Latest news confirms Dallas Cowboys dodged more than one bullet but Brian Schottenheimer might’ve learned a tough lesson
The first-year head coach has a lesson to mull following latest round of injuries.
On Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp practice became a nightmare as the injury trend continued:
Tight end Jake Ferguson—who was just signed to a $52 million contract extension—and rising rookie running back Jaydon Blue both were forced to leave practice early due to injuries. Ferguson received a big shot at the end of a play while Blue went to the ground on a rush attempt as a result of a facemask from teammate DE Sam Williams.
Fortunately, the Cowboys dodged major bullets. Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, Ferguson suffered a back contusion that “is not considered serious.” Meanwhile, Blue avoided an ankle sprain and instead has a bone bruise, per Nick Harris from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who also revealed the running back said he was good. Schottenheimer didn’t provide an update on Blue’s injury but revealed the team had backup plans going into Saturday’s preseason opener vs. the L.A. Rams.
Though that’s huge for the Cowboys, it also is a tough lesson for the first-year head coach who has emphasized physicality in his first training camp. Schottenheimer has told reporters he doesn’t like doing 7-on-7 drills nor is he a fan of 9-on-7. It’s been obvious the emphasis at practice has been 11-on-11 drills through three weeks of training camp.
This year’s training camp has featured more injuries than any of the Mike McCarthy era (2020-2024), who focused on using GPS data to track player’s wear and tear. That isn’t to say Schottenheimer isn’t doing a fine job so far, which I think he is, but more hits lead to more injuries. And the Cowboys are sure hitting a lot.
It’s a fine line to walk as anyone who’s watched the Cowboys closely over the last few years knows lack of physicality has been an issue in the past. Many teams have hit the team on the mouth in big game settings. Schottenheimer is trying to address it and based on his comments, his coaching staff wants to be a bully in the ground game. The head coach has praised the interior offensive line made up by Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and first-round rookie Tyler Booker.
Fans probably approve of Schotty’s attempts to be a hard-hitting squad. But at what cost does that come? So far, Cowboys players who have been injured at camp and missed significant time include starting left tackle Tyler Guyton (knee bone bruise), guard Rob Jones (neck), center Dakoda Shepley (ankle sprain), cornerback Caelen Carson (knee), running back Deuce Vaughn (hamstring, returned), running back Miles Sanders (leg), and others.
Some players who missed brief time before returning but have also suffered injuries include DT Mazi Smith, QB Joe Milton, and starting left guard Tyler Smith.
Now granted, training camp or not, this is football. Injuries happen. But Schottenheimer might be forced to take a look at his wishes to spam 11-on-11 drills and potentially tone it down. For now, he seems fixated on keeping the physicality nobs turned all the way up, though.
“We’re going to practice physically,” Schottenheimer told reporters on Friday, whose team declined the coach’s permission to wear soft shells after the first period. “To me, that tells you that they’re buying into the fact that we need to be a physical team. Nothing gets you more fired up than that as a coach.”
Dallas Cowboys News
La’el Collins is already proving he was worth the investment from Dallas Cowboys with awesome sighting at practice
A proven vet.
