep 24, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes before being hit by Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports 31 Tennesee Titans ( 1-6 ) | Last Week: 29 Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA;Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) under center motions against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports 30 Jacksonville Jaguars ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 28 Dec 11, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws the ball during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean-USA TODAY Sports 29 New York Jets ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 25 New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws against the Tennessee Titans during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. 28 New England Patriots ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 30 Sep 19, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) gets sacked hard by New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (44) in the 4th quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images 27 New York Giants ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 27 New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8), is shown on the ground after being sacked by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (not shown) in the first quarter. Sunday, September 10, 2023 26 Las Vegas Raiders ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 26 November 5, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce signals against the New York Giants during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports 25 Cleveland Browns ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 32 Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports 24 New Orleans Saints ( 2-6 ) | Last Week: 23 Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) takes a pitch from quarterback Derek Carr (4) in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images 23 Dallas Cowboys ( 3-4 ) | Last Week: 24 CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 08: Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys looks to pass the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) 22 Los Angeles Rams ( 3-4 ) | Last Week: 22 Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images 21 Miami Dolphins ( 2-5 ) | Last Week: 21 Dec 25, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) stands on the field during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports 20 Cincinnati Bengals ( 3-5 ) | Last Week: 20 Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes the field for warm ups prior to a Week 2 NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. 19 Indianapolis Colts ( 4-4 ) | Last Week: 16 Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) rushes in for a touchdown Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 4-4 ) | Last Week: 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) at the end of the Detroit Lions game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. Buccaneers won 20-16. 17 Seattle Seahawks ( 4-4 ) | Last Week: 11 Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) makes a throw in the second quarter of a wild card game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports 16 Arizona Cardinals ( 4-4 ) | Last Week: 18 Oct 11, 2020; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before his game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports 15 Denver Broncos ( 5-3 ) | Last Week: 17 Sep 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) prepares to pass in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images 14 Los Angeles Chargers ( 4-3 ) | Last Week: 19 Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) behind center Bradley Bozeman (75) during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images 13 Atlanta Falcons ( 5-3 ) | Last Week: 15 Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images 12 San Francisco 49ers ( 4-4 ) | Last Week: 14 Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws during the first quarter of a NFC divisional round game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports 11 Philadelphia Eagles ( 5-2 ) | Last Week: 13 Nov 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports 10 Chicago Bears ( 5-3 ) | Last Week: 9 Sep 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) after turning the ball over on downs
Trevon Diggs responds to firestorm over confronting Cowboys media member
Trevon Diggs responds to firestorm over confronting Cowboys media member K.D. Drummond It wasn’t long after the end of the Cowboys’ 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers; their fourth straight defeat at the hands of Kyle Shanahan, for the attention to change. That’s because following the game, CB Trevon Diggs was caught on camera, in uniform, confronting a member of the Dallas media. The TV sports anchor had posted a tweet during the game, questioning Diggs performance on a big play, and word had gotten back to Diggs. In his regular one-on-one with teammate Micah Parsons on the latter’s Bleacher Report podcast, Diggs admits that he allowed emotions to get the better of him. However he is standing on business that what the media member was insinuating was incorrect. It was. Diggs was being called out for not wanting to tackle, but in reality it was one of his best career performances when it came to tackling. It’s no secret he has a reputation for not wanting to get involved in scrums, but that wasn’t the case this game. In fact, Diggs being in man coverage absolved him of the ire that had been put on him, and the way he pursued the play seemed to be in concert with what a secondary defender should do with a teammate in front of him. He played at an angle to be the last line of defense while maintaining position to present an obstacle should TE George Kittle had cut back inside. Of course with things going really bad in Dallas, none of that matters to a large part of the fanbase. When a media member draws attention to a player on a negative play, preconceived notions immediately win over. Most observers, including many media, don’t know the intricacies of how a player is supposed to respond on any given play. But again, that ends up being irrelevant to the perception of how things transpired. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
