Kavonte Turpin – Syndication Server

Cowboys lack of capital spent at DT continues to rear ugly head

A thin defensive tackle room with very little salary cap hits makes this group a candidate to be remade with proper investments. | From @ArmyChiefW3

While the Cowboys’ defensive end group takes up a large portion of salary cap space, the opposite can be said of the big boys inside. With a new defensive coordinator, the importance of having guys who can anchor and occupy both players and space is invaluable.

Dallas ranked 27th in the league in ESPN’s run-stop-win-rate, which takes several things into account such as disrupting the running lane, pushing blockers backwards, or recording a tackle within three yards of the line of scrimmage. The nuances of the game make it hard to calculate no matter how much we compartmentalize. A large collection of data is a good indicator that a player is executing his instructions but without knowing the called assignment, an interpretation can be tough. No matter how the team gauges prospects, bodies are needed at the position.

Here’s how the Cowboys 10 WRs impact the 2024 salary cap

A breakdown of the Cowboys wide receiver room’s contracts and impact on the salary cap as the club enters the team building phase. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Cowboys have 10 wide receivers under contract for 2024 and the new league year hasn’t even begun. To an outsider looking in, it may feel like Dallas does not have much room to add to this position group. A deep dive into contract specifics muddies the waters and calls into question the total amount of money that goes to the group.

Wideout CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned leader of this group and figures to command a large payday. Behind him, sits a collection of varying degrees of pedigree, skill and experience. Opportunity lurks just around the corner but trust must be earned by both the coaching staff and the quarterback as well, as evidenced by the volume directed at Lamb.

After checking out both the quarterback room and the running backs, here’s a look at the financial breakdown of all of the wideouts on the Cowboys 2024 roster in February.

Turpin, Vander Esch injuries ensure Cowboys loss to 49ers will continue to linger

Injuries to starters will ensure the impact of the debacle by the bay will linger for the Cowboys for quite some time. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Cowboys took a thumping at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers and continued getting a grip on their unfortunate reality on Monday. Wideout Kavonte Turpin was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after leaving the 42-10 loss early.

Turpin scored the Cowboys’ lone touchdown of the debacle, catching a 26-yard pass from Dak Prescott in stride and making it into the end zone untouched. He’s also the club’s primary kick returner and a Pro Bowl one at that, doubling the impact of his time away. The typical recovery time for a high ankle sprain is 4-6 weeks of recovery but McCarthy expressed optimism that Turpin could return much quicker.

#Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin, who scored the team's lone touchdown yesterday on a 26-yard TD, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain in the loss, source said. Those are generally 4-6 weeks, but he's having an MRI to confirm and determine the severity.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 9, 2023

McCarthy also noted that linebacker Leighton Vander Esch “may also be a candidate for injured reserve.” The sixth-year pro left the game in the third quarter after injuring his neck in a collision with fellow teammate Micah Parsons when he was pushed in the back by 49ers OL Trent Williams.

Cowboys are considering placing LB Leighton Vander Esch on injured reserve due to the neck he injury he suffered during Sunday night’s loss to the 49ers.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2023

The injury may force the team to look for additional bodies. X-rays were negative, but the team is awaiting MRI results to understand the true severity of the situation. Vander Esch has repeatedly dealt with neck injuries and was even a point of emphasis during his pre-draft process. He missed seven games back in 2019 with a Cervical Neck Stinger.

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch underwent X-rays on neck Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, and in good news, those returned negative, a person familiar with situation said. Team to take every precaution here. His evaluation continues Monday with MRI.

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 9, 2023

As it currently stands, Damone Clark is the only healthy linebacker remaining on the active roster. The Cincinnati Bengals claimed former Dallas linebacker Devin Harper in late September while Malik Jefferson occupies a practice squad spot with only one call-up remaining. Any stint on injured reserve would automatically keep Vander Esch out for at least four weeks.

Dallas also lost special teams ace CJ Goodwin to a torn pectoral muscle. If he opts for surgery that will knock him out for the rest of 2023.