Cowboys Put Marcus Spears, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah on IR

by Dave Halprin on Nov 10, 2010 2:03 PM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, and Marcus Spears, had their season ended today.

As was expected, the Cowboys had to make a few personnel moves today. Starting defensive end Marcus Spears has been put on IR, along with rookie Akwasi Owusu-Ansah. Spears tore his calf muscle and was going to miss at least 4-6 weeks, but the Cowboys couldn't wait on his return. They needed help along the defensive line now with Jason Hatcher and Sean Lissemore injured. As Nick Eatman notes, Spears is schedule to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he could have possibly played his final down for the Cowboys.

For help along the d-line, Dallas signed Jeremy Clark and Jimmy Saddler-McQueen.

For the second defensive line spot, they had to open up a place on the roster, so they put AOA on IR, too. AOA had mainly been used as the kick return guy, but that spot will be filled by Bryan McCann who was brought up last week.

Short Clark and Saddler-McQueen bios below...

Jeremy Clark - 6' 3", 295 lbs. 4-year vet, Alabama

Clark, a four-year veteran, was released by Arizona on September 3, 2010. He originally signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie free agent out of Alabama in 2007, where he spent his rookie season on their practice squad. Clark played for the N.Y. Giants in 2008, seeing action in four games and recording four tackles prior to his release on September 5, 2009. In 2009, he spent time on both the Atlanta Falcons and N.Y. Giants practice squads

Jimmy Saddler McQueen - 6' 3", 298 lbs., Rookie, Texas A&M Kingsville

His measurables (6’2 ½, 296, 5.00) are very solid and his production (8.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks) earned him 2nd team All-LSC South honors as a senior. He doesn’t stand out on tape but flashes every once in a while and has measurables that make him worth keeping tabs on.

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Comments

This it for Spears

Putting him on IR is a slap in the face as he can be back before year end. This is saying, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

No way he re-signs. I’m going to miss him. There are some guys who we don’t realize their value until they’re gone.

by Ridgelake on Nov 10, 2010 2:08 PM CST reply actions

not sure it was a slap in the face

as much as hey we need some bodies that can play DE. As it was we had what two starters and no backups?

Redskin & Eagles fans are like slinkies........not much good for anything but they still put a smile on your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

by jbratch on Nov 10, 2010 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

Spears was solid but I will not lose any sleep when he walks

by scandrick32 on Nov 10, 2010 2:46 PM CST up reply actions

word

"They need security in the world, Craig!"

by Tuna Helper on Nov 10, 2010 2:47 PM CST up reply actions

this is coming from scandrick?

haha

by ratware on Nov 10, 2010 4:33 PM CST up reply actions

Jimmy. Sadler. McQueen.

Really?

by jam0152 on Nov 10, 2010 2:47 PM CST reply actions

agree

that’s jerry jones in action

by ratware on Nov 10, 2010 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

I really like McCann as the kickoff guy and think that he will be a great 4th CB/KR going forward.

Hopefully AOA to IR was only made due to AOA’s ankle and not an indictment of his progress.

Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels

by Creasy729 on Nov 10, 2010 2:54 PM CST reply actions

+1

I am excited about McCann. Looked solid returning KO and with his speed he can eventually do something as a DB…glad he will get some time to develop.
I think (hope) AOA going to IR was less about his progress and more about having found a return guy so just letting AOA get healthy. High ankle sprains can linger and the kid rushed back with a shoulder issue as well.

But not making the most obvious IR move also lead be to believe JG and Romo are counting down the weeks before his return…help JG’s HC audition and help the season end on a good note.

"Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it's so incredible, it's unbelievable."
"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." - Tom Landry

by Kegbearer on Nov 10, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

McQueen was on the roster this summer.

He was signed along with Teddy Williams on July 29, and released on September 4th when the roster was cut to 53.

by One.Cool.Customer on Nov 10, 2010 2:57 PM CST reply actions

Remember

He showed some flashes in training camp and I believe a fumble in a preseason game. At least he “knows” the system a bit, at least Wade’s old one, and can likely help out this Sunday.

by Kegbearer on Nov 10, 2010 3:20 PM CST up reply actions

Coach Pasq was his position coach right?

Hopefully that means he liked him a lot, since he’s decided to pin a lot of his D-Coordinator stint on the kid being effective.

I ran into a group of men trying to take an old lady's purse and decided it was my duty to help out. She was a tough old broad, but in the end we got her purse.

by MilesAhead on Nov 10, 2010 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

I hope AOA amounts to something

This year might as well have been a redshirt given his shoulder injury. It just seems like a total waste of a 3rd rounder.

Greetings from the Humungus, the Ruler of the Wasteland, the Ayatollah of Rock and Roll-A. I laugh at your puny plans.

by Lord Humungus on Nov 10, 2010 2:59 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Wasting 3rd rounders

The Dallas Cowboys?! Never!

It's fun to do bad things. -Latarian Milton

by TexasGarcia37 on Nov 10, 2010 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

Unless I'm forgetting things, Witten might be the last non-wasted 3rd rd pick we made

It's only a dream till you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
-Emmitt Smith

by Rohpuri on Nov 10, 2010 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

Let's see

Since Witten, we have taken Jason Williams, Robert Brewster, James Marten, Jason Hatcher, and Stephen Peterman. Now who says that Dallas doesn’t try to take linemen!

by Zpomero1 on Nov 10, 2010 7:05 PM CST up reply actions

4th

Sean Lissemore = The next Bruce Smith

by Lissyyyyy on Nov 10, 2010 7:06 PM CST up reply actions

I hate both of these IR moves

I don’t think they’re terrible GM moves. But I’m sad to see Spears’ career in Dallas end on such a wimper. I’m even more sad that AOA, who is an interesting project and could have seen significant playing time in the home-stretch of the season, is now lost.

AOA’s development is seriously stunted from losing training camp and losing half-a-season. Drafting a developmental player and then he isn’t given an opportunity to develop… eesh, this isn’t looking good for his success in this league.

So, what was the Wade Phillips era like?
44-6

by Blue Eyed Devil on Nov 10, 2010 8:48 PM CST up reply actions

What happened to Marcus Dixon?

Did he sign with anyone after camp?

by starmesh23 on Nov 10, 2010 4:12 PM CST reply actions

Jets

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Nov 10, 2010 4:21 PM CST up reply actions

Why the projects still?

Was there not someone out there who maay help right away?

by marlboroman on Nov 10, 2010 7:12 PM CST reply actions

Not in vegas, which is apparently where our GM is conducting tryouts...

The Texas Rangers have been synonymous with explosive firepower ever since they emptied 130 rounds into Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow in 1934. - Alyssa Milano

by bking on Nov 10, 2010 8:20 PM CST up reply actions

Same question here

Not a single player on someone’s practice squad we can raid? Instead we pick up guys who’ve spent the season on their XBOX instead of a football field?

So, what was the Wade Phillips era like?
44-6

by Blue Eyed Devil on Nov 10, 2010 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

sucks

but Akwasi is going to have a bright future in Dallas
he has size speed and ballhawk skills and I guarantee he will be a real good player next season
McQueen I saw a guy who was all over the field and always around the ball and play in the preseason
that was a good signing
watch out for him

by Archie Barberio on Nov 10, 2010 10:24 PM CST reply actions