The first injury report surfaces for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 as they get set to travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to ride some of the momentum from a historic comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the team reported back to practice on Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming tilt against the Seattle Seahawks.
Starting left tackle Tyron Smith continues to battle with his neck injury and did conditioning work on the side field. Wide receiver Ventell Bryant, currently on IR and eligible to return to practice next week, was also off to the side as well for conditioning. High anticipation for defensive end Randy Gregory to make his return to the Cowboys continues as conditioning continues. Gregory was reinstated by the commissioner, but cannot rejoin the team in full until Week 7.
Cowboys LT Tyron Smith (neck), WR Ventell Bryant (knee, injured reserve) and DE Randy Gregory (roster exemption) did conditioning on side field today. Bryant is first eligible to resume practice as early as one week from today. DE DeMarcus Lawrence (personal) absent as expected.
Head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned in his morning presser Lawrence was off for the “good kind” of personal matter. It can be assumed it is related to his wife’s pregnancy. During the offseason Lawrence considered opting out of the season to be with her, but she told him he better report. She was expected to be due around this time.
If Smith is unable to go again on Sunday, expect the Cowboys to roll out the same starting offensive line that the team had against the Falcons in which they only allowed one sack on quarterback Dak Prescott.
Brandon Knight had a solid performance in Week 2 and may have earned himself the swing tackle role in 2020.
The Cowboys will continue to march towards Seattle in the coming days and will monitor Smith’s status as the travel day gets closer. When the official injury report comes out for both Dallas and Seattle, this post will be updated.
Things are much different than expected, but will Cowboys be able to avoid the fate that awaited them last time Tyron Smith was out?
The Dallas Cowboys’ tackle position has been attacked relentlessly by the injury bug in 2020. It once again reaps it’s head and this time fans have to hope things don’t turn catastrophic against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. Dallas will start two very untested bookends on Sunday, as both starters are out.
In their places, UDFA rookie Terence Steele will play left tackle and 2019 UDFA Brandon Knight will start on the right side.
Terence Steele will start at left tackle for Tyron Smith (neck) with Brandon Knight starting at right tackle. Steele started the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams for La’el Collins, who is on injured reserve with a hip injury. https://t.co/awmw5QVWmI
Steele started last week at right tackle, and the former Texas Tech starter did relatively well. Knight was a reserve but didn’t enter the game. Now, he’ll start on the right side and Steele will slide over to the left. One would have to think guards Connor Williams and Zack Martin are on alert to possibly shift outside should either falter. Dallas has much better depth (Connor McGovern, Tyler Biadasz) on the interior. Tackle Eric Smith, formerly of the Giants, was elevated from the practice squad this week as well.
The issues started in training camp, when depth players Wyatt Miller and Mitch Hyatt were lost for the year. Starting RT La’el Collins reported to camp out of shape and took a few weeks before he joined the club in team activities, and that lasted only for a week. Reserve Brandon Knight – who actually started the Week 6 contest against the Jets in 2019 – also missed time, too, as did free agent signing Cam Erving.
Erving was expected to be the primary backup, but was beaten out by Steele when La’el Collins was placed on injured reserve to start the season. Then Erving was lost for up to a month when he sprained his MCL in the season opener. Later in the week, Smith’s neck injury occured, knocking him out of this game.
Its a whole bunch of bad for Dallas, a team that struggled the last time Smith was out when playing the Atlanta Falcons. Prescott was pressured relentlessly and sacked six times in the defeat. It sent him on a downward spiral into the worst stretch of his career where he was seeing pass-rush ghosts for several games.
The Cowboys hope for much better results this time around.
The Dallas Cowboys’ top option at swing tackle might be second-year offensive lineman Brandon Knight
One of the strengths of the Dallas Cowboys in recent years has been their offensive line. Since drafting Tyron Smith in the first round of the 2011 draft, the organization has selected five offensive linemen in the first three rounds of the past 10 drafts. The number grows to six if including La’el Collins, a first-round talent who dropped out of the draft due to circumstances not in his control.
However, that hasn’t stopped the Cowboys from adding talent outside of the draft. One of the offensive lineman who has stuck around despite having Pro Bowl caliber players around him is tackle Brandon Knight.
Dallas added Knight as undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2019, where he played four years. Knight began his career splitting time at tight end — where he caught one touchdown — and tackle for the Hoosiers during his freshman year before settling in at RT for the remainder of his three seasons. During his junior year, Knight was a Big 10 honorable mention at tackle.
