Tag: Cowboys injury updates

Cowboys promote Olonilua, send Westry to practice squad IR

The Cowboys made a few roster moves ahead of Week 16. The club signed Sewo Olonilua to the active roster, and placed Chris Westry on the IR.

The Dallas Cowboys made a number of roster transactions on Saturday. The club added DT Antwaun Woods to the Injured Reserve, and the Cowboys used Woods now-available roster spot to sign FB Sewo Olonilua to the 53-man roster.

Olonilua was elevated last week as Ezekiel Elliott’s calf kept him out of the lineup, so it will be interesting whether or not this is an indication the star running back will sit out a second consecutive game or if they simply liked what they saw out of Olonilua on special teams in Week 16.

The undrafted rookie from TCU played on all four ST units and logged 25 snaps in the win over the San Francisco 49ers. He is a converted RB, but Dallas has Tony Pollard and UDFA RB Rico Dowdle for the running duties. Olonilua seemingly was an injury insurance move in addition to his special team’s prowess.

Sunday marks the third time Olonilua will be on the gameday roster. The first time Olonilua was active, Elliott was able to play despite a ‘questionable’ designation. The second time was last week, when Elliott was expected to play but was unable to get healthy enough in time to suit up.

Cowboys cornerback Chris Westry injured his knee in the first quarter of the Cowboys Week 15 win over the 49ers. It was revealed Westry suffered a PCL sprain, a multi-week injury, and the former Kentucky Wildcat was added to the practice squad reserve on Saturday. Westry first joined the Cowboys in Week 14, and he will unfortunately end his year on the IR.

Westry had been on the practice squad for much of his first two years in the league, until a continued rash of injuries decimated the cornerback depth in recent weeks.

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Cowboys secondary decimated; 4 of 5 intended starters out vs Bengals

The Cowboys are set to be without four of the top six defensive backs as they travel to Cincinnati.

The Dallas Cowboys defense has been the worst unit in the NFL this season, and they might now be more more depleted than they have been all season.

Dallas announced that safety Donovan Wilson (groin) and cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) did not travel with the team to Cincinnati this week, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. Wilson and Brown are not the only defensive backs that the Cowboys will be missing as the club placed CB Chidobe Awuzie on the COVID list earlier this week. Rookie CB Trevon Diggs remains on IR with a broken foot.

Diggs, Awuzie, and Brown are three of the Cowboys top four remaining cornerbacks, with Xavier Woods the lone healthy member of the original starting secondary. Veteran Jourdan Lewis will man one of the corner spots.

Rashard Robinson and Savion Smith are now expected to start at the cornerback position, alongside Lewis. Robinson joined the Cowboys before Week 11, and has already played significant snaps since joining the squad. Smith has appeared in five Cowboys games since Week 3, but has only played a total of 14 defensive snaps.

Wilson had been a bright spot for the Dallas defense, taking over the starting safety role in Week 5 and continuing to improve until he played his best game to-date in the Cowboys Week 11 win in Minnesota, where he forced two turnovers.

Safety Darian Thompson is expected to make his second straight start in place of Wilson.

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Cowboys’ Cam Erving placed on IR, Zack Martin, Luke Gifford returning?

The Cowboys injury woes continue, especially on the O-Line, as Cam Erving was added on the IR. Plus, will Zack Martin return this season?

One of the keys to success in football is stability on the offensive line, and the Dallas Cowboys have had just the opposite in 2020.

The team announced Friday that tackle Cam Erving is being placed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury. This is Erving’s second stint on the IR this year, meaning he is ineligible to return again this season.

Of the 10 offensive lineman on the initial Dallas roster in September, seven have spent time on the IR this season, and Erving is the fourth to be ruled out for the year.

Erving had been filling in at left tackle for Tyron Smith, who played just two games before heading to the season-ending IR with a neck injury.

Brandon Knight, who originally took over for Smith before meeting a knee scope, replaced Erving following his injury on Thanksgiving, and Knight will likely finish the year as the Cowboys left tackle. Barring injury.

Erving’s future in Dallas is uncertain, as he signed a one-year deal this past offseason.

There was a bit of potentially positive news regarding the offensive line. Mike McCarthy told the media the club isn’t ready to rule out right guard Zack Martin for the season. Martin injured his calf just three plays after Erving went out on Thanksgiving.

Martin did his best to keep the offensive front afloat this season. The All Pro began the season at his usual position but moved over to right tackle before the Cowboys Week 11 win in Minnesota, where he continued to play at an elite level.

When Martin landed on IR, some believed his season was over because of how few weeks are left. It remains to be seen how Martin’s rehab progresses, and if Dallas chooses to play him in the last few games of a lost season, as Martin being healthy next year should be a top priority for the Cowboys.

Luke Gifford has finished his two-game suspension for violating NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, and the linebacker rejoined the team for practice Friday.