Tag: 2022 Week 1

Cowboys guard Connor McGovern helped off field with ankle injury

The Cowboys suffered an injury to the offensive line early, with Connor McGovern suffering an ankle injury on the first drive in Dallas. | From @CDBurnett7

Update: Connor McGovern (ankle) return questionable

The Cowboys entered the 2022 season with concerns at offensive line. The loss of left tackle Tyron Smith forced Dallas to move first-round pick Tyler Smith outside. This shifted Connor McGovern into the starting role at left guard to start the season.

On the first drive, McGovern’s ankle got caught under a Tampa Bay player and he went down on the play. Trainers quickly took the field to check on McGovern and he needed the help of two to get off the field.

Once he reached the sideline, McGovern was directed straight to the locker room and Matt Farniok is now thrust into the role at left guard on a offensive line running out of options. Farniok was active for 12 games as a rookie but now has the tall task of blocking Vita Vea and company as the season opener continues.

Jayron Kearse active, rookie WR Tolbert inactive for Cowboys vs. Bucs

Rookie receiver Jalen Tolbert is one of 7 inactives for the Cowboys, which included surprises as Jayron Kearse is good to go in Dallas. | From @CDBurnett7

Looking to find redemption for their 2021 opener, the Cowboys will enter their rematch with a very different crew of receivers, but it won’t include third-round pick Jalen Tolbert. Dennis Houston earned the spot on the active roster for the matchup with the Buccaneers.

Tolbert’s camp was an inconsistent one, failing to jump off the screen on tape but it’s no reason for panic in Dallas. Fellow receiver Michael Gallup is also inactive, but that was to be expected as he’s coming off a torn ACL and the Cowboys seem content to make sure he’s 100% when he makes his return.

The latter of the six inactives are all on defense, including fifth-round defensive tackle John Ridgeway, whose spot on the 53-man roster wasn’t certain so the healthy scratch is no surprised. Cornerback Nahshon Wright was a target for opposing defenses in the preseason and a high note interception in the final game didn’t earn him Week 1 snaps considering the rise of DaRon Bland.

The final three are surprises. Linebacker Jabril Cox stepped into playing time after Jaylon Smith’s release in 2021 before a torn ACL delayed his rise. The arrival of Anthony Barr moved him down the depth chart and Devin Harper earned the last spot at linebacker for the season opener.

Safeties Markquese Bell and Israel Mukuamu were both tremendous in preseason, so it’s a surprise to see neither taking the field against Tampa Bay. On the other side of the coin, Jayron Kearse will take the field after a neck injury during the week leading up.  Kearse’s sudden success in Dallas was a key to the defense’s improvement last season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

For Tampa Bay, the biggest news has been known all day, that WR Chris Godwin will play. Backup tight end Kyle Rudolph is inactive while wide receiver Scotty Miller’s healthy scratch is a casualty of Julio Jones’ arrival. Quarterback Kyle Trask, running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, backup right tackle Fred Johnson and cornerback Zyon McCollum round out the five inactives for the visitors. The second iteration of Cowboys-Buccaneers to open the season kicks off at 7:20 p.m. on NBC.

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Bucs WR Chris Godwin to play in opener vs Cowboys

Coming off a torn ACL, Chris Godwin is set to play for the Buccaneers in Dallas, while the Cowboys are being careful in a similar situation. | From @CDBurnett7

Coming off of a torn ACL from last season, Buccaneers wide receiver Chirs Godwin was on the injury report as questionable all week. With Mike Evans already a heavy task for the Cowboys defense along with the addition of future Hall of Famer Julio Jones, they’ll have their work cut out for them with Godwin set to play Sunday night.

Godwin amassed 98 catches for 1103 yards and five touchdowns before the injury that ended his 2021 season, achieving those numbers in just 14 games. The newly-extended receiver is expected to be eased back, but still a key cog in the Tampa Bay offense for the season opener.

Dallas is in a similar situation with wide receiver Michael Gallup, who suffered a torn ACL a few weeks after Godwin. The Colorado State product won’t play against the Buccaneers, with the Cowboys holding him out and making sure he’s 100% before throwing him into the mix. Both receivers got new extensions after their injuries, displaying the trust the teams have in Gallup and Godwin to return to form.

