Tag: 2024 Week 9

Falcons offer Cowboys interesting example in soft rebuild that seems to be working

The Falcons offer the Cowboys a prime example of building for the present and the future. | From @ReidDHanson

As the Cowboys get ready to face their Week 9 opponent, Atlanta, they should take a moment to appreciate the steps the Falcons have taken to get to the situation they are currently in.

The Falcons, 5-3, are in first place in the NFC South this season. After a 7-10 campaign in 2023 where they finished third and clearly missed the playoffs, it represents a marked improvement for the franchise.

The Cowboys are on the opposite trajectory. After finishing 12-5, winning the NFC East and gaining the second seed in the NFC, Dallas has crashed back to earth in 2024. The once-dominant franchise is now struggling in all phases of the game, they stand at 3-5 and are already statistical longshots for the postseason.

If things progress as they seem to be moving, the Cowboys may be in line for a rebuild in 2025. A top 10 draft pick, salary cap space and openings across the coaching staff offer a prime opportunity for rebuild. While some may want to focus on a quick reload and commitment for the here and now, others may opt for a more thorough approach, focusing more on the long-term than an immediate bounce back in 2025.

If anyone asks the Falcons for advice they might say, “why not both?”

Atlanta attacked the offseason with both the present and the future in mind. In one of the most head scratching moves of the offseason the Falcons signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract and then six weeks later drafted quarterback Michael Penix with their first-round pick.

Using the bulk of their free agent money and their most valuable draft pick on the same position highlighted their commitment to two seemingly contrary goals. The redundancy of the QB position is unlike any other on the football field. It’s impossible for both Cousins and Penix to succeed side by side, making it one act of playing for the present and a completely separate act of preparing for the future.

It was criticized heavily at the time but almost midway into the 2024 season it doesn’t look quite so crazy.

For the sake of clarity this is not implying the Cowboys need to draft a QB next April. Dak Prescott may be uncharacteristically struggling but he’s still more than capable of leading an elite offense for years to come. This is simply to point out the idea of a “soft” rebuild isn’t crazy. The Cowboys can add veteran players who can help win now but might not help much in the future, and at the same time invest in young players who help more in the future, even if they don’t help much now.

A perfect example of the Cowboys doing this is Dallas signing Eric Kendricks and drafting Tyler Guyton. Both players might be on the field right now but only one is really helping Dallas win right now. With all due respect to Guyton, he’s a project player who’s a bit more liability than asset this season. The Cowboys are enduring growing pains now for the hope he’ll pay off in the future. Kendricks, on the other hand, is a help-now guy who, at 32, doesn’t project to be a contributor in the future.

No one knows how it will all play out for the Falcons over the next 4-5 years, but they are an early case study in having their cake and eating it too. It’s something Jerry Jones and the Cowboys might be interested in this upcoming offseason.

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Cowboys 53-man roster for Falcons in Week 9: IR is still crowded, who can be elevated?

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t able to put enough talent on the field to complete a comeback against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, and now take their traveling road show to the southeast. Suffering their first defeat away from home, where they’re …

The Dallas Cowboys weren’t able to put enough talent on the field to complete a comeback against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, and now take their traveling road show to the southeast. Suffering their first defeat away from home, where they’re 0-3 this year means there is no safe haven for a team with a laundry list of injured players and the Atlanta Falcons (5-3) aren’t going to be friendly hosts.

Dallas made a series of moves in the last week, shuffling their roster due to injury and availability. Cornerback DaRon Bland has been activated from IR, though that doesn’t mean he’ll play. He’s been replaced there by the guy who has been tending to his position, Amani Oruwariye. Oruwariye was just signed to the active roster late last week after the club moved TE John Stephens Jr to IR, lost for the season to an ACL injury. With the shuffle, Dallas now has 10 players on IR. Hopefully they’ll get a handful of them back over the next couple weeks when their activation-window eligible, but for now, here’s how the 53-man roster, practice squad and IR lists look heading into Week 9.

Bland was returned to the 53-man roster in Week 9.

Each player on the practice squad can be called up to the big roster a total of 3 times and still revert back to the practice squad following the game without being released to the open market or waivers.

Each team can elevate two players per week through the regular season.

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 2 (Elevated in Week 8)

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 2
(Elevated in Week 6)

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 2 (Elevated Week 2)

Elevations Remaining: 3

Elevations Remaining: 3

Amani Oruwariye was placed on IR in Week 9. He’ll be eligible to have his 21-day practice window activated in Week 13.

John Stephens was placed on IR in Week 8 with an ACL tear and is done for the year.

Placed on IR in Week 5, eligible to have activation window opened Week 10.

Placed on IR in Week 5, eligible to have activation window opened Week 10.

Eligible to be have activation window opened in Week 11.

