Tag: 2021 season week 16

‘Of all people, you test him:’ Cowboys not surprised CB Trevon Diggs made WFT pay early

Trevon Diggs took Washington’s early throws his way personally; now he’s within striking distance of league interception records. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Everson Walls, the Cowboys’ single-season interception leader, was in attendance at AT&T Stadium Sunday night to see if cornerback Trevon Diggs might have a chance to tie his 1981 record of 11 picks.

He didn’t have to wait long.

Washington tested Diggs on the Football Team’s first play from scrimmage, targeting wide receiver Terry McLaurin on a deep ball. Despite rookie cornerback Kelvin Joseph making his first NFL start on the opposite side, WFT quarterback Taylor Heinicke went after Diggs. Forty-three yards down the field, the Alabama product caught the pass like it had been intended for him all along.

It was an electrifying way for the Cowboys defense to start the game. And it came as something of a shock to nearly every Dallas player in the building.

Including Diggs.

“I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m still ready at the end of the day. They wanted to try me, first play,” he told reporters in a Q&A session after the game.

Washington even came back at Diggs again on the very next series. The league’s interceptions leader took it personally.

“I felt like, ‘Wow, they really just did that,’ so it gave me a little bit more to go out there and just put on my best.”

“It was mind-boggling for me,” safety Jayron Kearse said. “Of all people, you test him.”

“I feel like they were in a position to try to give us their best shot, and they wanted to come out the gates and do that,” defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence added. “That was their best shot tonight, it failed them, so shout-out to Trevon for catching the interception.”

“You should see practice. He does it that in practice,” tight end Dalton Schultz explained. “It’s almost like the quarterback is throwing it to him. When stuff like that happens, it’s happened so much, we’re probably used to it by now.”

“It was huge,” head coach Mike McCarthy told the media. “I see what they’re trying to do, come out and challenge him early. I’ve said it before: as a quarterback coach, you call them 50/50 balls, but I don’t know if it’s quite 50/50 when he’s around, that’s for sure. He’s incredible when the ball’s in the air. Incredible.”

“Why? Why would you try him on the first play?” quarterback Dak Prescott asked. “But I hope they continue to do that. He’s a great player and congrats to him on tying the record and looking forward to him beating the record.”

With two more games to play, Diggs will have ample opportunity to take sole possession of the franchise mark that’s stood for 40 years.

Sunday night’s interception came literally seconds after a shot of the legendary Walls was shown to the Cowboys crowd on the stadium’s giant video board.

“I didn’t know he was at the game,” Diggs said of the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time league interceptions leader. “It’s funny how everything just aligns. That’s amazing.”

With two more interceptions, Diggs would reach 13 and tie the Raiders’ Lester Hayes for the most picks in a season since the NFL-AFL merger. The all-time record is 14, posted by Dick “Night Train” Lane in 1952. (Astonishingly, Lane did it as a rookie… and in just 12 games.)

But don’t put any of it past Diggs, the way his 2021 has gone. He nabbed seven picks in the first six games of the season. No one else has even topped that total yet; Diggs has gone on to get four more en route to his first Pro Bowl nod.

And with three of those interceptions coming in the last four contests, it’s looking like he’s getting on another hot streak.

“The sky’s the limit,” Diggs said with a grin, “so we’ll see.”

“Yeah, the sky is not for limit for Trevon,” Lawrence said. “He still has two more games to boost his record, and I feel like he’s gonna keep doing it.”

[vertical-gallery id=689080]

[listicle id=688769]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott rescued souvenir TD ball from stands for OL Terence Steele

Terence Steele spiked his first-ever TD ball into the luxury suites, so RB Ezekiel Elliot went back to get it for him. | From @ToddBrock24f7

When the play was called, Terence Steele didn’t want anyone to think he’d be getting the ball. After the play was over, he was quick to get rid of it again.

Thanks to a quick-thinking teammate, though, he got it back.

