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.
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs goes after reporter outside locker room following criticism in loss
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs goes after reporter outside locker room following criticism in loss Todd Brock The 2024 season is turning ugly in a hurry for the Dallas Cowboys. The first eight weeks of action have already featured a rash of injuries to high-profile players, a total breakdown of the once-vaunted rushing attack, a disastrous showing for the defense under a prodigal son coordinator, open questions in the locker room about effort, the contract-year head coach getting snippy with the media in a press conference, the owner threatening the jobs of radio talk-show hosts during a live interview, and fan tours- of all things- becoming a major talking point during the bye week. Now this. Cornerback Trevon Diggs went after a reporter Sunday night outside the visitors locker room, just moments after the Cowboys’ 30-24 loss to San Francisco went final. At issue was a post on X criticizing the two-time Pro Bowler’s seeming lack of effort during a third-quarter play. On 49ers tight end George Kittle’s 43-yard catch-and-run in the opening minutes of the second half, replays show Diggs covering wide receiver Chris Conley at the moment of Kittle’s reception at the Dallas 40. Diggs’s back is turned as he follows Conley through his route for another few seconds. By the time Diggs turns his head to realize that Kittle has the ball, he is five yards further downfield from Kittle. Diggs maintains his stride and pursuit angle, appearing to leave teammates Donovan Wilson, Eric Kendricks, and Malik Hooker – all much closer to Kittle than Diggs- to make the play. Except they don’t. Wilson falls after barely clutching at the back of Kittle’s jersey, and Kendricks never catches up. Hooker and Diggs finally converge on Kittle as he nears the pylon, with Diggs making a last-gasp push to force him out of bounds shy of the goal line. The 49ers would score on the next snap to re-take the lead which they never gave back. San Francisco scored 21 unanswered points in a third-quarter onslaught that demoralized the Cowboys on both offense and defense. While Dallas fought back to make the final tally close, the loss dropped their mark to 3-4 and provided very little in the way of hope for a dramatic turnaround, with four straight opponents with winning records coming down the pike. For some, though, that one play- along Diggs’s perceived lack of urgency and avoidance of tackling- summed up what’s wrong with the Cowboys in this frustrating season. Mike Leslie of Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA reposted video of the moment afterward, adding, “What is Trevon Diggs doing on this play?” Diggs apparently saw the post, and very soon after hitting the locker room. Still in full pads, the former second-round draft pick stormed back out to the media gaggle at Levi’s Stadium and got in Leslie’s face about it. “Out of that whole play, that’s what you took from that?” Diggs demands, in a clip from NBC DFW’s Newy Scruggs. “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. Stop playing with me, bro.” The confrontation continued, even after Diggs turned to go back into the locker room. “Just asking the question, Trevon,” Leslie replied. “I mean, I’m happy to have you answer the question.” Diggs came back and re-engaged with more of the same. “Out of that whole play, that’s what you took from that?” he barked. “That’s what you got from that? That whole play, that’s what you got from that?” With that, Diggs fired off a few expletives and retreated to the locker room, while Leslie attempted to get clarification. “We can talk about it more,” the reporter offered. “What were you doing then?” [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Since his rookie season of 2020, Diggs has gained a reputation as a dice-rolling defensive back who often makes the breathtaking interception, but also frequently gives up a monster play when the risk doesn’t pay off. He’s also been tabbed- perhaps unfairly- as a defender who is unwilling to tackle. In truth, Diggs has the third-most solo tackles on the entire Cowboys roster through seven games. It’s easy to debate- after the fact- that Diggs could have taken a different pursuit angle of Kittle or that he didn’t seem to have a lot of urgency in helping to make the play. The same could be said of several Cowboys players on several occasions Sunday night. That one play, though, didn’t cost Dallas the chance to win a game in which very few people thought they would come out on top. A six-point loss, halfway through the season, on the road, to the defending NFC champs, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t even the sort of thing that spells certain doom. But a star player apparently searching his own name on Twitter after a hard-fought game and before he’s even out of his pads to see what people have said about him… and then marching out into the tunnel fully-dressed to angrily confront and belittle a local reporter about some online criticism? That just might end up being the moment that really decided for sure that this 2024 Cowboys team is an unsalvageable wreck. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.