Jordan Phillips (wrist) was placed on IR ahead of Week 3. He’s now eligible to have his practice window opened.

Earliest return date: Edoga is eligible to have his 21-day practice window opened at any time.

Williams is out for the entire year.

Thomas was placed on IR before the initial 53, so he’s done for the year.

Bostick was placed on IR in training camp so he’s done for the year.

Cowboys vs Falcons Initial Injury Report: IR activation doesn’t mean All-Pro will play

The Cowboys are still reeling from injuries, despite what should’ve been something to celebrate about DaRon Bland. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Cowboys initial injury report of Week 9 is out and it comes alongside what should be positive news. Dallas added cornerback DaRon Bland to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, placing him back with the full roster for the first time since his foot surgery over the summer.

But fans should wait before they rejoice that he’s going to play in this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. See, Bland had his 21-day practice window opened before the club’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions. And while it appeared he was ramping up to play in that game, he missed the final practice before it then didn’t suit up. The bye week came next and Bland missed the following week of practice, not playing against San Francisco.

Wednesday marked the expiration of the 21-day window. Bland either had to be activated or placed on IR for the remainder of 2024. The club activated, then he proceeded to miss Wednesday’s practice as well.

Bland is one of seven players who didn’t participate in practice for the Cowboys, including edge rusher Micah Parsons.

As for the Falcons, who are sitting at 5-3 and atop the NFC South, their injury report reads much cleaner. Only three of their players sat out on Wednesday.

Dallas Cowboys

K Brandon Aubrey, NIR-Other | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

CB DaRon Bland, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

CB Trevon Diggs, Calf | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | Wednesday: Full Participant

Linebacker Nick Vigil, Foot | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

DT Jordan Phillips, Wrist | Wednesday: Full Participant

DT Linval Joseph, Back | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited

OG Zack Martin, Shoulder | Wednesday: Limited

Atlanta Falcons

LB Tory Anderson, Knee | Wednesday: Limited

LB JD Bertrand, Concussion | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

Center Drew Dalman, Ankle | Wednesday: Limited

LB Kaden Eliss, Knee | Wednesday: Limited

C Antonio Hamilton, Back | Wednesday: Limited

OG Chris Lindstrom, Knee | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Ankle | Wednesday: Did Not Participate

Safety Justin Simmons, Hamstring | Wednesday: Limited

Wednesday Rest Days: DL James Smith-Williams, LB Matthew Judon

Time for Cowboys to face reality, accept this truth about playoff odds

The Cowboys face long odds this season and now need to face the reality of their situation. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys have only played seven football games, but already things are beginning to take shape in 2024. Washington’s hot start combined with Philadelphia’s predictable success has placed the Cowboys in the division cellar alongside New York. With three fewer wins than the NFC East leading Commanders and a brutal schedule yet to come, Dallas finds themselves in a deep hole heading into Week 9.

At 3-4, the Cowboys are 13th in the NFC with only three teams slotted below them, the Saints, Giants and Panthers. The only bright side is the Cowboys have upcoming matchups with the Giants and Panthers to look forward to. Unfortunately, Dallas lost to the Saints earlier in the season so even cellar-dwelling teams have proven to be no sure thing for this floundering franchise.

As the trade deadline approaches and teams navigate the market looking for possible upgrades, it’s important the Cowboys understand exactly where they are right now. They are a bad football team that faces long odds.

Based on ESPN’s most recent projections the Cowboys have only a 12 percent chance of making the postseason in 2024. Their next four opponents, Atlanta (5-3), Philadelphia (5-2), Houston (6-2) and Washington (6-2) are all favored to win by a significant margin. There’s an excellent chance the Cowboys roll into Thanksgiving weekend with a 3-8 record and firmly on the outside looking in.

The troubles plaguing the Cowboys are far from insignificant. The offensive line is struggling in both phases of the game. It’s rendered the running game completely insignificant and hampered the passing game in ways not seen before in the Dak Prescott era. Receivers aren’t getting open, route combinations aren’t helping, tight ends are underperforming, and the entire offense is reeling.

Defensively things are even worse. The run defense picked up where it left off last season, firmly situated as the worst in the NFL and with no hope on the horizon. The secondary has been riddled with injury and ineptitude. Cornerback should be getting relief with players like Caelen Carson and DaRon Bland returning, but safety is in complete disarray with both Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker playing arguably the worst football in either of their careers.

Without a single strength to lean on the Cowboys are a team that actually looks worse than their record indicates and a team that offers very little hope for the immediate future. It’s not a time to throw in the towel and tank, but it is time to accept the reality of the situation.

If the Cowboys are active at the trade deadline it should be as sellers rather than buyers. There are too many issues to fix to satisfy through midseason trades. The Cowboys have deeper issues to address and growing pains they need to absorb.

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