Cowboys' talented player's much anticipated NFL debut won't happen vs Giants
The Dallas Cowboys will be down cornerback Caelen Carson against the New York Giants, who was started outside for the first three weeks of the 2024 season in the absence of All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland. Carson, who suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3, is inactive and Mike Zimmer will be forced to make a tough […]
The Dallas Cowboys will be down cornerback Caelen Carson against the New York Giants, who was started outside for the first three weeks of the 2024 season in the absence of All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland.
Carson, who suffered a shoulder injury in Week 3, is inactive and Mike Zimmer will be forced to make a tough decision: Will he move nickel corner Jourdan Lewis to the outside and play Israel Mukuamu inside as he did in the preseason? Or will he go with Andrew Booth Jr. outside despite a rough preseason?
Whatever answer he opts for will be highly scrutinized considering the Giants will be playing the quickly rising rookie Malik Nabers at wide receiver, who could have a chance at finding success against the Cowboys' banged up secondary.
With the Cowboys already dealing with struggles in their defensive front, Lewis would be missed as a tackler in the run fits. Expect Brian Daboll to really put stress on Zimmer's unit knowing it comes in shorthanded. The Cowboys elevated CB Amani Oruwariye from the practice squad alongside DE Carl Lawson.
Below is the full list of Cowboys inactives ahead of tonight's game against the Giants:
- CB Caelen Carson
- OL Matt Waletzko
- WR Ryan Flournoy
- DE Tyrus Wheat
- TE John Stephens Jr.
- S Markquese Bell
- QB Trey Lance (emergency quarterback)
Cowboys TE John Stephens Jr.'s NFL debut has to wait yet another week
The Cowboys have publicly admitted tight end John Stephens Jr. would've debuted as an undrafted rookie in 2023 had he not suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. After spending the first three weeks on the sidelines due to a hamstring issue, Stephens Jr. is an inactive player for yet another game as he won't suit up despite being a full participant in practice all week.
The Cowboys have got big expectations for the big-sized pass catcher who has improved his inline blocking and who could compete for a big role on this year's offense, something Mike McCarthy teased earlier in the year when claiming he thought Stephens Jr. would have a role bigger than that of a rotational player.
Stephens Jr. could eventually take the place of Brevyn Spann-Ford, who has struggled as a rookie as he was called for two penalties in the Cowboys' latest loss. In the meantime, the UDFA rookie gets another shot at making a case for he being the right guy over Stephens Jr.
Giants inactives
As expected, New York is down its two top nickel cornerbacks, which is a good omen for CeeDee Lamb as he seeks to shake off last weekend's poor performance on and off the field.
