The Dallas Cowboys have somehow managed to win two games in a row, pushing off the obituary to their 2024 season for a little while longer. Now with a record of 5-7, the Cowboys are still several games out of the final playoff spot, but further distancing themselves from a draft position that gives them a winner’s shot at selecting an impact player next April. Now stuck in the gooey middle of the NFL hierarchy, the Cowboys have five games remaining to fully define who they are. Proceeding without a franchise quarterback can be freeing in a way. Dak Prescott regularly saved the team from themselves and now with him on IR the defense is starting to step up as they put themselves back together. Week 14’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals will be another opportunity to prove that. There are expected to be several roster decisions this week. Most notably, there’s a chance that DE DeMarcus Lawrence has his practice window opened. The team will move at least one secondary player, Josh Butler, to IR and potentially Juanyeh Thomas as well. The former is done for the year, the latter for a few weeks. For now, here’s a look at the 53-man roster, the practice squad member’s remaining elevation eligibility, and the Reserved/Injured list entering Week 14. 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. 3 WR Brandin Cooks Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half 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. 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. 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
Cowboys Headlines: Ferguson nearing return, Aubrey announces book, rock legends coming to AT&T
Cowboys injury report: Jake Ferguson ‘close to coming back’; Trevon Diggs progressing :: Dallas Morning News Link After missing two games, Diggs might “progress to do more at the end of the week,” McCarthy said Monday. Tyler Guyton is slated to work with the rehab group; Zack Martin will be limited. Ferguson is “close to coming back” from concussion protocol, the coach explained, but DeMarcus Lawrence reportedly has “a whole other threshold he needs to get over” before he can return for his first action wince Week 4. Pro Bowl fan voting reveals 6 Cowboys within top 10 at position; none from defense :: Cowboys Wire Link Brandon Aubrey and CeeDee Lamb could be looking at Pro Bowl nods; KaVontae Turpin leads all return specialists in the fan vote. Zack Martin, Hunter Leupke, and Trent Sieg are in the top 10 at their positions, too. Not a single Cowboys defender is represented as of yet, as most of the unit’s best players have all missed time due to injury. Cowboys-Bengals tickets for just $28? What to know about the Monday night game :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link The Cowboys will try for their first three-game win streak in a year in front of a primetime audience next Monday. Fans interested in attending in person can find tickets starting at just $28 apiece on StubHub. Cowboys return to Michigan DL well in latest 2025 first-round mock draft :: Cowboys Wire Link Mazi Smith had huge expectations to live up to as a first-round draft pick. The Taco Charlton debacle from five years earlier certainly didn’t help. The Cowboys wouldn’t possibly spend another opening-night selection on a defensive tackle from Michigan, would they? According to Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, they just might. At a projected No. 11 overall, Kenneth Grant stands 6-foot-3, weighs 339, and draws comparisons to Detroit’s DJ Reader. Cowboys’ defense revitalized since Micah Parsons’s return :: ESPN Link The 2024 Cowboys were- fairly recently- on pace to be one of the worst defenses in NFL history, but the stats show something has changed over the last five outings. “We all see a difference, don’t we?” Parsons said. “The film’s not lying. Everybody’s staying in their gaps. We’re playing honest and true. That just goes to show that we’re just starting to believe in each other, really buying into the program and understanding that we really can be good.” They’re still giving up a lot of points, though, with opponents beating them too often on opening drives as well as late in games. Cowboys’ playoff scenarios and chances: Are the Cowboys in or out of the playoff race? :: Pro Football Network Link At 5-7, Dallas has just a 4.4% chance of sneaking into the postseason, with almost no mathematical shot at anything higher than the No. 7 seed. The Buccaneers, Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers all have an edge over