Why Prescott is struggling among 4 takeaways from Cowboys’ 30-24 loss to 49ers
Nothing that happened on Sunday Night Football should have been surprising. Aside from a late comeback, things went about as expected for Dallas in Week 8. So, when the game clock struck zero and the scoreboard read 30-24 in San Francisco’s favor, the Cowboys showed they are who many of us thought they were: an unserious contender. A fourth quarter surge fueled by a relaxed San Francisco defense allowed the Cowboys to fight back and narrow the lead, but it was too much to overcome. A KaVontae Turpin drop down the sideline ended the comeback attempt and handed Dallas a 3-4 record heading into Week 9. With Rico Dowdle out, Ezekiel Elliott was given the start. The veteran running back flashed early but couldn’t sustain it. He ended the day with 34 yards on the ground with a touchdown and 3.4 yards/carry average. The Cowboys were, once again, one dimensional and Dak Prescott had to, once again, do the heavy lifting. Finishing with 243 yards through the air, two touchdowns and two interceptions, it wasn’t enough. The defense was improved but inaccurate passes by Brock Purdy and drops by Deebo Samuel bailed them out on more than one occasion. Chauncey Golston is good, but what’s his long-term role? Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports It’s hard to find positives from the Cowboys performance over the last few weeks but the play of a certain fourth-year defensive lineman provides slight reason for optimism. Golston, part defensive tackle and part defensive end, has been a man without a position throughout his Cowboys tenure. Injures to the DE group this season fixed that issue. With the Cowboys top four edge players out, Golston has abandoned most of his nomadic ways and focused on the position he played in college. It’s paid off with big No. 99 playing the best ball of career during this recent stretch. Even with a healthy roster it seems Golston has earned a place in this rotation. His 6-foot-5, 268-pound frame gives him length and strength that can’t be taught. In seasons prior, Golston has been primarily a run stopper, whether that’s at DE of inside at DT. But during this recent stretch he’s also shown he can offer something on passing downs as well. Golston is a second-effort player who specializes in clean up sacks. It’s a role he can still play when Micah Parsons returns. Add redzone issues to the long list of problems (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) The Cowboys have issues running the ball. They have issues passing the ball. They have issues stopping the run. They have issues defending the pass. Might as well add redzone issues to the list. The Cowboys came into the game just around 37 percent in their red zone touchdown efficiency. After getting into the end zone on three of four trips into the red zone, some say the issue is improving. But the circumstances in Week 8 say this might be Fool’s Gold because coverage breakdowns led to two wide open Lamb touchdowns. That can’t be expected to continue. Red zone proficiency typically follows overall offensive efficiency so it’s not surprising the Cowboys are struggling but it’s an issue that must get fixed before Dallas can even dream about salvaging their season. Offensive line damaging Dak Prescott’s mechanics . (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) It’s impossible not to notice Prescott’s mechanics in Week 8. Reviewing his eight interceptions this season it’s clear his feet and throwing motion are both abnormally sloppy. Prescott didn’t suddenly forget his mechanics, rather he’s adapted to the pass protection issues surrounding him in 2024. Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton have struggled mightily in pass protection this season and it’s taking its toll. Prescott has often been unable to step up into his throws, leading to sailed passes and untimely interceptions. Short-arming the follow-through and unbalanced feet is a recipe for disaster and largely explain the problems on offense this season. Nothing will get fixed until the offensive line can be trusted. And that may not happen in 2024. [affdiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Don’t forget about special teams (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) While the offense and defense get most of the attention, the Cowboys special teams unit deserves scrutiny as well. Brandon Aubery has been nothing short of spectacular kicking field goals, but he made an egregious error on Sunday, missing the landing zone on a kickoff and handing the ball to the 49ers with possession on the 40-yard-line. As if that wasn’t enough, C.J. Goodwin made his case for losing a roster spot, coming dangerously close to getting flagged for returner interference when he made contact during a punt return. The no-call was an error by officials and an indictment on Goodwin who has more penalties than tackles this season. Related articles Oct 27, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; A Dallas Cowboys fan cheers during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
Is Rico Dowdle playing today? Cowboys-49ers inactives for Week 8
Fans who were confused about the shares each running back would see after the elevation of Dalvin Cook got a bit of clarity Sunday afternoon, though not what they were expecting. Dallas’ leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, has been ruled out from the game after showing up to Levi Stadium with a bug. That answers the crowded backfield question for now. Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke are all active for the Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. As for the other sideline, as expected Deebo Samuel is going to try and play less than a week after checking out of the hospital from a bout with pneumonia. Here’s a look at both team’s full inactives list. Dallas Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle (illness) CB Caelen Carson (shoulder) DE Micah Parsons (ankle) QB Trey Lance (emergency QB3) CB Andrew Booth Jr. OT Matt Waletzko San Francisco 49ers QB Joshua Dobbs WR Jauan Jennings DL Kevin Givens K Jake Moody LB Jalen Graham CB Rock Ya-Sin OL Ben Bartch
