Tag: cowboys news

Cowboys News: New year, who’s this? A playoff hopeful prepping for a finale

A preview of the Cowboys-Giants pivotal Week 17 matchup, a rookie review, Kellen Moore’s future in Dallas in jeopardy, and more.

The Dallas Cowboys are about to face the New York Giants and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for the potential right at a playoff berth, could there be a more fitting end to the 2020 season? Cowboys fans will have to hold their nose and root for the Eagles this week, as Dallas needs Philadelphia to defeat Washington to have any chance of the postseason. The Cowboys and Giants are the first NFC East matchup on Sunday at noon, with the fate-deciding Philadelphia-Washington game starting at 3:25 pm.

The Cowboys season hasn’t gone nearly as the club planned, but here they are in a position to possibly extend their season. In some ways the year is ending as it began, with the Cowboys 2020 draft class garnering tons of attention. The recent draft class of Lamb, Diggs, and Gallimore are not only living up to the hype, they are exceeding it. Dallas will need their rookies to step up once again in this loser-goes-home Week 17 battle. Plus, could the Cowboys really lose offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to his alma mater, Boise State? Happy New Year, Cowboys Nation.

Cowboys News: Elliott honored, Kellen hints at Boise, pre-playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for their second straight pre-playoff game as they look to win their fourth in a row to close out the 2020 regular season. Preparation for the New York Giants is underway, will it include their best player? One big …

The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for their second straight pre-playoff game as they look to win their fourth in a row to close out the 2020 regular season. Preparation for the New York Giants is underway, will it include their best player? One big question that has emerged over the last week is which of the coordinators will return with Mike McCarthy in the new year. After weeks of fans contemplating a future without DC Mike Nolan, owner Jerry Jones spoke on the possibility the team may lose OC Kellen Moore to Boise State.

Meanwhile, running back Ezekiel Elliott had a game reminiscent of his status as one of the game’s elite backs, a rare sight in this trying season. He also won an award for how much of a stand-up guy he’s been during it all. Who should the Cowboys be targeting this offseason to help him out? All this and more in today’s news and notes.

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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 place DT Antwaun Woods on IR, ending his 2020 season

The Cowboys added starting defensive tackle Antwaun Woods to the injured reserve on Saturday.

The Dallas Cowboys 2020 season is ending in a similar fashion to how it started, with a number of key injuries. Saturday, the club added two new defenders to the Injured Reserve, including starting defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (ankle).

Woods injured his ankle in the Week 15 win over San Francisco, and was ruled out for Week 16 earlier this week before he landed on the IR, ending his regular season.

Woods took to Twitter to confirm the bad news, and let his teammates know that they have his full support for the rest of the season.

 

The undrafted Woods has spent three of his four years with Dallas, and he started 32 games over those three seasons. The former Southern California Trojan has steadily improved during his time in Dallas, and is one of the teams most consistent run stuffers.

Woods is a restricted free agent in the offseason and the Cowboys could try to retain his services going forward based on a need for quality depth at the defensive tackle position. Woods is clearly one of the leaders and emotional catalysts on this Dallas roster. You may remember Woods defending the star from a Juju Smith-Schuster touchdown celebration earlier in the season, à la George Teague and Terrell Owens.

The Cowboys interior defensive line had already been ravaged by injuries, as Gerald McCoy was lost before the season started, and second-year prospect Trysten Hill showed promise before a season-ending injury; now Woods is the latest addition to that list. DT Dontari Poe was released from the club midseason after being one of the biggest free agent signings.

With Woods out, Dallas will turn to a defensive tackle rotation primarily consisting of Neville Gallimore, Justin Hamilton, and Eli Ankou. Defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford and Aldon Smith will also slide inside and see reps at the 3-technique spot, especially on obvious passing downs.

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Cowboys News: Pollard primed, Pro Bowl snubs, playoff pushing

The NFCCE is coming down to the wire, the Cowboys lose another defensive starter to injury, and the biggest storylines for Dallas vs Philly.

