Cowboys news: Injuries hit the defensive line, new player signed

DT Carlos Watkins signed; Jordan Phillips to IR – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

The Cowboys introduced in a well-recognized face so as to add D-line depth.

The Cowboys have made a change in the midst of their line of defense, including defensive deal with Carlos Watkins off the Commanders’ observe squad.

Watkins, who performed for the Cowboys in 27 video games from 2021-22, replaces Jordan Phillips, who was moved to IR with a wrist harm.

Phillips can be eligible to return after 4 video games (Oct. 27 in San Francisco) if he’s cleared to play. The Cowboys haven’t decided how critical the harm is to Phillips, who was acquired by commerce again in August in the course of the center of coaching camp.

The addition of Watkins brings a well-recognized face to the protection, though he performed in Dan Quinn’s defensive system. Watkins left for Arizona in 2023 in free company and spent one season with the Cardinals earlier than rejoining Quinn in Washington. He was positioned on their observe squad however did play final week in opposition to the Giants.

General, Watkins has performed seven years, together with the primary 4 in Houston.

With the Cowboys, Watkins had his greatest 12 months of his profession in 2021, the place he had a personal-best 32 tackles, together with 17 solo. He additionally recorded his solely profession interception and landing with a pick-six in opposition to the Saints.

He left for the Cardinals in 2023 however a biceps harm required season-ending surgical procedure, slicing his season to only two video games performed.

Cowboys defensive deal with Mazi Smith leaves observe with athletic coach – Griffin McVeigh, On3.cm

The problems stored piling up for the Cowboys on Wednesday.

Wednesday has not been good for Dallas Cowboys defensive tackles. Head coach Mike McCarthy introduced Jordan Phillips can be placed on Injured Reserve after simply two weeks, which means he’ll miss no less than the following 4 video games. Not too lengthy after, as soon as on the observe subject, an harm occurred to Mazi Smith.

No specifics concerning the harm are recognized on the time of publishing. Smith was seen strolling off with the Cowboys’ head athletic coach. Not what Dallas wanted just some days earlier than the Week 3 matchup in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens.

“Cowboys DT Mazi Smith is leaving observe with head athletic coach Dr. Jim Maurer,” Nick Harris of the Fort Value Star-Telegram mentioned by way of X. “This comes after the Cowboys needed to put fellow defensive deal with Jordan Phillips on the injured reserve record this morning with a wrist harm.”

“He misplaced a variety of weight when he acquired right here,” Zimmer mentioned earlier than the season. “He was making an attempt to be an attacking 3-technique to stand up the sphere. We’re gonna most likely play blocks just a little bit extra, and check out to not get reached so linebackers know the place they’re supposed to suit — so forth and so forth. That’s the largest factor. … Yeah, it’s what he did in faculty.”

Now, there is perhaps an harm for Smith to work via early within the season. An harm report needs to be launched later Wednesday, possible giving extra info and the standing of Smith shifting ahead.

Cowboys operating backs Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle amongst NFL’s least environment friendly via Week 2 – RJ Ochoa, BloggingTheBoys.com

Let’s discuss concerning the Week 2 catastrophe only one extra time.

Plenty of issues went mistaken for the Dallas Cowboys final week. Choosing and selecting only one factor to deal with can be like asking the youngsters to pick a single sweet out of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Manufacturing unit. There are too many choices, however not like there, none of those are scrumptious.

Dropping 44-19 (a scorigami, no less than) forces you to reevaluate something and all the pieces within the title of by no means letting it occur to you once more. We needn’t assume all the pieces will probably be damaged eternally and ever, however with two video games now performed this season we are able to begin to attract authentic conclusions concerning the 2024 version of this membership.

Clearly with Dallas getting boat-raced on Sunday the alternatives for operating the ball, establishing your will and all that jazz, had been far and few in between. Nevertheless it doesn’t take any degree of superior evaluation to see that neither Ezekiel Elliott nor Rico Dowdle have set the world on hearth via two video games. However it is just two video games.

The newest efficiency from Elliott and Dowdle is what has individuals questioning whether or not a change is important. Contemplate that Jerry Jones was requested throughout his Tuesday look on 105.3 The Fan about whether or not or not the crew was contemplating selling Dalvin Cook dinner to the roster from the observe squad this week. That sounds unlikely.

It’s unlucky that that is the case as a result of Elliott and Dowdle each look like laborious employees who will do greater than is requested of them, however the information exhibits that they don’t have the identical form of juice that different operating backs in in the present day’s NFL do. They’re operating fairly actually uphill in lots of senses.

Trey Lance may very well be Cowboys secret weapon in opposition to Ravens in Week 3 – Randy Gurzi, Sports activities Illustrated

Trey Lance appears to do his greatest Lamar Jackson impression in observe this week.

Mike McCarthy held a press convention on Wednesday because the Dallas Cowboys put together to face the Baltimore Ravens. Heading into Week 3 feels early to interrupt out the ‘must-win’ label however this one appears like a contest the Cowboys have to drag off.

It gained’t be straightforward, particularly for a protection that was picked aside by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.

Their confidence took successful within the 44-19 defeat and now, they need to face the reigning NFL MVP, Lamar Jackson.

The excellent news, no less than based on McCarthy, is that Dallas has a secret weapon to assist them put together — Trey Lance.

“Nicely, he’s dynamic, No. 1. We really feel actually good about what Trey [Lance] may give us there so far as operating these scout groups reps, and Cooper [Rush] will deal with among the different issues too,” the top coach mentioned, by way of DLLS Cowboys. “Lamar is a dynamic, dynamic participant.”

Sure, the identical Trey Lance who threw 5 picks within the preseason finale. In fact, McCarthy doesn’t suppose Lance will assist the protection by throwing them a number of interceptions and boosting their morale, however through the use of his athleticism to imitate Jackson.

Listed here are the Wednesday harm stories for the Cowboys and Ravens.