The football is now a souvenir the Cowboys’ 310-pound offensive lineman will treasure for the rest of his life, a memento of his contribution to a historic obliteration of the rival Washington Football Team.

But it almost went home with someone else.

The Cowboys offense were set up on the Washington 1-yard-line, ahead 28-7 late in the second quarter. Coordinator Kellen Moore sensed an opportunity to run a play they’d been working on for a while and had even tried the week prior in New York.

They called a timeout to get the personnel exactly right.

Steele, who had already been in the game at left tackle, slid over to the right tight end position and declared himself eligible, as required by rule. Ty Nsekhe came on to fill Steele’s left tackle slot. Lineman Connor McGovern lined up in the backfield as blocking fullback. Seven beefy linemen on the field at once for what looked to all the world like it would be a goal-line carry for running back Tony Pollard.

Only after bumping his man at the line, Steele peeled off and broke for the end zone. He turned to find Dak Prescott’s pass floating his way.

The second-year undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech who has done everything the team has asked, at multiple positions along the offensive line and subbing for future Hall of Famers, logged the first reception and touchdown of his football career.

“When they called the play, I just tried to play it off as normal,” Steele said after the game. ” I didn’t want to get too excited or anything. I just wanted to keep everything as normal. When the play happened, that’s every O-lineman’s dream, to catch a touchdown. I blocked and I just tried to get my head around as fast as possible. And it was there. I caught it. Perfect ball from Dak.”
It was, in fact, his first catch and score. At any level of football.
“I’ve always been an O-lineman. I’ve never touched the ball in my life. Never ever ever ever.”

So the big man can be forgiven, perhaps, for not exactly knowing what to do with the ball afterward. The personal significance of the moment may have been lost in the excitement of the moment. So Steele unleashed a monstrous spike in celebration.

 

“Steele was super excited,” running back Ezekiel Elliott explained to the media after the Cowboys’ 56-14 win. “He spiked it so hard, it bounced almost into the second level of the stadium. But it went to the suite area.”

“That was a spike with some authority to it,” guard Zack Martin said. “Last year, Zeke gave him a ball, and he kind of had a weak spike. So he made up for it tonight.”

With that spike, for Steele anyway, the moment was over. He trotted back to the sideline with his teammates, stopping to surprise head coach Mike McCarthy with an enthusiastic- and forceful- bear hug.

“I had to check my teeth because he jammed right into me,” McCarthy deadpanned in his postgame press conference. “A lot of anticipation, because obviously when you call those plays, you’re looking for the reaction. It looked like Terence stumbled coming out of it, and then you see Dak put a little air on it. It’s looked good for a couple weeks, so it was good to get it called.”

“The last couple of weeks, Kellen’s been trying to get an O-lineman a touchdown,” Martin added. “We tried to get McGovern one last week. I think this week, we had a good feeling they were going to get sucked in, and Terence was going to be open there. It was great for the big guy to get a score.”

On the TV broadcast, Al Michaels stated that Steele was the first Cowboys offensive lineman to score a touchdown since the legendary Rayfield Wright in 1968. While Wright did, in fact, haul in a 15-yard touchdown catch versus the Eagles that season, the future Hall of Famer had not yet made the positional switch to tackle. When he caught his score in ’68, he was still considered a tight end.

So as it turns out, Steele’s touchdown may be even more historic than originally thought.

“He earned it, every bit of it,” lineman La’el Collins said. “He earned it. He’s been working his ass off since he got here. He’s gotten better. He’s proven it. He’s proven it.”

“Steele’s a hell of an athlete,” Elliott agreed. “He can run, he’s definitely got great hands.”

But as he returned to the sidelines, Steele’s hands were empty. The ball from his highlight-reel moment was up in the stands.

And that’s when Elliott sprang into action. Not even on the field when Steele’s number was called, Elliott ran to the section of field-level suites where the football had landed and asked for it back.

