Tag: 2022 Wild Card

Cowboys-Buccaneers wild-card injury report: Tyron Smith limited

One team has a very long list of mentioned names, the other a short one. Each has interesting things to say. Here’s the latest injury roundup. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The countdown is on. The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been thinking about each other for a long time, but on Thursday they began their on-field work in anticipation of their all-eyes-on-me duel. The wild-card round of the 2022 playoffs begins on Saturday, but it ends on Monday night with the two teams rematching. Dallas and Tampa began their seasons with each other and one franchise’s year will come to an end at the hands of the other. Thursday was the first day of practice for both after each kind-of-sort-of tried in Week 18.

Dallas had relatively great injury news, at least to start the day. While there are several key players on injured reserve for the year, there are four key guys who had concerns as recently as last week who are not concerns any more. Corner DaRon Bland (chest) isn’t even listed after leaving the loss to Washington, and two other starters in Tyler Biadasz and Leighton Vander Esch were full participants. There are a couple new names though, as right tackle Tyron Smith showed up with a knee injury.

In years past, Smith would get Wednesday’s off, and Thursday is basically Wednesday when the game’s on Monday, but this is the first practice report he’s appeared on since returning from his hamstring tear. Also, safety Tyler Coyle played well after being elevated last week, but he’s been lost for 2-to-4 weeks with an MCL sprain suffered in practice today.

Meanwhile the Buccaneers sport 14 players on their list of injuries, but nine of them were full participants. Among the limited players of interest are three offensive linemen and DT Vita Vea. Also not listed is center Ryan Jansen, who is on IR but practicing. He’s missed all season and is a longshot to return for this game. Not a longshot but currently on IR is Dallas DT Johnathan Hankins, who is set to make his return after four weeks out.

Here’s a look at the full initial practice report.

Cowboys legend Jason Witten surprises award-winning HS player, talks playoffs and Hall of Fame

Witten presented Denton’s Jackson Arnold with the nation’s most prestigious award in high school sports, then talked playoffs and Canton. | From @ToddBrock24f7

For all the accolades and superlatives, former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has downright pedestrian numbers when it comes to one category. Sure, he played in more NFL games than any man ever at his position. He ranks second all-time among tight ends in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. He missed just one game in 17 seasons. He went to 11 Pro Bowls. He’s a no-doubt Hall of Famer.

Yet Witten played in just eight playoff games over his illustrious career. And he walked off the field victorious in a paltry two of them.

The Cowboys legend sat down with Cowboys Wire to preview the current team’s chances in Monday night’s wild-card game in Tampa, but he also talked about that gold jacket that’s proven elusive thus far for three of his former Dallas teammates.

And he introduced Cowboys fans to a Metroplex youngster who’s ready for big things at the next level, having just surprised the emerging player with the most prestigious award in high school sports.

Xavier Rhodes blowing Cowboys away at cornerback

Xavier Rhodes, signed just days ago, has been blowing the Cowboys DC away with his play and could factor into the postseason. | From @ReidDHanson

Since losing Anthony Brown on December 4, the Cowboys cornerback position across from Trevon Diggs has been in a constant state of flux. From the Kelvin Joseph experiment, to Nahshon Wright, to DeRon Bland, to Trayvon Mullen, Dan Quinn has been searching for answers on the boundary.

The Cowboys have mixed and matched their way through the end of the regular season, testing combinations, roles, and situations. At face value, many seem like terrible ideas. Even DaRon Bland, the Cowboys standout nickel cornerback, is a poor fit outside. Nothing has seemed to work and it’s causing panic in Cowboys Nation among the fans. Dan Quinn, on the other hand, is not so concerned, even stating, “I feel very comfortable where we’re at.” Part of that comfort could be because of the new presence of Xavier Rhodes.

 

After his release from Buffalo, the Cowboys added 32-year-old cornerback, Xavier Rhodes, on January 7. The former Pro Bowler joined the Dallas practice squad initially but figures to be a legitimate player when the Cowboys take the field in Tampa on Monday night.

Much like other veteran free agent additions the Cowboys have made this season, Rhodes is certifiably past his prime. Like Jason Peters, T.Y. Hilton and Anthony Barr, he’s no longer the player that earned Pro Bowl honors in years past, and no longer a cornerstone player in which to build a championship roster.

But the Cowboys don’t need him to be. Like the others, Rhodes could still serve an important role for a contender like Dallas.

Quinn’s sense of calm could also come from him knowing the strengths and weaknesses of his players and his confidence that he can put each of them in position to succeed. He’s already spoken to the fact that he’s spent the last several weeks testing the abilities of players to prep for the games that truly matter.

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Cowboys’ playoff run: Home-field advantage, grass or turf, is a real thing

The numbers prove that all teams, not just the Dallas Cowboys, are at a disadvantage playing on the road and on a different surface. | From @ReidDHanson

The Dallas Cowboys put forth a valiant effort in their charge to steal the NFC East from the Eagles. Alas they fell short, slotting into the fifth seed and destined for a nomadic playoff journey on the road. This fate was largely met with a shrug. Plenty of teams win on the road in the playoffs so the Cowboys will just have to be one of them, right?

A recent observation regarding how the Cowboys fair on the road has gained a near-viral clamor in Cowboys Nation this week. The Cowboys, dominant on turf, are quite the contrary when forced to play on grass surfaces.

Suddenly the idea of playing on the Bermuda grass down in Tampa doesn’t sound so menial. As Jon Machota pointed out, the Cowboys are 1-4 on grass this season. The slower surface is arguably stealing the athleticism away from Dallas’ top playmakers.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh excited to start preparing for Wild Card Weekend

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talked about getting ready for this weekend’s playoff game

The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 27-16 to conclude the 2022 regular season. The Ravens will play the Bengals again in Cincinnati next week in the AFC Wild Card Round at 8:15pm EST on Sunday Night Football.

Head coach John Harbaugh spoke to the media after the game and can’t wait to get started with the preparation for the Wild Card Game against the Bengals. He mentioned how everyone is 0-0 going forward, with the playoffs marking a whole new season for all sides.

“That’s our next step, into the playoffs. That’s what we’ve been preparing for and we’re looking forward to our opportunity. Everybody is 0-0 going forward. We can’t wait to get started Monday probably; Tuesday is our first workday and we’ll be rolling.”

The good news is that Ravens will be getting back most, if not all of their star players who were inactive for Week 18. That could include 2019 MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who’s been out since Week 13 with a knee injury.  If that’s the case, his presence on the field is a big difference-maker to the team and could bring some extra motivation.

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