the Cowboys in making the seven-team NFC bracket. It’s not officially over, but the Cowboys basically have to win out and get a lot of additional help. Jimmy Johnson says Cowboys will give fans ‘false hope’ in playoff run :: SI.com Link Johnson knows a pretender when he sees one, and he’s seen this movie before. “I’m just saying they’re gonna get on a run,” Johnson said Thursday before the Thanksgiving Day game. “They’re gonna win today [against the Giants], they’re gonna win next week, they’re gonna win the week after that, they’re gonna get on a run and they’re gonna have a little bit of false hope.” Two Reasons: Cowboys only have selves to blame for disappointing 2024 :: Cowboys WIre Link The Cowboys’ inactivity over the offseason can’t be understated as a root cause of this underachieving season. Mike McCarthy’s poor performance as a play caller has compounded the issue, as has a failure to get the ball into the hands of the offense’s best playmakers. Cowboys make 35th annual children’s hospital visits :: The Mothership Link Cowboys players and cheerleaders stopped by four different children’s hospitals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Monday in what has become an annual tradition. “I always wanted to be the type of person to, whenever I’m in the room, just light up somebody’s day,” Jourdan Lewis said, as players passed out stocking gift bags and visited with young patients and their families. As Rico Dowdle added, “So honored to be able to have this platform and get out there and do that for the kids, great experience.” Brandon Aubrey introduces first children’s book :: The Mothership Link Collegiate soccer star. Two-time USFL champ. Record-setting Pro Bowl kicker for the Cowboys. Now Aubrey is on the verge of being a published children’s author, too. One Dream in Front of the Other! is available for pre-order. The 32-page book takes young readers on an inspiring journey that resembles Aubrey’s life story and teaches the lesson that when one door is closed, another could be opening. AC/DC is coming to Dallas for the first time in nine years. Here’s when tickets go on sale :: WFAA Link The legendary rock band is coming to AT&T Stadium, it was announced Monday. The show will be one of 14 concerts held at North American stadiums on the band’s upcoming tour. (For years, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have famously performed an elaborate routine to “Thunderstruck,” one of AC/DC’s biggest hit songs, leading some to wonder if the squad will make a guest appearance on stage during the April 14 show.) Tickets will go on sale Dec. 6. The Texanist: Why are the Dallas Cowboys America’s Team? :: Texas Monthly Link The nickname was born in 1979, just before the Cowboys’ season-opening game in St. Louis. The scripted narration in a short NFL Films production recapping the previous season (which ended in a loss in Super Bowl XII) compared the Cowboys to Notre Dame, to movie stars, even to U.S. presidents in terms of popularity and recognizability. They were everywhere in the late ’70s, in both
Cowboys return to Michigan DL well in latest 2025 first-round mock draft
Cowboys return to Michigan DL well in latest 2025 first-round mock draft K.D. Drummond Lightning can’t strike in the same place three times, can it? After being burned twice in the last 10 years when they’ve used their first-round pick on a Michigan product, the Dallas Cowboys wouldn’t go there again. Would they? Well, that’s the case in the latest first-round 2025 Mock Draft conducted by our friends over at DraftWire. Projecting Dallas to end up with the No. 11 overall pick in the first round, they have the Cowboys going Wolverine all over again with the selection of intriguing DT Kenneth Grant in their latest mock. The Cowboys are currently sitting at No. 13 following Week 13’s action. Dallas of course did not get a quality return on investment from their 2018 selection of DE Taco Charlton nor their 2023 selection of DT Mazi Smith. Or, at least not yet on the latter of the two. Smith has improved over the last month or so, looking to move himself out of “potential bust” assessments. But neither should really be considered outside of “bad luck” talk when it comes to how the Cowboys should move in 2025. Grant seems to project as a one-gap nose tackle. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 339 pounds, he took over for Smith in the middle of the Wolverine’s defensive line. He has 5.5 sacks over the last two seasons. A to Z Sports compared him to DJ Reader of the Detroit Lions.