No Dallas Cowboys made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 31 years meaning there were a few snubs. Leighton Vander Esch could potentially miss the remainder of the year with a high ankle sprain. Does Tony Pollard have a case for the best back in Dallas, and how will the team utilize their running backs moving forward?

The Cowboys picked up their first back-to-back wins of the 2020 season when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers last weekend and a number of other young prospects played well. The win kept Dallas alive in the NFC East playoff race, making this Sunday’s showdown with Philadelphia that much more meaningful.

Cowboys roster shuffle: Trevon Diggs activated, two others added to IR

The Cowboys activated rookie CB Trevon Diggs from the IR, and placed two other players on the IR Saturday.

The Dallas Cowboys are getting secondary help ahead of their Week 15 matchup with San Francisco.

The team activated cornerback Trevon Diggs from the Injured Reserve on Saturday, according to Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.

Diggs last played November 8 against Pittsburgh, where he fractured his foot late in the contest. The rookie defensive back has been inconsistent at times, but has shown plenty glimpses of the coverage ability and ball skills that made him a first-round draft talent in some scout’s eyes.

Diggs is expected to return to the lineup Sunday vs the 49ers. The Cowboys are also anticipating CB Chidobe Awuzie (COVID tracing) and S Donovan Wilson (groin) to suit up this week. The Dallas secondary should get a boost from the return of these three starters.

Diggs figures to be the focal point of the Cowboys secondary in the future, and any more experience he can garner should be beneficial.

While the club removed one player from the IR, it added two more, LB Justin March and CB Deante Burton.

This season is March’s third in Dallas, and he had became a significant contributor on special teams. The 27-year old defender played over 50% of special teams in all 11 games he was active for all year.

Burton appeared in the last three games for Dallas, but injured his shoulder in the win over Cincinnati. Burton had primarily played special teams for the Cowboys but saw 14 defensive snaps last week before being injured.

With the timing of their injuries, Burton and March are both out for the remainder of the season.

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Cowboys News: Will Jaylon Smith be back in 2020, continuity issues

The Dallas Cowboys and their Week 15 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, have had somewhat similar seasons. Both teams entered the year with Super Bowl expectations, but injuries and losses have derailed their seasons. What once seemed like a matchup …

The Dallas Cowboys and their Week 15 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, have had somewhat similar seasons. Both teams entered the year with Super Bowl expectations, but injuries and losses have derailed their seasons. What once seemed like a matchup would that decide playoff seedings now has more NFL draft implications than playoff, and for those reasons the NFL decided to relegate this game from it’s prime time slot to noon on Sunday.

A carousel of injuries hit the Dallas secondary this year, but the Cowboys are slowly getting their top defensive backs healthy, including the impressive rookie CB Trevon Diggs. Ezekiel Elliott is having a down season, but his durability has been on full display as he continues to battle through nagging injuries. Jaylon Smith’s struggles in 2020 have been well documented, will the team consider moving on from him? Plus, who are some early candidates to fill next year’s defensive coordinator vacancy?

 

Cowboys’ Elliott misses 2nd day of practice, expected to play vs 49ers

Ezekiel Elliott missed his second straight day of practice, but is expected to suit up on Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys took the field for practice Thursday and while there were a number of key players who were able to return to practice, there was one notable absence. Ezekiel Elliott (calf) missed his second straight day of practice Thursday, according to Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.

Elliott sustained a calf strain during the Cowboys Week 13 loss to Baltimore, but was been able to play through that injury last week and the punishing running back spoke nonchalantly about the ailment to the media this week. 

“I think it might be something I might have to manage for the rest of the season. Every day is a little bit different, it’s just a little bit stiff and sore. Everyday you just have to work through it, work through the stiffness, get all that inflammation out. Who knows how long I’ll be dealing with it, it just kind of sucks during the week trying to get it (his calf) warm and ready for practice.”

Despite being listed as a non-participant in practice, Elliott did make an appearance on the sideline of the practice field. When asked about his activities on Thursday, Elliott responded,

“Today I was just more with the bands. I was on the bands with Britt (Britt Brown, Cowboys Associate Athletic Trainer/Director of Rehabilitation). Just working through it, trying to get that range of motion, and trying to get that stiffness out of it.”

