Tag: 2024 Week 5

Unsung heroes Tolbert, Dowdle lead Cowboys to last-minute win vs Steelers, 20-17

The Cowboys got standout performances from two unheralded starters and a strong defensive performance helps them escape Pittsburgh with a W. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys were extremely shorthanded entering Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Down a slew of key defenders to begin with, they then had to sit through an hour and a half weather delay as storms passed through Acrisure Stadium. On their first defensive drive, they lost Marshawn Kneeland to a knee injury, as he was filling in for DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. Quarterback Dak Prescott fumbled first and then threw a red-zone interception later, adding a third turnover in the second half on a deep pass.

It didn’t matter. Thanks to RB Rico Dowdle and WR Jalen Tolbert’s career days, the Cowboys had just enough offense to pull out a final-drive victory over the Steelers when on fourth down Prescott found Tolbert on a cross right over the goal line. Dallas’ second touchdown of the night, right before 1 am on the east coast, gave the team a 20-17 win.

The victory improved the Cowboys to 3-2 on the young season, notching their first winning streak of 2024. The loss dropped the Steelers to a similar record.

Tolbert finished the game with a career and team-high 87 receiving yards, which went hand-in-hand with Dowdle’s career high 87 rushing yards. Dowdle also caught two passes for 27 yards and the first score of the game.

The Cowboys also got step-up performances from Kavontae Turpin as WR Bradin Cooks missed the game after being placed on IR. Turpin caught four of his five targets for 50 yards.

Dallas was able to corral Steelers QB Justin Fields, who was coming off a a 300-passing yard performance last week. Fields had two passing touchdowns but accrued just 131 air yards and 27 on scrambles and designed runs.

The Dallas defense had three sacks and forced two fumbles, allowing the Steelers just 226 yards on the game. Playing without their two star edge rushers, and their two corners who start opposite Trevon Diggs in Daron Bland and Caelen Carson, Mike Zimmer’s group had their best outing of the season, though they did allow Pittsburgh to march down the field and take a late lead.

Still, there’s a ton to be proud of as the injuries continue to mount. Dallas lost two starting offensive linemen in the game as well. Rookie Tyler Guyton went out with a knee injury and stayed out as he was questionable to return. The team also lost RG Zack Martin to cramps, but he was able to return.

Next up for Dallas will be the 3-1 Detroit Lions coming to AT&T Stadium where the Cowboys will now try and solve their home woes as they’ve lost three consecutive games in blowout fashion.

Cowboys on wrong end of historic career start Week 5 vs Steelers

With injuries mounting, why not throw a career milestone on to salt the wound.

When the schedules were released in May, fans of quarterback pressure circled two of the Cowboys’ first five games. In Week 1, the matchup between Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons lived up to the billing of two of the three preeminent pass rushers in the NFL with both players notching sacks.

Week 5 was the second iteration as Parsons and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ TJ Watt were set to match wits. Only Parsons was injured in Week 4 and is missing the game. To make matters worse, with Dallas driving near the end of the first quarter to take an early lead, Watt made history.

Watt, who has led the NFL in sacks three times already in his career, notched a half tally in a strip sack of Dak Prescott deep in Pittsburgh’s territory, giving him 100 for his career in just 109 career games.

It’s the fastest a player has made that number since Reggie White did it in 96.

Watt, of course, could have been making these milestones while wearing a Dallas uniform. In 2017, Dallas had Watt sitting there in the first round to be taken out of Wisconsin, but the Cowboys famously thought that because they ran a 40-front, Watt wouldn’t make a good fit as he was used to playing standing up.

Instead the Cowboys selected Taco Charlton out of Michigan, who couldn’t even complete half of his rookie contract without getting released.

Another starting Cowboys DE leaves sideline on cart after injury vs Steelers

Rookie Marshawn Kneeland suffers an injury at one of the three spots the Cowboys can’t afford any more attrition. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys lost two starting edge rushers to injury in Week 4’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. With not much depth behind them, the club went out and poached a practice squad to get more help. Only KJ Henry wasn’t in town long enough to be activated for this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. So without Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas was left to pressure Justin Fields, with rookie Marshawn Kneeland, and veterans Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson and second-year man Tyrus Wheat.