Pro Bowl fan voting reveals 6 Cowboys within top 10 at position; none from defense
Fan voting for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games has been open for one week, and despite a lackluster season, a half-dozen Cowboys find themselves on the leaderboard at their respective slots. The NFL has released a list of the top-10 vote-getters at each position, and while the Cowboys have three offensive players and three special-teamers represented, not a single member of Mike Zimmer’s defense is anywhere to be found. Nope, not even Micah Parsons. Granted, Parsons has missed time due to injury, just like a whole host of stars who made up last season’s Dallas contingent at the Pro Bowl Games. Dak Prescott, DaRon Bland, Jake Ferguson, and DeMarcus Lawrence were also either voted to or named as replacement players for the 2024 all-star event; all have dealt with injuries this season. This year’s Pro Bowl Games will once again be held in Orlando, with several days’ worth of AFC-versus-NFC skills competitions culminating in a flag football match on Feb. 2. Fans can vote for their favorite players at every position through Dec. 23 at the NFL’s dedicated website, on the official sites of each club, and on social media using a special X hashtag. Here’s a look at which Cowboys are currently in the mix to receive a Pro Bowl nod. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] CeeDee Lamb: 5th among WRs Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Last season’s leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns remains near the top of this year’s positional rankings despite last month’s change at quarterback. Lamb is currently tied for second in receptions and fifth in receiving yards. In Pro Bowl voting, he trails Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Terry McLaurin. KaVontae Turpin: 1st among return specialists ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 28: KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball during the third quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) No surprise here, as the speedster’s spin-move kick return for a 99-yard touchdown against Washington is sure to end up on the list of top plays of 2024. Turpin has had 21 kick-return opportunities this season- second-most in the league- and leads the NFL in yards per return, but he fears he may not get many more chances from here on out. He’s had just 12 punt returns, returning one of those for a score as well; he’s the only player in the league with one of each this season. Brandon Aubrey: 2nd among kickers Oct 27, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) scores a field goal during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Aubrey is currently on track to make his second Pro Bowl, trailing only Chris Bowell of the AFC’s Steelers in votes. He may be getting by on reputation and his long-distance bombs at the moment, though. Statistically speaking, several NFC kickers have a better field-goal make percentage than Aubrey. Zack Martin: 6th among OGs Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) blocks during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Sending Zack Martin to the Pro Bowl may feel like an annual formality; he’s gone nine times in 10 seasons played. This year, though, time seems to be catching up to the legend. Three NFC guards- both of the Lions’ guards and Philadelphia’s Landon Dickerson- currently have more votes than Martin, and he actually sits 33rd in PFF’s positional rankings. Tyler Smith has had a more impactful season for Dallas, if we’re judging actual play instead of reputation. Hunter Luepke: 6th among FBs Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (40) runs the ball against Washington Commanders safety Percy Butler (35) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Luepke’s top-10 appearance is somewhat misleading, as there are only nine fullbacks even listed on the Pro Bowl ballot. San Francisco’s Kyle Juszczyk and Kansas City’s impressive rookie Carson Steele lead the way. Luepke has been in on 28% of the offense’s snaps in 2024, logging 19 touches for a combined 128 yards and one score. Trent Sieg: 10th among long snappers 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) The most anonymous man on the Cowboys roster just barely squeezes into the top-10 in Pro Bowl votes at his position. Four NFC long snappers are ahead of him, so Sieg may be a long shot to make his first all-star squad. Still, it’s nice to see him get some recognition, thanks in large part to the success of his his battery-mate Aubrey.