Fellow Tampa Bay wide receiver Russell Gage is questionable but it appears Tom Brady will have his full arsenal of weapons when he takes the field in Dallas for a rematch from last season’s opener. Limiting the group of Evans, Godwin, Gage and Jones will be a difficult mission for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to complete and the discrepancy in weapons outside for quarterback Dak Prescott is obvious.

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How to watch, wager, live stream, listen to Cowboys-Buccaneers in Week 1

Here’s how fans can keep up with the Week 1 antics of the Cowboys and Bucs, from any and all platforms, plus keys to victory for each club and a prediction by @KDDrummondNFL

Finally.

After eight grueling months, the Dallas Cowboys finally return to the field to try and exorcise the demons of last year’s early playoff exit. The team is much different from last, with a brand new receiving corps to catch passes from quarterback Dak Prescott and a continually evolving defense under mastermind Dan Quinn. Last season’s campaign began with a loss before reeling off six-straight victories, a defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This year’s campaign begins against those same Tom Bradys; only at AT&T Stadium.

 

Predicting 7 players Cowboys will make inactive vs Buccaneers

Here’s @KDDrummondNFL taking a look at the Cowboys roster, where they have surplus and what their strategy might be in choosing the group that will be inactive.

The Dallas Cowboys have announced their 55-man talent pool they have to choose from for Sunday night’s season opener against the Pirate Ship Brady. Of course NFL rules don’t allow the club to bring all 55 players into the water, rather they have to leave some of their roster on the sideline, playing dress up, hopefully getting motivated to force their way to the game-day roster.

For now though, the Cowboys coaching staff led by Mike McCarthy has another job to do, after the week worth of swim lessons. He and the coordinators will have a battle over which seven end-of-roster guys will be best served staying on the beach.

Starting in the 2020 season, game-day active rosters, which used to be limited to 46 players per team, can be bumped up to 48, as long as at least eight of those 48 are offensive linemen. The Cowboys have eight lineman on the regular roster, and all three backups are much needed. Here’s our best guess at the seven players, who almost to a man have waited all offseason for their chance to play, just to get it snatched from them in a numbers game.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kent State Golden Flashes: Sooners Wire staff predictions

Sooners Wire staff predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners’ Week 2 matchup vs. Kent State.

The Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) came out of Week 1 having answered several questions after an offseason of turnover and transition.

Aside from the second-quarter lull in which UTEP produced 10 points against the defense and back-to-back three and outs, the Oklahoma Sooners were dominant.

Expect more of the same this week against the Kent State Golden Flashes (0-1), who dropped their season opener to the Washington Huskies, 45-20. Kent State couldn’t keep up offensively, and the Sooners have an offense that can get a big lead in a hurry.

Each week on Sooners Wire, we’ll give you our predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup.

(Watch and stream Saturday’s game live on ESPN+)

You can also check out our thoughts on how the 2022 season will play out for the Sooners.

Sooners Captains for Week 2.

Five defensive players to watch this week.

Up Next: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

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Eric Gray proves up to the challenge of leading Oklahoma Sooners backfield

Eric Gray led the Oklahoma Sooners with 135 total yards, showing the skills that made him one of the more highly-anticipated transfers of the last two years.

One of the bigger questions facing the Oklahoma Sooners heading into 2022 was how the running back position would look with Kennedy Brooks off to the NFL. Eric Gray was expected to lead the way, but after a limited role in 2021, there was some uncertainty as to how he’d respond to being the feature back.

In his first start with the Oklahoma Sooners, Gray responded with 102 yards on 16 carries and 33 yards on two receptions for a fantastic day for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Gray displayed the elusiveness, agility, and big-play ability that had many excited about his potential in the Sooners’ offense when he transferred from Tennessee spring of 2021.

After five yards on the first scoring drive of the game, Gray then got the ball on the first two plays of the second drive with the Sooners backed up against their own end zone. He took Oklahoma to the seven with a three-yard carry and then exploded for 35 yards to get the Sooners’ offense on the move. A couple of plays later, Gray displayed his receiving prowess with a 24-yard reception.