“I want to say thank you to whoever caught that ball and gave it back to me out there,” Elliott said afterward. “I think that’s a big tradition when you go to the NFL: you’ve got to keep that first touchdown ball, so thank you for giving the ball back.”

Elliott reportedly arranged for the fan who gave back the ball to get a replacement pigskin, but the one Steele actually caught for his big-man touchdown will remain in his possession, thanks to his heads-up teammate.

“Shout-out to Zeke, because I want that ball,” Steele said. “That’s something I’m going to cherish forever.”

[vertical-gallery id=689080]

[listicle id=688769]

[lawrence-newsletter]

‘I still got it:’ DeMarcus Lawrence’s pick-six wows Cowboys teammates

Lawrence’s second career interception added to the team’s locker room bet, but also calls into question the veteran’s Madden ratings. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys defense came in to their Week 16 game leading the offense by two in their much-ballyhooed turnovers-to-touchdowns intrasquad bet. Trevon Diggs’s interception on Washington’s first play from scrimmage extended the lead to three.

But when two first-quarter scoring passes from quarterback Dak Prescott brought things a little too close for comfort, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence took matters- and a Taylor Heinicke throw- into his own hands for one of the plays of the night in a 56-14 Dallas romp.

“In all honesty, the quarterback just threw the ball right in my direction,” Lawrence told reporters following his fourth game back after a two-and-a-half-month absence with a broken foot. “I was lucky enough to get my hands on the ball and make it into the end zone. I don’t know how I made it into the end zone; I just made it.”

The interception itself was impressive, to be sure. The 40-yard return for a touchdown, though, is what had the Cowboys locker room talking.

“D-Law’s been extraordinary since his return,” rookie linebacker Micah Parsons said. “He just creates a lot of opportunities for everyone, he’s so effective in the pass game and the run game. He’s just a force when he’s out there. I told him, ‘You’ve got a little bit more juice than I thought you had left.'”

“He’s fire,” cornerback and league interception leader Trevon Diggs raved. “Like, he’s really fast. Madden needs to stop changing his ratings, too. I think they’ve got him at, like, an 80-something. He’s definitely a 90 speed on Madden. Need to fix that.”

The eight-year veteran agreed once it was brought to his attention.

“Yeah, you know, Madden has been slacking the last couple years on my speed and stuff,” Lawrence said. “I feel like they got the picture tonight.”

“I’ve got to show the young boys that I still got it,” the 29-year-old said with a smile.

Lawrence’s second career pick- and his first touchdown- made an impression on his offensive counterparts, too.

“Nothing was more impressive than D-Law’s pick-six today,” running back Ezekiel Elliott gushed. “I was impressed with the stiff-arm, the high knees, making the last guy miss on the sideline… he looked like he’s been playing offense his whole life. I think he said was an all-state tight end on the sideline, so you saw that today.”

But Prescott was quick to point out that Lawrence’s brilliant play still only counts as one turnover in the bet.

“That doesn’t double up the points, by any means,” Prescott joked in his postgame press conference. “It was impressive. If anything, I thought that maybe we need to get him in over there at the jumbo-Y position and maybe get him a pass.”

“Well, I’ll say what was echoed on the sideline: we probably need to find a wrinkle or two for him,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy concurred. “Just a great play by DeMarcus. If you look, he had the double-[team] on the rush, and the way he came off and played the quarterback’s eyes, just a phenomenal play.”

And just the latest phenomenal play in what has been a remarkable season for the Cowboys defense, its first under coordinator Dan Quinn. The unit now leads the league with 33 takeaways, 10 more than they logged in all of 2020, and still with two games to go.

As for the bet, Lawrence’s pick didn’t provide quite enough pad for the defense on a night when Prescott and the offense got its groove back to the tune of six trips to the end zone. They take a plus-two lead into Week 17, even if Lawrence thinks his pick-six should carry bonus points.

“Offense be cheating, bro. They only gave us the turnover, not the touchdown,” he told reporters. “They won the battle today, but we’re coming back strong next week.”