Two Reasons: Cowboys only have selves to blame for disappointing 2024
Two Reasons: Cowboys only have selves to blame for disappointing 2024 Mike Crum Coming off of their third 12-5 season in a row and a second seed in the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys have fallen far from contention in 2024. That began well before the loss of starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a season-ending injury. If the team is upset by these results, it has only itself to blame. The issues began with inactivity. The decision not to extend Prescott or star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb earlier in the offseason instead of right before September was a two-fold error. Not only did it put them behind on the field, as it caused Lamb to miss training camp, but those extensions would’ve freed up cap space for Dallas to sign free agents to replace the nine players who signed elsewhere. The only outside free agent the Cowboys signed before training camp began was Eric Kendricks, who was a direct replacement for a cut/retired player, Leighton Vander Esch. That doesn’t negate the poor performance of the head coach and play-caller, Mike McCarthy. Only recently did he make Rico Dowdle the primary running back, instead choosing a committee approach instead of featuring one of the top 10 running backs (success rate) on the season. In games Dowdle had at least 20 touches the Cowboys are 3-0, but only 2-6 in games when he gets under 20. After rushing 20 times for 87 yards against the Steelers’ top-three rush defense, Dowdle should’ve been the clear top back on the team. McCarthy instead fed Ezekiel Elliott as the back with the most attempts the next game. Beyond that, McCarthy hasn’t done a good job opening up the offense, failing to get the team’s playmakers the ball in spots where they can make plays. Speedster Kavontae Turpin has never had more than four receptions in a game all season and had more than five targets only once. Against the Houston Texans, Turpin caught all three of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown but had only one target the next game. In their last contest, the team targeted Turpin four straight plays on the opening drive and had him wide open on a slot corner route Cooper Rush missed in the end zone. Fans will have to wait and see if there were any lessons learned. Dallas was due to regress, but the drop didn’t have to be this drastic if the front office and head coach had done their jobs more effectively. Now, they are trying to make a surge towards an unlikely playoff berth while many fans are already doing 2025 mock drafts, but the projections could’ve been much more positive if the people in charge had done their jobs earlier. You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Cowboys unable to evaluate former 1st-round pick bc of injury after injury
Cowboys unable to evaluate former 1st-round pick bc of injury after injury reidhanson When the Cowboys selected Oklahoma right tackle Tyler Guyton in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, they knew the pick came with some baggage. Not only was the 6-foot-8, 322-pound prospect underdeveloped, but he was also a bit injury prone, missing three games each of his last two seasons. As advertised, the Cowboys have experienced all that and more from their struggling rookie. Guyton has already missed two games in 2024 and after suffering what he called a high ankle sprain on Thanksgiving Day, he stands to miss even more time. Various bumps and bruises have bounced the Cowboys left tackle from the field to the bench multiple times