Make that Golstron, Lawson and Wheat, as Marshawn Kneeland had to leave the game on the Steelers’ first drive with a leg injury. Kneeland was carted to the locker room after limping off the field.

A second-round rookie from Western Michigan, Kneeland has flashed on = occasion in the young season, though he has yet to register a sack on the young season.

The game is tied at 3 early as both teams scored field goals on their opening drives. Dallas had to punt on their next possession, giving the ball back to the Steelers at their own 26.

Parsons, Carson headline inactives in Cowboys-Steelers Week 5 tilt, rookie WR to debut

Dallas is doing three defensive starters now, with both edge rushers and now a corner missing from the action.

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are careening towards their 31st matchup in franchise history. The last official pre-game acts? Naming of the inactives. Teams have 53-man rosters and can elevate two players from the practice squad each week. However they are only allowed to dress a certain amount and allow them onto the field in a game.

That number is 47, but it has caveats. If a team is dressing at least nine offensive linemen, they can dress 48 players. A team can also dress an emergency third quarterback, who can play in case the top two signal callers are injured. That leaves six players to be named inactive.

How to Watch, Stream Listen to Cowboys-Steelers on SNF

For Dallas, the headline is Micah Parsons, dealing with a high ankle sprain. Parsons didn’t practice all week and it was clear early he was going to miss the game. Not mentioned are DE DeMarcus Lawrence and WR Brandin Cooks, who were moved to IR earlier in the week.

 

RB Deuce Vaughn
LB Micah Parsons
CB Caelen Carson
DE KJ Henry
OT Matt Waletzko
TE John Stephens Jr.
Trey Lance (emergency QB)

Notable is that Dallas is activating WR Ryan Flournoy and also that starting corner Caelen Carson is going to miss his second consecutive contest. He’s been starting opposite Trevon Diggs since Daron Bland has spent the first third of the season on IR after foot surgery.

As for the Steelers, they will also be without some key pieces, with edge LB Alex Highsmith out along with RBs Jaylen Warren and Cardarrelle Patterson.

Parsons ruled out in Cowboys vs Steelers final injury report; Diggs, Cooks, LB updates

Several key components from both clubs are going to miss the game and there are a handful of question marks too. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Here’s the good news. They got Ezekiel Elliott and Ryan Flournoy some fluids. The veteran running back and rookie WR set to make his debut in Week 5 vs the Pittsburgh Steelers are no longer a concern after dehydrating on Thursday.

Here’s the bad news. As expected, Micah Parsons and Brandin Cooks have officially been ruled out for the 2-2 Dallas Cowboys. Parsons’ high-ankle sprain was a virtual certainty, as was Cooks knee after an infection developed. There’s no word when either will return but it could be a minute for both. Also, CB Trevon Diggs left practice on Thursday and did not participate on Friday, but head coach Mike McCarthy says that he’s set to play.

Meanwhile, the Steelers will also be without a starting pass rusher and key offensive components.

In the final injury report for the week, Pittsburgh ruled out LB Alex Highsmith, RB Cordarrelle Patterson and RB Jaylen Warren. While they’ll still have T.J. Watt to terrorize the young Dallas offensive line, the Steelers struggling run game is going to be without their No. 2 and No. 3 running backs behind the currently plodding Najee Harris.

Also out for Pittsburgh is TE MyCole Pruitt. Here’s the designations from both teams.