SUMMARY: A three-star recruit out of high school, Brandon Knight was a three-year letterman at Noblesville and chose to stay close to home at Indiana over offers from Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech and others. He worked himself into the starting lineup in 2016 but injuries plagued his sophomore and junior seasons. He stayed healthy as a senior and had his best season, starting every game at right tackle. Knight is smooth in his setup and appears comfortable on his feet to cut off outside speed. However, his length is only average, losing balance and forcing his upper body to overextend. While he competes with the awareness and finishing grit required in the run game, he doesn’t consistently create movement as a drive blocker and his base strength shows foundation cracks at contact. Overall, Knight has a workable skill set due to his movements and instincts, but his mediocre pass protection, average play strength and injury history lead to fit concerns in the NFL.
Rookie Year
Knight saw action in seven games as a rookie. He earned his way onto the roster as a swing tackle and got a start against the New York Jets, filling in for the injured Collins at RT.
Knight held up admirably in his first season, giving the Cowboys the confidence to declined the option on Cameron Fleming this offseason. It’s an impressive feat considering there’s a new coaching staff, who must’ve admired Knight’s play in 2019.
One of the bright spots of DAL's loss was the performance of UDFA OL Brandon Knight filling in for an injured La'el Collins in 2nd half.
Knight was quick out of his stance & routinely beat GB's rushers to the spot. Protected his inside edge well & showed off impressive footspeed pic.twitter.com/1saj2QMPBx
After working with Marc Colombo in 2019, he will now be under the veteran tutelage of Joe Philbin.
What To Expect in 2020
For the upcoming season, Knight will head into the year in competition to be the top swing tackle on the roster.
As a second-year player, Knight will have the benefit of having been in an offseason program and the game experience that only veteran Cam Erving can boast. Expect one of the best training camp and preseason battles for the top swing tackle to be had between the two.
Former Clemson star Mitch Hyatt, also a 2019 UDFA, and 2020 Texas Tech UDFA Terrence Steele, will also be competing for a role on the roster.
With the addition of two additional practice squad spots and extra game-day roster spots with OL caveats, Knight should be able to continue his career and potential ascent with no problem. How high he climbs on the OT totem will be up to him.
The Cowboys seem to believe in Knight’s ability. Despite playing only RT in college, he showed enough athleticism and the ability to play both tackle positions in Dallas. They did bring in Erving to compete with him, but the team would save money by keeping Knight and jettisoning Erving.
Even with the loss of Travis Frederick to retirement, the Cowboys’ offensive line is one of the deepest, most versatile groups in the league. New head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach Joe Philbin have worked well together in the past, it will be interesting to see how Knight develops under their guidance.
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This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown. Up next is rookie DE Ron’Dell Carter.
On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!
1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.
5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.
7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.
13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?
16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?
20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.
25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.
32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.
37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.
39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.
If you’re interested in advertising on The HoopsHype Podcast, email hoopshype@hoopshype.com for more information.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
Now that the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
EVAN TURNER, MINNESOTA
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $18,606,556
Unlike with Allen Crabbe, the Minnesota Timberwolves have not yet given any playing time to Evan Turner. Even when he was on the Atlanta Hawks, the 31-year-old forward was playing a career-low 13.2 minutes per game. He was, however, playing a career-high 63 percent of his time at the point guard position. Turner may not have much value around the league at this point but the Boston Celtics have already been linked to him for a potential reunion.
BISMACK BIYOMBO, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $17,000,000
Charlotte Hornets veteran big man Bismack Biyombo is certainly one of the candidates for a buyout, though such an agreement may be unlikely. There is at least some incentive for the Hornets to keep Biyombo on their roster as he is currently playing 19.1 minutes per game. That is the most playing time that he has had since 2016-17. Meanwhile, he has also been in the starting lineup for 25 of the 43 games he has played so far this season. It may make the most sense for Biyombo to continue getting his reps up in Charlotte, like Mahinmi with Washington, so that he can prove hs is worth more than a minimum deal in the offseason. However, if a contender expresses interest in a center who is capable of playing in their rotation, perhaps he is willing to leave the Hornets for a winning team.