this season. For a player whom Pro Football Focus graded 71st of 76 offensive tackles, they are snaps this struggling rookie cannot afford to miss. Guyton has allowed five sacks and 23 pressures in 2024. He’s second in the NFL in penalties (16) at his position and he’s only played 10 games. Mind you, none of this is surprising because he was always billed as a project player whom teams would have to patiently develop. It’s the injury situation that’s really the problematic trait that’s followed him because it stalls his development and delays the Cowboys evaluation of the 23-year-old. Guyton, a right tackle in college, has been plugged into the left side since coming to Dallas. Ideally, the Cowboys want to make him the cornerstone piece on the blindside, but if that transition fails, they always have the right side to fall back on. That’s not a move they’d make midseason already but if given enough snaps to review, it’s a move they could make as soon as the 2025 offseason. The 2024 season is largely a season of evaluation across the offensive line. Guyton and fellow rookie starter Cooper Beebe are obviously new to the unit, and players like T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman are under evaluation for bigger roles in the future. Tyler Smith has LT ability if needs be, but Plan A is clearly to make Guyton the LT. The various combinations could fall a number of different ways in 2025, but it all starts with making a determination on Guyton this year and that can’t happen with him limping off the field every other week. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
3-Round Cowboys 2025 Mock Draft: Trade back nets WR, trench help with extra pick
1.18: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State With the departure of Cooks, comes the replacement through the draft. At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds Egbuka is asked to do similar things as CeeDee Lamb is in the Dallas offense. Spinning things forward though, that’s good as they’ve invested in Johnathan Mingo to be the big-body guy in the offense. Adding Egbuka to Lamb will confuse defensive coordinators over the next two years as both can be deployed as Z or slot receivers on any given play. Mix in Kavontae Turpin and that’s an interesting receiver mix out the gate for the next head coach and offensive coordinator. 2.46: Safety Kamari Ramsey, USC Safety doesn’t feel like a huge need as Donovan Wison has just one year remaining on his deal and both primary youthful backups (Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Bell) have recently suffered serious injuries, though Thomas could return from his meniscus tear this season. Ramsey is reported to have huge upside as a do-everything safety. 3.78: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama The Cowboys may be ready to give Brock Hoffman an opportunity to replace Zack Martin next season. Still, they have other issues. Our (current) preferred fix is to move Tyler Smith outside to left tackle, cut Terence Steele loose and play Tyler Guyton at right tackle, and draft a left guard to fill in behind Smith when he shifts over. Booker is a mammoth left guard at 6-foot-5, 352 pounds, who plays big and strong and has a nasty attitude. 3.82: DI Darrell Jackson, Jr., Florida State More beef for the trenches, as the Seminole stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 330 pounds. Good first-step quickness would add as a replacement for Osa Odighizuwa but in more of a dual-nose tackle role. Jackson reminds of Jordan Phillips, but not the version Dallas saw this season. The earlier model.