Dallas Cowboys

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate

WR Brandin Cooks, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Limited Participant

Safety Markquese Bell, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Full Participant

CB Trevon Diggs, Ankle | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday: Limited, Friday: DNP

OT Tyler Guyton, Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday: Full

RB Rico Dowdle, Wrist | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday, Friday: Full

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dehydration | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: Limited, Friday: Full

WR Ryan Flournoy, Dehydration | NO DESIGNATION
Thursday: Limited, Friday: Full

LB Marist Liufau, Quad | QUESTIONABLE
Friday: Limited

Wednesday NIR Rest Days: Malik Hooker, Eric Kendricks Jourdan Lewis, Zack Martin

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Russell Wilson, Calf | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: LP

RB Jaylen Warren, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

LB Jeremiah Moon, Ankle | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: FP

LB Nick Herbig, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full

G Isaac Seumalo, Pectoral | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday, Thursday: FP | Friday: Full

TE MyCole Pruitt, Knee | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: DNP

DL Keeanu Benton, Ankle | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: LP | Thursday, Friday: Full

DT Larry Ogunjobi, Groin | QUESTIONABLE
Thursday, Friday: Limited

Here’s how Cowboys will survive without Parsons, Lawrence

The Cowboys have defenders who can do more than they’ve been asked, and there’s a simple fix on offense. | From @cdpiglet

The Dallas Cowboys had issues going into the game against the New York Giants. They had an atrocious run defense, weren’t getting their typical pass-rush efficiency, and couldn’t even do a simple thing like tackle well. Now they have lost Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence to injuries.

The easy option to compensate for those losses is to try replacing their production. Dallas will play the next-man-up game with Marshawn Kneeland, Chauncey Golston, and Carl Lawson, but defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer must get creative to replicate the production lost from his two best front-seven players. In 2022, Donovan Wilson had five sacks and nine QB hits on 30 blitz attempts. In college, DeMarvion Overshown and Marist Liufau played all over the field, blitzing and playing off the edge.

Even if the new options are successful, the Cowboys are unlikely to be as good as they would be with Lawrence and Parsons. This underscores the urgent need for the team to improve in other areas to lessen the impact of their injury losses, and the offense has to compensate for the losses as well.

The most manageable area to improve in is penalties. Dallas isn’t an explosive offense, holding the ball for long drives often, but the team continually sets itself back with penalties. The team is in the bottom five in the NFL in penalties, second worst in offensive holding penalties, and bottom 10 in false starts. These setbacks have cost the team first downs, taken them out of scoring range, and the team isn’t good enough to overcome the penalties. It’s crucial to clean those up, as more points will come and the time of possession will shift to Dallas, allowing them to protect their defense.

The offense also needs their superstar to be utilized like a superstar, especially with Brandin Cooks out.

CeeDee Lamb has 17 receptions for 300 yards and two touchdowns receiving in the first half. If he replicated that in all four quarters, he would have over 30 receptions for 600 yards and four scores. Dallas hasn’t used Lamb in the second half of games this season. He has only three receptions for 16 yards in the second half of games this year, and that is a terrible half of football, let alone through eight quarters. Get the best weapon on the team, the ball, and he could make explosive plays for the offense.

Quiet on Set: Cowboys’ silent count to be tested Week 5 vs Steelers

Crowd noise is expected to be a major factor in Sunday night’s matchup between the Cowboys and Steelers. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys are no strangers to loud stadiums. They have to endure yearly matchups against the Giants in New Jersey and the Eagles in Philadelphia, in addition to oddly frequent pilgrimages to the noise chambers in Minnesota, Seattle and San Francisco. Playing on the road is part of the job and in many cases those road games change the job entirely.

Crowd noise is meant to stymie communication for opposing offenses. Snap counts, audibles and just about every other verbal communication on the field can be extremely difficult on the road. As such, offenses must learn to communicate through a series of gestures and motions to signal snap counts and audibles.

When allowed to communicate openly, the Cowboys have historically been one of the best teams in the NFL. Before their recent home losing streak, Dallas was undefeated within the confines of AT&T stadium. In 2023 they went 8-0 at home in the regular season, compared to just 4-5 on the road. They won their last eight home games of 2022. Crowd noise and its impact on the offense’s ability to communicate likely played a big part in that.

Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh is regarded as one of the loudest in the NFL. Ranking top 10 in decibel levels, the Cowboys will have their work cut out for them in Week 5.