BRANDON KNIGHT, DETROIT
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,643,750
28-year-old combo guard Brandon Knight was included in a package that sent him from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Detroit Pistons. Knight has only played 241 minutes so far this season, coming off the bench in each of the 16 games he played. That is a stark contrast to last year when he started in 26 of 27 games played for Cleveland. If the Pistons decided to hold on to Knight, it would be a reunion with the organization. He was drafted by Detroit with the No. 8 overall pick back in 2011 and made NBA All-Rookie First Team.
MARVIN WILLIAMS, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,006,250
For a team looking to find a floor-spacing big man, there are few if any better at the price he could be available at then Charlotte Howard forward Marvin Williams. With the emergence of rookie PJ Washington (who was selected to the Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend), Williams has lost the formerly steady role that he once had on his team. He had previously started in every game that he played for the Hornets since 2015-16. Now, he has made only one appearance in their starting lineup this season. His playing time is down to a career-low 19.7 minutes per game. But at 6-foot-8, the forward has made 1.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes in his career and has shot 36.2 percent from downtown. There should be a decent amount of interest in Williams if he and his team agree to a buyout.
SOLOMON HILL, MIAMI
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALARY: $13,290,395
When the Memphis Grizzlies traded Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat, the front office also included Solomon Hill for salary-matching purposes. While he has largely fallen out of favor on the teams he has played for over the past few years, the 6-foot-6 wing was shooting a career-best 38.1 percent from the three-point line this season. He had also made a career-best 2.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes during his time in Memphis. According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the 28-year-old was told by the front office that he should plan to remain with the team “barring something unforeseen” happening. But in the NBA, those types of unforeseen situations happen all of the time.
MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $13,000,000
It was less than eight years ago when Anthony Davis was selected at No. 1 overall in the 2012 NBA draft. The player selected next was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The contrast between these picks remains absolutely deafening as hindsight rears its ugly head. The 26-year-old is down to a career-low 13.3 minutes per game and has only made twelve appearances for his team. With only 160 minutes offered to him this year, Charlotte has likely moved on. He may still have suitors around the NBA due to his defensive ability. According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Houston Rockets organization “has liked him for some time” and would be willing to take a flyer on him. The Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell recently reported that the Dallas Mavericks are also “kicking tires” on Kidd-Gilchrist.
COURTNEY LEE, DALLAS
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $12,759,670
The reality of the situation is that Courtney Lee was only included in a trade to the Dallas Mavericks for salary-cap filler so that they could land Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. During his two seasons with the team so far, he has played just 10.9 minutes per game in 33 total appearances. The 6-foot-5 wing has virtually no role on the Mavericks and despite their record being that of a contender thus far, perhaps another team would take a look at what Lee could offer them. The 34-year-old has shot 38.8 percent from three during his career, hitting 1.4 three-pointers per 36 minutes.
JOHN HENSON, DETROIT
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,732,396
The Detroit Pistons had to cut one of the players on their roster after trading away Andre Drummond in a two-for-one deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They reportedly opted to go with Tim Frazier rather than Knight or John Henson. This makes sense as Henson may play some of the minutes that Drummond was giving Detroit. He recorded a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in his most recent game for the Cavaliers on February 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was his first game in the starting lineup since January 5 and just his second time in the first unit all season. More likely than not, though, he will join Thon Maker as backcourt depth in Detroit behind 24-year-old Christian Wood and rookie forward Sekou Doumbouya.
MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA, CLEVELAND
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,607,500
There is hardly a role for Matthew Dellavedova on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their team already has three promising young guards selected in the past two NBA drafts in Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. and all require playing time for their development. Meanwhile, they recently traded Jordan Clarkson to land the 24-year-old Dante Exum. Dellavedova has not been in an NBA starting lineup since December 23, 2017. Unfortunately, his most valuable skill set (three-point shooting) has taken a major plummet this year. His career mark from downtown (36.7 percent) is suddenly down to an abysmal rate (16.4 percent) so far this season. It dampers any of the market that would have otherwise been interested in signing him.
YOGI FERRELL, SACRAMENTO
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $3,150,000
Sacramento Kings guard Yogi Ferrell does not make very much money and has a lower salary than anyone else on this list. However, he is playing at a career-low 11.4 minutes per game and was scratched from the lineup in the most recent game for the team. Ferrell is buried in their backcourt rotation behind emerging star De’Aaron Fox and backup point guard Cory Joseph. While there may not be much of a market for the six-foot playmaker, he has averaged 4.0 assists with 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes in his NBA career. Still only 26 years old, there may be at least one contender that would be willing to give him minutes in their rotation.