Cowboys Headlines: College team uses AT&T sun trick, Mazi Smith ascending, Brady busted for turducken fail
Dallas Cowboys player labeled as ‘bust’ is rapidly improving :: SI.com Link Don’t look now, but Mazi Smith is turning into a force. The first-rounder’s PFF grades have climbed steadily and significantly over the past three games, from a 55.9 in Week 11 to a 69.6 in Week 12’s win in Washington, and finally a 79.9 against New York on Thursday. Brandin Cooks felt the “trust” from his coach, QB in first game back :: The Mothership Link No one was happier to have Cooks back in the lineup than the veteran receiver himself. “It’s always frustrating when you’re not playing the game that you love,” he said after Thursday’s game. And despite missing seven weeks, Cooks clicked right back into place within the Cowboys offense, even though he had a new quarterback throwing him the ball. “I think that’s huge to trust me in the situation like that,” said Cooks of his third-down grab late that moved the sticks and iced the game. “Coop trusts me and Coach trusts me with the play call.” Cowboys’ DeMarvion Overshown hits turbo button for two takeaways en route to historic performance vs. Giants :: CBS Sports Link Overshown didn’t have just a great outing Thursday, he had one that put him in rarefied air. He became the first Cowboys player with a pick-six and a fumble recovery in the same game since 2002, back when safety Roy WIlliams did so in a Week 17 game at Washington. Overshown is now just the fifth player in Cowboys history to accomplish the feat in a single game. Overshown shines, Dowdle among Cowboys winners, loser in the secondary :: Cowboys Wire Link Overshown was clearly the biggest winner, thanks to his do-it-all pick-six play that will be shown on highlight reels for years to come. Rico Dowdle, Mazi Smith, Luke Schoonmaker, and Carl Lawson turned in outstanding efforts as well. Cornerback Josh Butler came out on the short end of things after his unfortunate injury, and we all lost when it was revealed that some mystery contingent of the team had a star-shaped chicken nugget celebration planned with the big red kettles in the end zone… only it didn’t happen. Cowboys sideline exclusive: Dallas defense feasts, boosts points-off-turnover ratio :: Dallas Morning News Link Sideline reporter Kristi Scales notes that with Thursday’s victory, McCarthy tied Bill Parcells for 14th place in all-time regular-season wins. McCarthy’s next win will be his 173rd, which will tie him with Jeff Fisher for 13th place. That’s as high as the Cowboys head coach will be able to climb this season; Mike Tomlin is next on the list, but he’s nine wins ahead of McCarthy. Tom Brady ripped for not actually eating a Turkducken during Fox Thanksgiving broadcast :: New York Post Link The Fox broadcast made a big deal of going to a shot of Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady in the booth on Thanksgiving so that Brady could get his first official taste of “turducken,” the holiday mashup popularized by the late John Madden. Brady milked the moment and mimicked ripping a huge bite off the leg (though he actually took just a nibble) to then exclaim, “That’s good. That’s really good,” in an attempt to show what a normal, regular guy he is. Only problem? None of the duck meat or chicken meat that actually makes it a turducken is stuffed inside the leg; Brady’s baby bite was plain turkey. Baylor distracts Kansas kicker with a little help from Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium sunlight :: Dallas Morning News Link As Kansas lined up for field goal in their game Saturday, their Baylor hosts put a shot of AT&T Stadium’s blinding sunlight glare on the end-zone jumbotron just behind the goalposts to distract the Jayhawks kicker. It worked; Tabor Allen missed the 38-yard try. The Bears went on to win, 45-17. No shade: Why the Cowboys’ sun issues are unique to Dallas :: ESPN Link AT&T Stadium is one of just two NFL venues built on a northeast-southwest axis and the only one with a transparent end zone to the southwest, creating the much-talked-about sun issues during certain portions of late-afternoon games for several months of each season. It’s a known issue for other teams, too, who spend time scouting the sun’s exact positioning long before they come to Dallas. It absolutely factors into which direction smart teams that happen to lose the coin toss choose. But data shows that this knowledge isn’t necessarily helping anyone; neither the Cowboys nor their visiting opponents are any worse at AT&T when it comes to dropped passes or fumbled punts. Top 50 NFL Player Sales List, March 1 – August 31, 2024 :: NFLPA Link For the sales period that basically encompassed the 2024 offseason, three Cowboys landed in the top 50 of player-branded merchandise, and all three were in the top half of the list. Micah Parsons came in at No. 9, CeeDee Lamb was at No. 15, and Dak Prescott finished in 25th place. That’s saying something, considering Lamb and Prescott both had tenuous futures with the club as they went through contract negotiations during the same timeframe. Tyron Smith placed on IR, likely ending year and maybe Jets career :: ESPN Link The ex-Cowboy has been placed on injured reserve with an apparent neck issue that’s been left somewhat unexplained by the Jets. He’ll technically be eligible to return for the last two games of the season, but with the team all but officially out of playoff contention, it’s unlikely. Smith went to eight Pro Bowls as one of the all-time Cowboys greats, but he didn’t have a strong 2024 season protecting Aaron Rodgers in New York. He’s a shoo-in for Canton one day, but this may be how Smith’s 14-year NFL career ends. NFL puts a dent in Bobby Wagner’s Thanksgiving holiday after hitting him with news he doesn’t want to hear :: A to Z Sports Link The veteran linebacker has been fined $16,883 for a
