Sean Lee officially did not practice because of pectoral and thigh issues but in talking to the veteran linebacker after practice, it sure sounded like he would play Sunday. He was upbeat. If Lee has a setback, the Cowboys would be thin at linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch set to miss his fourth straight game with a neck injury.
Ezekiel Elliott feels better now through 13 games than he has in any year in which he has played a full season. He broke 1,000 yards for the third straight season, but he calls that mark “the expectation.” With 246 carries for 1,071 yards, Elliott wants more work. “Whatever is in the game plan, whatever the team needs me to do to win, I'm going to go out there and do,” Elliott said. “They know I'm always ready to get as many touches as they need me to get.”
The Cowboys can't use health as an issue. The only player missing practice is linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck). Linebacker Sean Lee (pectoral, thigh) was working off to the side on resistance training during the portion of practice open to the media. Amari Cooper (knee) Jeff Heath (shoulders) and Antwaun Woods (knee) are practicing.
The question was about the struggles of the Cowboys offense, but Jason Garrett took a bigger view of the team's struggles. “We just haven't played well enough as a team in all three phases to win the ballgames,” he said. “It's really as simple as that. Offense hasn't been good enough. Defense hasn't been good enough. Special teams hasn't been good enough. Coaching, playing everybody. You use this as an opportunity to get better, you look at it closely and you get back to work.
Leighton Vander Esch did not undergo more tests on Monday on a neck injury that has caused him to miss the last three games and will not practice today, according to Jason Garrett. The Cowboys are not ready to put him on injured reserve just yet and Garrett said there has been improvement but not enough to the point where Vander Esch will practice and play.
Jaylon Smith caught heat a few times in last week's loss to Chicago, including breaking out The Swipe after a fumble recovery when trailing 24-7. “The Swipe is so much more than a celebration,” he said. “I'm trying to eradicate all the negative energy that's happened in the past and trying to create some momentum to help propel us forward. It's something I've done since I was a sophomore in high school and it's worked, so we're going to keep it going. But we've got to turn things around.”
With teams being told the 2020 salary cap will be in the range of $196.8 million to $201.2 million, that helps the Cowboys to a degree. According to ESPN Stats & Information, they have $132.35 million committed toward the cap in 2020 but that is with just 38 players under contract. The Cowboys will have ample cap space with the ability to create more room through releases, pay cuts and restructures.
Want to know why your team is slated where it is in the NFL Power Rankings? We're using FPI rankings to tell that tale this week.
Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas a report that Stephen Jones recently met with Urban Meyer was “absolutely not correct.” That's not to say the Cowboys would not have interest in the former Ohio State coach should the Cowboys be on the market for a new coach, but “the facts are we just have not talked to any coach or potential coach in the NFL,” Jones said.
The Dolphins have three first-round picks. Several teams are searching for franchise QBs. Every team has needs. Here's what to know.
Eight years after signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, Kai Forbath will get a chance to kick for the Cowboys after a successful tryout on Monday. He made his one try this season in his Week 13 stint with New England. “I definitely feel more comfortable coming in here after getting that one game in,” said Forbath, who replaces Brett Maher. “Just scoring points. That's what I've done for seven years now so I'm just here to be consistent and make kicks when they need me to.”
As a father of three, DeMarcus Lawrence's holiday visit to Children's Medical Center in Dallas with teammates, hits home. “It fills me up with joy and that's what the Christmas holiday is all about,” Lawrence said. “Spreading the love. Spreading the joy and being able to come back and give to the kids that are less fortunate, whatever they're going through in their lives, it's just really truly a blessing to show them that we are and their community cares.”
As one of the defensive captains, DeMarcus Lawrence is accepting blame for what has gone wrong in the Cowboys' three-game losing streak. “I testify and take ownership of those last couple games,” Lawrence said. “I haven't been playing like myself. I haven't been taking up a leadership role I should be taking. It's time for me to step up. The Lord has blessed us with another opportunity to make these playoffs and it's time to do so.”
The Cowboys have released kicker Brett Maher, who leads the NFL with 10 missed field goal attempts this season, and signed veteran Kai Forbath.
What's next on the NFL coaching carousel? Here's everything you need to know about the movement through hiring-and-firing season.
Lack of effort? Inability to handle adversity? There are so many questions about how Dallas arrived at 6-7 and what can be done to stop the losing.
The Chiefs and Ravens secured playoff berths in Week 14. Here's how the current postseason bracket looks and what scenarios lie ahead.
For the second straight week the Cowboys will hold a kicker tryout with Brett Maher's struggles continuing. Nick Rose and Tristan Vizcaino will return for a second straight week for a tryout and will be joined by Kai Forbath, who kicked made his lone field goal attempt but missed an extra point last week with New England. Forbath has made 85.8% of his kicks in an eight-year career with five teams.
The NFL is not considering reseeding playoffs teams despite the prospect of an NFC East champion with a losing record, according to a source.
Leighton Vander Esch is expected to undergo more testing on his neck on Monday after missing the last three games and four of the last six. “We're going to do right by Leighton Vander Esch,” Jason Garrett said. “He's not going to rush back. We're not going to rush him back but obviously he's champing at the bit to play. He's been an impactful player for us.”
Jason Garrett said he did not anticipate making any staff changes with three games to go. He did say there could be lineup changes. “The guys who earn the playing time by playing the right way are going to play more,” Garrett said. “Obviously you can't swap everybody out. That's not what we're talking about, but we have to look for opportunities to play the guys who play the right way and have done that consistently when they've gotten opportunities.”
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson's season is likely over because of a sprained anterior cruciate ligament but it does not appear he will need reconstructive surgery that could keep him out for most of the offseason program. Punter Chris Jones suffered an abdominal strain but should be able to continue to play. The hope is running back Tony Pollard (ankle) can return to practice next week and play.
| TEAM | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 334 | 267 |
| Philadelphia | 6 | 7 | 0 | .462 | 297 | 301 |
| Washington | 3 | 10 | 0 | .231 | 188 | 310 |
| New York | 2 | 11 | 0 | .154 | 247 | 362 |
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2(26) | Trysten Hill | DT | UCF |
| 3(26) | Connor McGovern | OG | Penn State |
| 4(26) | Tony Pollard | RB | Memphis |
| 5(20) | Michael Jackson | CB | Miami (FL) |
| 5(27) | Joe Jackson | DE | Miami (FL) |
| 6(40) | Donovan Wilson | S | Texas A&M |
| 7(4) | Mike Weber | RB | Ohio State |
| 7(27) | Jalen Jelks | DE | Oregon |