And adding to the volume of this matchup is the rivalry between the two teams.

While players on the field may not feel it, fans in Pittsburgh certainly do. With bad blood going back 50 years, this is not just any old interconference matchup.

The primetime nature of Sunday Night Football also adds an element of fervor to the event. More time for day drinking in the parking lot often means an extra jolt of energy from the stands. Plus, the Steelers have started out the season 3-1 and currently have Dallas positioned as the underdogs. They smell blood in the water.

The stage has been set for this to be the Cowboys loudest game of the season, so for the sake of the offense, players better be prepared. Right tackle Terence Steele and left tackle Tyler Guyton will specifically be under extra pressure to avoid false starts in these silent count scenarios. The Cowboys can’t be giving away yards this week.

Dallas’ ability to survive the noise could make all the difference in this Week 5 showdown.

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Cowboys vs Steelers: Diggs added to injury report, dehydration makes appearance with Elliott

Adding Diggs to a growing list of hobbled star players is not the way to trend when prepping for a rival. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Full disclosure is a wonderful thing, but it’s still a bit striking in certain scenarios. NFL teams have been tasked with being more specific when it comes to their injury reports in recent years. Surely it has nothing to do with the league opening their arms to the gambling communities, right?

Regardless, more details are important and in that vein, Thursday’s injury report for the Cowboys and Steelers rivalry renewal in Week 5 has that level of specificity. A couple Dallas starters have appeared after not being a concern on Wednesday, namely CB Trevon Diggs (ankle), LT Tyler Guyton (shoulder) and RB Rico Dowdle (wrist). But the twist is two players were limited due to dehydration.

Of course that happens all of the time in the NFL; it’s a grueling sport that pushes participants to the absolute limit. It’s just a unique designation that hasn’t been witnessed too often (if at all) before in these parts. That was attached to both running back Ezekeil Elliott and rookie WR Ryan Flournoy, who expects to be activated for the first time due to Brandin Cooks’ knee issue.

Diggs will be something to monitor. Dallas has been without All-Pro DaRon Bland and he has yet to have his 21-day practice window activated. Rookie Caelen Carson is trying to return after missing Week 4. Already looking to be without their top two pass rushers in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, a hobbled cornerback room is adding insult to, well, injury.

Here’s the latest updates.

Dallas Cowboys

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: Did Not Participate

WR Brandin Cooks, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday, Thursday: Limited Participant

Safety Markquese Bell, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: Full Participant

CB Trevon Diggs, Ankle | Thursday: Limited

OT Tyler Guyton, Shoulder | Thursday: Full

RB Rico Dowdle, Wrist | Thursday: Full

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dehydration | Thursday: Limited

WR Ryan Flournoy, Dehydration | Thursday: Limited

Wednesday NIR Rest Days: Malik Hooker, Eric Kendricks Jourdan Lewis, Zack Martin

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Russell Wilson, Calf | Wednesday, Thursday: LP

RB Jaylen Warren, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

LB Jeremiah Moon, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: FP

LB Nick Herbig, Ankle | Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited

G Isaac Seumalo, Pectoral | Wednesday, Thursday: FP

TE MyCole Pruitt, Knee | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Ankle | Wednesday, Thursday: DNP

DL Keeanu Benton, Ankle | Wednesday: LP | Thursday: Full

DT Larry Ogunjobi, Groin | Thursday: Limited

Cowboys vs Steelers Injury Report: Will either team field a healthy pass rush? Parsons, Highsmith updates

Both clubs appear to be prepping for playing without key pieces to their defenses. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have begun their preparations for Week 5 in earnest. Wednesday marks the first official practice as the long-time rivals careen towards the next iteration of their series.

The Cowboys suffered numerous, serious injuries in their Week 4 win over the New York Giants. The Steelers have been dealing with major injuries throughout the season. It will make for interesting week of practice updates to see who will be able to make it to the game.