Overshown shines, Dowdle among Cowboys winners, loser in the secondary
Winner: DeMarvion Overshown Nov 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown celebrates his interception touchdown return during the second quarter against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images New York lined up with two tight ends on the right side and snapped the ball with a play-action fake to their left. A blitzing Cowboys linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown, collides with Giants running back Tyrone Tracey Jr., before continuing en route to quarterback Drew Lock. Overshown sensed the running back gave up too easily and sniffed out the well-timed screen, who then tips the pass into the air before intercepting the ball and taking it 24 yards for the Cowboys first touchdown of the game. The linebacker finished the game with 9 tackles to go along with his game-breaking interception and a fumble recovery. The second-year player is not only a Thanksgiving winner, he may now be viewed as a major defensive piece for the Cowboys moving forward. That play highlights Overshown’s versatility and his importance to this team. His arrival may be the first true game-altering player Dallas has had on the second level of their defense since linebacker Sean Lee suited up. Loser: Josh Butler Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler (31) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Loser may be a harsh word according to the context Winners and Losers has used in the past but a week after having his NFL moment, a non-contact injury sent cornerback Josh Butler to the locker room before halftime with what appeared to be a significant right knee injury. The Michigan State alum recorded 12 tackles and deflected three passes in a victory over Washington last week. With only so many games remaining, his season may be over just as it was beginning. Butler lost both parents while at East Lansing and opted to walk out on Senior Day with his two dogs shedding light on how much adversity this young man has been through. He may be in the loser category today but there is no doubt Butler was already a winner. Winner: The 2023 Draft Class Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith (58) on the field in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports The Cowboys’ 2023 Draft class hit rock bottom when they were voted the worst group at the conclusion of their rookie seasons. This year, a slow start in Dallas compounded the issue, and the class slowly faded into oblivion. Overshown (third round) was already highlighted for his unreal performance on Thanksgiving but tight end Luke Schoonmaker, whom Dallas took in the second round of that draft, has slowly worked his way into a viable receiving option. Schoonmaker finished with five catches for 33 yards against the Giants. First-round pick Mazi Smith was expected to shore up the interior of the defense but fell out of favor with fans for below-mediocre play. Another slow start to the year pushed many to wonder about his roster spot but Smith has climbed the ladder with his play of late. His recent run of analytics sheds a positive light on how well he has played of late. Smith could shed the draft bust label if he can continue to stack performances like this. 2023 fifth-rounder Asim Richards, although currently on injured reserve, has developed into a nice offensive lineman and could be the leading candidate to become the team’s swing tackle next season. Richards has played well filling in for injured starters as well. Although there is still much room for growth, the 2023 draft class is finally contributing to the Cowboys. Loser: Thanksgiving TD celebrations ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 18: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown by jumping into a Salvation Army red kettle during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott once jumped into the giant Salvation Army Red Kettle on Thanksgiving and donations soared 61% from his act. The team followed it up later by tossing quarterback Dak Prescott into the kettle after a touchdown. Both players were fined but the awareness they brought was beneficial and worth the price the players paid to spread awareness. This year, the celebrations were, average. With plenty of chances, an investigation into what exactly the Cowboys had planned could be warranted as a few newly debuted Cowboys nuggets were suspiciously left behind. The 2024 season hasn’t been kind so celebrating the good moments was much needed for this prideful team. A rehearsed celebration that went viral would have done good on and off the field. Tyson released their new nuggets on Thanksgiving featuring their new star shape branded with the Cowboys emblem. A celebration featuring both would have boosted nugget sales but more importantly, raised more money for the needy. Dallas could get a mulligan to help assist the Red Kettle campaign on December 9 when they host the Bengals on Monday Night football. Winner: Carl Lawson EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 26: Carl Lawson #55 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) The Dallas pass rush once again came alive recording six total sacks on quarterback Drew Lock and the Giants. Although the entire defensive line deserves credit, the late free-agent addition of veteran defensive end Carl Lawson is starting to pay off. Lawson finished the day with one sack and three quarterback pressures. He also had five of the team’s 14 quarterback hits adding to an interesting stat. To begin the second half, New York faced a third down
Cowboys Headlines: Lawrence nearing return, was new red-kettle TD celebration foiled?