The team, and Elliott, expect him to be able to play Week 15 against the 49ers, and beyond.

Few NFL running backs have ever possessed the durability of Elliott, and that attribute has been on showcase again this season.

Dallas has been, and should continue to involve second-year running back Tony Pollard more and more as the season goes along, for several reasons. Pollard never saw a snap count percentage higher than 27% with Dak Prescott in the lineup, but the last three weeks Pollard has played at least 36% of snaps in each game.

This year, the speedster out of Memphis has posted a higher yard per carry and better broken tackle rate than Elliott. Pollard even has more rushes of 20+ yards than Elliott, with three to Elliott’s two, despite Pollard receiving just a third of the carries of Elliott.

Their skill sets are undoubtedly different, and Elliott’s ability to gain tough yards is still valuable to this team. However, if Dallas were to increase Pollard’s usage these last few weeks it could help ensure Elliott’s health is where it needs to be as the team looks toward next season, and also allow the Cowboys to learn more about their change of pace back and what his future should be like with the team.

Cowboys Wire Podcast: Mike Nolan’s replacement pool needs more water

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Cowboys’ Biadasz returns from IR, backup released, 2 elevated from PS

The Cowboys activated C Tyler Biadasz, released C Adam Redmond, and elevated two members of the practice squad.

The Dallas Cowboys neverending roster shuffle continued Saturday.

The club activated center Tyler Biadasz from injured reserve, released center Adam Redmond, and elevated their two weekly practice squad call ups to help round out two positions that have been assaulted with injuries over the course of the season. CB Chris Westry and OT William Sweet will make their professional debuts.

Cowboys fans should be delighted to hear of Biadasz’ return. The impressive rookie stepped into the full-time center role in Week 4, and started every game through Week 8, before injuring his hamstring in warmups the next week, landing him on the IR.

As just a fourth-round pick, Biadasz has exceeded most expectations fans had for his rookie season.

This year the former Badger has already flashed the traits that allowed him to become Wisconsin’s first Rimington Award winner last year, an honor that Travis Frederick didn’t even take home during his time in Madison. Earlier this year, PFF named Biadasz as the center on their midseason All-Rookie team.

It remains to be seen whether Biadasz immediately returns to the starting lineup, but either way the rookie will continue to gain valuable experience that should help him anchor the Cowboys line for years to come.

To create the roster spot for Biadasz, the Cowboys released backup center Adam Redmond. Redmond is likely to return to the Dallas practice squad should he clear waivers.

Lastly, the Cowboys utilized the provision allowing them to elevate two practice squad players to the active roster for an upcoming game.

Meanwhile Sweet will provide tackle depth behind Brandon Knight and Terrance Steele for Dallas, who is without their top four tackles. The same goes for Westry, who may be forced into playing time as the Cowboys are out four of their top five defensive backs as they travel to Cincinnati Sunday.

Film Study: Is Cowboys UDFA Terrance Steele getting better at RT?

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Cowboys News: OL shuffle, Jerry unmuffled, end-of-season bustle

Dallas has a number of questions in the secondary, Dalton is preparing to face his former team, and more. The latest Cowboys news and notes.

The Dallas Cowboys 2020 season continued to fly off the rails, and Dallas grew one step closer to a top-5 pick with their ugly Week 13 loss to the Ravens. The Cowboys have allowed the top two rushing games this year, and it’s hard to imagine Dallas turning it around this season. Jerry Jones opened up about the defensive woes of his club, and Jones was perhaps the most critical that he has been all season.

Andy Dalton is preparing to face his former franchise, the Bengals, Sunday. The Cowboys have a number of question marks health-wise this week, especially in the defensive backfield as Chidobe Awuzie and Donovan Wilson are both questionable for the outing. Tackle Cameron Erving was placed on the IR. Will the Cowboys see Tyler Biadasz or Zack Martin again this season?