Cowboys: Latest injury update sets up rookie for huge opportunity vs. Bills
The Dallas Cowboys have made it official: Starting nose tackle Johnathan Hankins has been ruled out (ankle) ahead of their Week 15 trip to face the Buffalo Bills. It'll be a tough absence to overcome, as the Bills offense has been surprisingly efficient in the running game. Through 14 weeks, they rank as a Top […]
The Dallas Cowboys have made it official: Starting nose tackle Johnathan Hankins has been ruled out (ankle) ahead of their Week 15 trip to face the Buffalo Bills.
It'll be a tough absence to overcome, as the Bills offense has been surprisingly efficient in the running game. Through 14 weeks, they rank as a Top 5 rushing offense in both EPA and success rate.
The news, although expected by Mike McCarthy since Wednesday, means Dan Quinn is facing some maneuvering to make up for the 6-2, 320 pound giant of his defensive line.
The obvious answer is first-round rookie Mazi Smith. While a low snap count of 26% suggests Smith's first year in the NFL hasn't gone as planned, the truth is it takes time for nose tackles to really get acclimated to Sunday-caliber football.
Coupled with Hankins' play being respected in Dallas, Mazi has been forced to wait for his opportunity. Although the circumstances aren't ideal, he's getting the best shot he'll get this year: An injury-led promotion against a top-tier offense.
Although Smith has a lot to figure out, he's shown flashes of his impressive power that made him a first-round pick. At 6-3 and 337, he's listed as the heaviest player on the 53-man roster, with Hankins being second.
That weight translates: Smith is as strong as advertised and has made a few impressive plays in his short career. His biggest struggles remain explosiveness off the ball and pad level, but we've seen some steps in the right direction, including the play below:
On Sunday, Cowboys Nation won't see the full version of Mazi Smith. Chances are 2024 and 2025 are better bets for that. However, it'll be fun to see an increased role for him against a high-powered offense like the Bills. Hopefully, he's able to exceed expectations.
Cowboys' Final Injury Report vs. Bills, Week 15
In addition to Hankins being ruled out, the Cowboys announced the next players are questionable: WR Brandin Cooks, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Stephon Gilmore, S Malik Hooker. While the receivers and Gilmore are dealing with an illness and are expected to play, Hooker is a concern.
The good news is he was upgraded from "did not participate" in practice to "limited."
As for the Buffalo Bills, they've ruled out two key defenders in Micah Hyde and A.J. Epenesa, two losses that will surely impact the end result.