Gray didn’t cross the goalline for a touchdown, but he put on display everything you needed to see. He even showed the ability to make plays after contact, averaging 3.31 yards per carry after contact per Pro Football Focus. He was counted upon to pick up a fourth down to help Oklahoma keep its momentum on the way to their fourth touchdown of the game.

Eric Gray, combined with Marcus Major, provides the Sooners with a dynamic duo. After being underutilized in 2021, Gray showed the game-breaking ability that will help the Sooners win a lot of games in 2022.

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Social media reacts to the Sooners 45-13 win over the UTEP Miners

Sooner Nation enjoyed a great day as the Oklahoma Sooners started the season with a 45-13 win over UTEP.

The Oklahoma Sooners got off to a fast start in week one of the 2022 college football season. Literally.

Taking the ball to open the game, the Sooners took just five plays and 1:17 to score the first touchdown of the Brent Venables era. After an incomplete pass to Marvin Mims on a deep shot down the field, the Gabriel came back with a 16-yard completion to Drake Stoops on an RPO.

Eric Gray followed that up with five yards on the ground for his first carry of the season before Gabriel hit Mims for a 42-yard bomb to get Oklahoma in the red zone.

Gabriel then kept the ball on a read-option and went 12 yards for the touchdown.

It was a great opening drive, encapsulating everything Oklahoma wants to be offensively; fast-paced, run game involved, and the ability to hit big plays down the field.

Defensively, the Sooners were relentless. They regularly had multiple players to the ball carrier. Though there were 11 missed tackles per Pro Football Focus, that’s an improvement to what happened a year ago vs. Tulane when they had 15 missed tackles in the season opener. Oklahoma also had more sacks and tackles for loss this year against the Miners than they did a year ago against the Green Wave.

Aside from a lull early in the second quarter, the Oklahoma Sooners had their way with the UTEP Miners on Saturday. Though UTEP started to make something interesting with 10 straight points in the second frame, Oklahoma found a second gear on a hot day and were able to limit the damage.

Overall, it was a great start to the season for the Oklahoma Sooners and Sooner Nation enjoyed every bit of it. Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter.

5 Takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 45-13 win over UTEP

There was a lot to like in the Sooners’ 45-13 win over the UTEP Miners in the season opener.

The Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) kicked off the Brent Venables era with a dominating 45-13 win over the UTEP Miners on Saturday. It was a win that received contributions up and down the lineup. From seniors to true freshmen, Oklahoma saw a host of players make an impact on Saturday.

They couldn’t have gotten off to a better start in week one as the offense scored touchdowns on their first three drives, each drive consisting of six plays or less.

On the first two defensive possessions, Oklahoma forced punts to help the Sooners jump out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

From there, the Sooners were able to cruise to victory in Venables’ first game as a head coach. As we continue to break down the season-opening win, here are five takeaways from Saturday’s performance.

Oklahoma WR Gavin Freeman electrifies social media on first collegiate touch

Playing in his first game with the Oklahoma Sooners, true freshman Gavin Freeman took his first career touch 42 yards for a touchdown.

It didn’t take the Oklahoma Sooners long to get going in the season opener against UTEP. They jumped on the board quickly with a five-play 75-yard drive that took just over a minute and culminated in a Dillon Gabriel 12-yard touchdown run to open the scoring for the 2022 season.

Brayden Willis added another touchdown on Dillon Gabriel’s first passing touchdown of the season.

Up 14-0, the Oklahoma Sooners got a contribution from one of their true freshmen, wide receiver Gavin Freeman.

Freeman took a reverse toss from Gabriel and found open space going against the grain. He bounced off several tacklers before rumbling 42 yards for the first touchdown of his career.

In a first quarter that provided tons of highlights, Gavin Freeman’s first career touch showed all kinds of toughness, agility, and speed, providing a glimpse of what’s to come from the true freshman.

Let’s check out how social media responded to the big play that put Oklahoma up 21-0.