The Dallas Cowboys Facing a Pair of Tough Looming Decisions
The news of the week for the Dallas Cowboys is without a doubt that quarterback Dak Prescott is back. His practice load will continue to increase and expected to start Sunday's game vs the Detroit Lions. They are 4-2 and getting ready to play the statistically worst defense in the league. Allowing 34 points per […]
The news of the week for the Dallas Cowboys is without a doubt that quarterback Dak Prescott is back. His practice load will continue to increase and expected to start Sunday's game vs the Detroit Lions.
They are 4-2 and getting ready to play the statistically worst defense in the league. Allowing 34 points per game and over 420 total yards through six games.
While the welcome party for the Cowboys QB is more than welcoming, a pair of other Dallas players might not be as received.
Tyron Smith has been out since the week before the season opener. Tearing his hamstring (off the bone) gave him an undetermined amount of time off. With the likelihood being that if he comes back at all, it wouldn't be until sometime in December.
Nearing the bye week, Smith is reportedly making small progress. While still uncertain when or if he can return.
In addition to the future Hall of Fame OT is one of the few free agent signings this past off-season.
Wide receiver James Washington suffered a fractured foot in training camp, which sent him to injured reserve to start the season. His timeline for return was around 6-10 weeks from injury.
He is nearing a return as his rehab continues to progress.
These will only cast a shadow of a doubt in the Dallas Cowboys locker room.
While James Washington came in as the WR2/3, behind only CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, it's unknown just where on the offense he falls.
Lamb is starting to pick up momentum and Gallup's workload from return continues to rise. With Prescott returning this should only increase their usage. As well as the emergence of Noah Brown, who is having a breakout year.
Is he WR4? 5? KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Tolbert are the only other WRs on the roster at the moment. Simi Fehoko is now on IR and Dennis Houston is on the practice squad.
Even as he returns from injury, his workload will only be small and steady.
What about Smith? Where does he fall? Even if he is somehow able to play this season, the coaching staff really can't afford to stop rookie Tyler Smith's impressive development at left tackle.
In fact, Jerry Jones made it clear in September their willingness to take any lumps with Tyler Smith on the field.
"Do I wish we had Tyron? Yes. Will we get Tyron back? Likely. But in the meantime he’s going to come in and he’s going to get a Harvard doctorate degree at playing left tackle between now and then. Will we pay some price for it? Yes. Can we win with him paying a price? I think so, yes."
This same coaching staff made (and continues to make) the decision to rotate players on the offensive line. Giving OL Jason Peters plays at left guard, rather than settling on a starting five.
The harsh reality for both of these Dallas Cowboys players is that they might be better off without them. Or at least not being used on the field as much as they initially were thought to be.
Washington might be better off if released and allowed to search the market for a place that can give him more playing time.
Smith is under the same category the Cowboys faced with players like Tony Romo, Sean Lee and Jason Witten. Not ready to admit it's time to move on until it hits them in the face.
If Washington and Smith can contribute at all this season, it won't and shouldn't be at a full-time capacity. Which is a harsh reality in the NFL that no one is immune to.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
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