Cowboys’ Josh Butler suffers ACL injury, Juanyeh Thomas dodges disaster :: The Mothership Link After delivering a breakout performance against Washington in Week 12, Butler will need season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL, according to Stephen Jones. Thomas, however, could be back in two to three weeks despite having to be carted off the field on Thursday. His knee injury has been classified as a meniscus issue, one that will require a far shorter rehab. DeMarcus Lawrence nearing return for Cowboys after defense loses another player for the season :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Link While Jerry Jones announced that Lawrence will “more than likely” make his return when the Cowboys takes on the Bengals, McCarthy was careful to temper expectations slightly. “D-Law is going to do more this week,” McCarthy clarified. “We don’t have a definitive answer there. That plan hasn’t been set for the week…He’s coming back into the real fray as far as practicing.” Shifting the Overshown window: a major takeaway in Cowboys 27-20 win :: Cowboys Wire Link When the Texas product was first drafted by the Cowboys in 2023, he was a player without a clear and obvious position, projected to perhaps play a safety-linebacker hybrid role in Dan Quinn’s defense. But after missing his rookie season to injury, Overshown is proving to be a linebacker/edge rusher who’s making an impact much more like Micah Parsons and becoming the kind of defender that opponents must directly scheme against. DeMarvion Overshown explains emotional pick-six in Thanksgiving win over Giants :: The Mothership Link Overshown revealed that he had “been told all week” that a big play was coming his way. Recounting his first-ever pick-six, the linebacker explained, “When the running back let me loose, I was like, ‘There’s some B.S. going on.’ And then the quarterback threw the ball and I was like, ‘This is my play to make.’ I was able to kick in some nitrous and we were dancing in the end zone.” Brandin Cooks’ return shows Cowboys how important WR2 is for plans :: Cowboys Wire Link The veteran’s return after seven weeks illustrated just how important a true WR2 really is on this team. Cooks is slated for free agency this winter and expected to leave Dallas. Finding someone at least as good, preferably better, has to be a key objective for the Cowboys front office. Given their history in free agency, that may mean using a top-50 draft pick. While Cowboys’ spirits rise, this is where Mike McCarthy wants his team’s focus directed :: Dallas Morning News Link A two-game win streak has buoyed the mood significantly within The Star, and McCarthy knows that the playoffs are now a talking point for outside observers. He’s trying, however, to keep his players locked in to a much short-term objective. “My messaging will be, ‘Let’s just pour all of this into Cincinnati right now,’” the coach said. “That’s all that matters. If we don’t take care of Cincinnati, the narratives will definitely change.’’ Cowboys Thanksgiving Game ratings prove they’re still America’s Team :: SI.com Link Backup quarterbacks, lousy records, whatever. The Cowboys-Giants matchup drew 38.5 million viewers, per Fox, good enough to count as the most-watched telecast of the NFL season so far. (Another report, though, does point out that Thursday’s game had the lowest in-person attendance of any game at AT&T Stadium this year. The team still leads the NFL at the turnstiles.) Cowboys-Giants coverage, analysis :: Cowboys Wire Predictions: Can Cowboys make playoff push in final five games? :: Cowboys Wire Link It’s possible, though certainly unlikely, that the Cowboys have a miracle in them that would turn the 2024 campaign into a postseason berth. They’re not as close to catching the lowest-ranked wild card teams as the numbers suggest, and remaining tilts versus Philadelphia and Washington will make it very hard to win out (Cincinnati and Tampa Bay are no slouches, either). Even if Dallas finishes with nine or even 10 wins, they will likely be on the short end of any tiebreaker scenario with another NFC team. Cowboys Today: Did Dallas plan to do TD celebration with chicken nuggets? :: The Athletic Link There was no red kettle touchdown celebration for the Cowboys this Thanksgiving… but someone seems to have had one planned. Found inside each of the on-field props- well after the game- were boxes of chicken nuggets shaped like the Cowboys’ star logo. Jason Garrett revealed how long he kept turkey leg John Madden gave him in 1994 :: Awful Announcing Link The former Cowboys head coach was on the call for Thursday night’s game and got to re-live his moment of glory as the team’s backup quarterback in 1994, when he led Dallas to an improbable Thanksgiving win over Brett Favre and the Packers. Reminiscing about being awarded an official John Madden turkey leg that day, Garrett admitted that he kept it as a souvenir a little longer than was probably healthy. “You know something? I had it in the freezer,” Garrett said. “It was in tinfoil… I probably had it for 15 years. Then we finally moved.” Bears fire Matt Eberflus following timeout disaster at end of Chicago’s Thanksgiving loss to Lions :: CBS Sports Link Eberflus, 54, served in Dallas as Cowboys linebackers coach from 2011 to 2015 and then added passing game coordinator to his title for 2016 and 2017 during Garrett’s tenure. The coach was heavily panned for how much time the Chicago offense wasted in the closing moments of their Thanksgiving Day comeback attempt versus the Lions. It’s the first time in the long history of the Bears franchise that they’ve made a head coaching change in-season.