Despite earning the praise of his teammates for providing the athletic highlight of the night, Lawrence almost certainly won’t be lining up as a receiver for a trick play in the red zone anytime soon.

No way is he adding to the offense’s touchdown totals. He’s got a bet- and maybe much more- to win with the Cowboys’ reinvented defense.

[vertical-gallery id=689080]

[listicle id=688253]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys bring Donovan Wilson, Maurice Canady off IR, expect both to play vs WFT

Wilson’s return will help buoy a Dallas DB unit beset by COVID absences; Canady has been out over 2 months but is likely to play as well. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Two Cowboys defensive backs got the call on Christmas Day to come off injured reserve.

Safety Donovan Wilson has been activated following the chest/shoulder injury he sustained in the team’s Week 11 loss to Kansas City. And cornerback Maurice Canady returns after a concussion suffered back in Week 6’s win over New England.

Both were expected to practice with the team on Saturday and will reportedly be ready for this weekend’s showdown with Washington.

Wilson had been working his way back; his activation was not a huge surprise after putting in good work at the team facility this week.

“I thought Dono had a really good day yesterday,” head coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday. “The thing about Donovan is when he’s out there, you feel him: his energy, just his play style; it’s infectious. Really want to see how he does today… Wednesday was more of a glorified jog-through, but the padded practice yesterday, he did everything we needed to see.”

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said earlier in the week that Wilson would likely be activated within days, and word of his imminent return trickled out to his teammates, all eager to have him in the huddle once again.

“I think we’re getting Dono back this week,” safety Malik Hooker said. “So that’s a big part of this defense. You’ve seen him play; he’s an enforcer. He brings a lot to this defense. So we’ve still got a lot more in the bag of stuff we have coming up.”

Hooker then entered COVID protocol, making Wilson’s return especially timely.

Wilson has 18 tackles, a pass breakup, and a QB hit in six games played this season. A groin injury on opening night kept him out of the lineup until mid-October.

Jourdan Lewis’s addition to the COVID list leaves the team a bit thin at cornerback, too. While rookie Kelvin Joseph could see a heavy dose of snaps, the veteran Canady will also be available, after being made immediately active by the club. Gehlken reports that the team is “confident in [his] conditioning” and that he’ll likely see playing time right away.

Cornerback Kyron Brown and safety Darian Thompson have also been elevated to the gameday roster from the practice squad to help Dallas cover the absences in the secondary.

[listicle id=688859]

[listicle id=688762]

[listicle id=688739]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis added to COVID list, Tyron Smith out vs WFT

Jourdan Lewis was a late Friday add to the COVID watchlist, along with WR Simi Fehoko. Tyron Smith is out for the Week 16 contest. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Not every Christmas Eve surprise is a good one.

The Cowboys added cornerback Jourdan Lewis to the Reserve/COVID list on Friday. He joins safety Malik Hooker, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, and running back JaQuan Hardy. Defensive line coach Aden Durde and special teams assistant Matt Daniels are in the protocol, too.

Rookie wide receiver Simi Fehoko was also placed on the virus watchlist to end the week.

Left tackle Tyron Smith has been declared out for Week 16, as he continues to nurse an ankle injury in hopes of being ready for the postseason.

Running backs Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, and Corey Clement were all full participants during Friday’s session.

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was limited in Friday’s walkthrough with foot soreness. Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that it’s not an issue that will affect Lawrence’s availability Sunday night.

First-year cornerback Nahshon Wright was also given a “limited” designation Friday.

Rookie safety Israel Mukuamu is listed as questionable with an illness that held him out of practice Thursday and Friday.

The news is worse for Washington.

Safety Landon Collins is out, as is cornerback William Jackson III, and defensive end Daniel Wise. Safety and special teams player Deshazor Everett will not play following a Thursday car wreck that claimed the life of a passenger in his car and left Everett himself hospitalized.

