The Dallas Cowboys secured a much-needed victory Thursday night with a triumphant 20-15 slog of a win at the New York Giants to improve to 2-2.
However, the win came at high price: Dallas’ best two edge rushers suffered injuries. Three-time All-Pro Micah Parsons departed on a cart in the fourth quarter with what’s now reported as a high-ankle sprain, and four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence is expected to be out multiple weeks with a foot injury he suffered in the second half. Lawrence was seen on the game broadcast getting his foot taped and worked on, but he did not return to action after the injury. It would be reasonable to expect both could miss at the least next two weeks at the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 5) and versus the 2-1 Detroit Lions before Dallas’ Week 7 bye.
Now, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones’ reliance on youth and low budget veterans as depth pieces from his “all-in” offseason that transformed into the “get it done with less” offseason will be tested. Veteran rotation edge rushers like Dorance Armstrong (three years, $33 million) and Dante Fowler Jr. (one year, $3.25 million) were allowed to walk in free agency, and they both followed former Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the NFC East rival Washington Commanders.
That leaves 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, 26-year-old veteran Chauncey Golston, second-year undrafted veteran Tyrus Wheat and post-Achilles tear veteran Carl Lawson. Lawson has been elevated off the practice squad in each of the last two weeks, and a third elevation will be his last before Dallas has to sign him to the 53-man roster.
The Cowboys will most likely be banking on Kneeland, the rookie out of Western Michigan, to have an impact similar to that of cornerback DaRon Bland, who as a rookie became an impactful starter when pressed into duty after injuries to starters. Kneeland has yet to record his…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/how-cowboys-can-stay-afloat-after-micah-parsons-demarcus-lawrence-injuries-can-dak-prescott-save-the-day/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-09-27 20:54:04
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