Already ruled out for the Cowboys is DeMarcus Lawrence, who the team placed on Injured Reserve on Monday. Micah Parsons and Brandin Cooks missed practice on Wednesday, as did two of the Steelers’ top three pass rushers. TJ Watt is fine, but Alex Highsmith is like Lawrence, already ruled out.

His backup, Nick Herbig, left Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts with an ankle injury and didn’t participate in Wednesday’s on-field work. Here’s a full list of who didn’t participate on Wednesday.

Dallas Cowboys

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

WR Brandin Cooks, Knee | Wednesday: DNP

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited Participant

Safety Markquese Bell, Ankle | Wednesday: Full Participant

Wednesday NIR Rest Days: Malik Hooker, Eric Kendricks Jourdan Lewis, Zack Martin

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB Russell Wilson, Calf | Wednesday: LP

RB Jaylen Warren, Knee | Wednesday: DNP

LB Jeremiah Moon, Ankle | Wednesday: FP

LB Nick Herbig, Ankle | Wednesday: DNP

G Isaac Seumalo, Pectoral | Wednesday: FP

TE MyCole Pruitt, Knee | Wednesday: DNP

RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Ankle | Wednesday: DNP

DL Keeanu Benton, Ankle | | Wednesday: LP

Yes, the Cowboys should call the Raiders about a trade for Davante Adams

Taking a look at what it would take to acquire the now available Davante Adams and how Dallas would look to make it work financially if interested. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Over the minibye, Cowboys Wire addressed the elephant in the room, how the Dallas Cowboys need to pursue help at the wide receiver position. Through four games, Brandin Cooks has not lived up to expectations, despite QB Dak Prescott currently ranking third in the NFL in passing yardage.

While Jalen Tolbert has shown a sign or two, he hasn’t provided enough evidence to crown him a proper compliment to CeeDee Lamb. That’s why we looked into the potential trades for Amari Cooper and Tee Higgins out of the AFC North, and DeAndre Hopkins out of the AFC South. With full intention to consider Davante Adams within an AFC West look, the Raiders are one step ahead, advertising terms they’d accept in an offer.

The Cowboys and Raiders have linked up in similar situations before, most famously when Dallas acquired Cooper in the middle of the 2018 season in exchange for a first-round pick.

The difference there is Cooper was much younger, 24 at the time compared to Adams current age of 32, and was on his rookie contract. Acquiring Adams comes with a heavy price tag as he has $74 million on the books for the 2025 and 2026 season, not to mention 7/9th of his $17 million 2024 salary remaining, about $13 million.

Could the Cowboys afford it? Yes. Cowboys Wire has highlighted that the cap situation for Dallas is well setup for next season, but it might not even come to that.

Those balloon salaries on the books for Oakland were all about achieving a talking point for Adams and his representatives, giving him an inflated annual value that Oakland never truly considered paying.

The money isn’t guaranteed, which means an acquiring team would be able to release Adams after this season and face no financial penalty, only the draft compensation they gave up.

Still, a second rounder for a one-season rental doesn’t seem wise. That’s not the only option though. An acquiring team could restructure Adams deal, add void years and stretch out his 2025 payment across multiple years to soften the initial blow. There are a bunch of accounting tools in place to allow NFL teams to absorb bad contracts and not reap all of the impact right away.

If the Cowboys were serious about contending in 2024, which is still a questionable assumption, then they would be considering adding someone of Adams caliber.

Even with the ridiculous QB situation in Oakland last year, he checked in with 1,144 receiving yards, 103 catches and eight touchdowns. That broke his streak of at least 1,300 receiving yards in three straight seasons. Adams can still play, and putting him opposite Lamb would immediately catapult Dallas’ offense back to the top of the league.

With injuries to Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence weakening an already suspect defense, the Cowboys may need to invest in their offense like never before.

Trading for Adams would certainly qualify.

Cooks production has decreased each week of the season, hauling in just one pass for 16 yards in the club’s Week 4 win in New York over the Giants. For the year, he has just nine receptions for 91 yards, but the bigger problem is that’s come on 19 targets. He and Prescott just aren’t in sync.