Running back Antonio Gibson is questionable with a toe injury; wide receiver Curtis Samuel is questionable with a hamstring.

[listicle id=688739]

[listicle id=688801]

[listicle id=688253]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Cowboys place S Malik Hooker, RB JaQuan Hardy on Reserve/COVID list

Hooker had a brilliant game on Sunday, picking off a pass; the first-year RB saw action in the past 2 games, mostly on special teams. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys continue to cycle players (and coaches) onto the Reserve/COVID list.

First, rookie running back JaQuan Hardy tested positive for the virus, as announced by the team Thursday morning. He entered health protocols, joining defensive line coach Aden Durde, special teams assistant Matt Daniels, and defensive tackle Trysten Hill.

Then team writer David Helman tweeted in the early afternoon that safety Malik Hooker has also been placed on the watchlist; he tested positive for the virus as well.

 

Hooker, a five-year veteran in his first season with the Cowboys, notched his first interception of 2021 on Sunday against the Giants. He has 25 solo tackles, having missed just the season opener in Tampa. The Ohio State product had been rehabbing a torn Achilles suffered in early 2020 while still a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

“I feel great right now: physically, mentally, emotionally. Ain’t nothing else I can really complain about,” Hooker said on Wednesday. “For me, it’s about just keep stacking the days and keep finding little ways, whether it’s 1% or 10% better each day.”

Hardy had seen action in the team’s past two games, mostly on special teams. He did record his first NFL carry, though, against Washington in Week 14, gaining three yards. He had been elevated from the practice squad upon news that Tony Pollard was dealing with a foot injury.

During a Thursday morning press conference, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy misidentified the team’s latest addition to the COVID list, erroneously stating that rookie wide receiver Simi Fehoko had entered the protocol.

Fehoko did not test positive for the virus.

[listicle id=688703]

[listicle id=688605]

[listicle id=688464]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Washington activates QB Taylor Heinicke from COVID list for Cowboys rematch

Dallas held the Washington passer to an 11-of-25, 122-yard day in Week 14; they’ll look to repeat at home to officially clinch the NFC East. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Washington Football Team will ride into Arlington with one last shot at salvaging their season. And they’ll have their regular gunslinger back for the showdown.

Washington has reactivated quarterback Taylor Heinicke from the Reserve/COVID list, paving the way for him to be under center once again for Sunday night’s rematch against the Cowboys.

The Dallas defense got the better of Heinicke in Week 14, limiting him to 11-of-25 on pass attempts and holding him to just 122 passing yards and one touchdown in a 27-20 Cowboys win. Heinicke was injured during the game on a Neville Gallimore sack (one of five the Cowboys logged); backup Kyle Allen was pressed into duty for most of the fourth quarter.

Heinicke was placed on the team’s COVID list the following Friday. Washington signed former Cowboys backup Garrett Gilbert that same day and started him four days later against Philadelphia.

Gilbert, who had made his first NFL start in the Cowboys’ Week 9 game in 2020 versus Pittsburgh, nearly engineered an improbable win that day with Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton sidelined by injury. He threw for 243 yards and a score as Dallas came up on the short end of a 24-19 final. A late training camp cut in 2021, Gilbert was subsequently signed by New England to their practice squad before joining Washington’s roster on Dec. 17.

Gilbert went 20-of-31 with 194 yards for WFT on Tuesday night, the game having been postponed two days due to COVID absences. Washington lost 27-17 and fell to 6-8 on the season.

Now with Heinicke back, Washington finds themselves in a must-win situation with over a dozen players still on the COVID watchlist, and facing a swarming Cowboys defense that has carried the team on a current three-game win streak. Dallas is tied for most takeaways leaguewide and has both the NFL’s interception leader in cornerback Trevon Diggs and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Micah Parsons, both of whom were just named to the 2022 Pro Bowl.

[listicle id=688703]

[listicle id=688253]

[listicle id=688620]

[lawrence-newsletter]