Cowboys news: New faces in new places, injury updates, and game previews

Updates: Cowboys Rule Out 6 Players vs. Dolphins - Staff, Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys enter this game a little depleted as there are several players who won’t be suiting up for this one.

2:16 p.m. -- The six Cowboys players who did not practice all week are officially ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins: WR Tavon Austin (concussion), DE Tyrone Crawford (hip), WR Michael Gallup (knee), LB Luke Gifford (ankle), DT Antwaun Woods (knee) and S Xavier Woods (ankle).

By ruling out six injured players, the Cowboys will have only one healthy scratch on their seven-player inactive list Sunday.

Final Injury Report, Dolphins at Cowboys - Alain Poupart, Miami Dolphins

They’ll be facing a Dolphins team that is pretty banged up themselves.

Safety Reshad Jones and Albert Wilson will miss a second consecutive game when the Dolphins face the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Sunday.

Jones (ankle) and Wilson (hip/calf) both were ruled out Friday when the Dolphins released their final injury report of the week. Neither player practiced at all this week.

Defensive end Charles Harris (wrist), linebacker Trent Harris (foot) and cornerback Bobby McCain (shoulder) all were listed as questionable. Harris and McCain both played in Week 2.

Here is the final practice report for both teams:

But enough about the players that won’t be playing... what about those who will?

Brian Flores: Possibility Taco Charlton Plays Against Cowboys - Alain Poupart, Miami Dolphins

Oh, please football gods - make this happen! The Dolphins head coach Brian Flores spoke about Taco having a shot to be on the field against his former team.

“There is a possibility,” Flores said Friday after practice. “It will be a tough thing to do, obviously. He wants to play. Kid loves football. Hopefully we can get him up to speed then maybe, but it’s a tough thing to do. No promises on that. He knows that. He’s been in our meetings. He’s asking questions. He’s very eager to get in there, whether it’s scout team or defensively. With that type of attitude he’ll be in there sooner than later.”

If you’re on Taco watch, look for no. 96 to find him as Trent Harris wears no. 97 for the Dolphins.

Stephen Jones says Cowboys picked DE Joe Jackson to remain on roster over Taco Charlton - Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

The decision to release Taco was a tough one, but the Cowboys coaching staff preferred to hang on to another young pass rusher instead. Executive vice president Stephen Jones explains.

“That was obviously the key thing that got him was Joe,” Jones said. “He preferred Joe over Taco.”

The ‘“he” Jones was referring to is Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli who clashed with Charlton at times. When the Cowboys selected defensive end Joe Jackson in the fifth-round of the 2019 draft, he added more competition to a crowded defensive line group.

It’s that competition that caused Marinelli to make some tough decisions on who was going to make the 53-man roster.

Will McClay reviewed the Cowboys’ draft reports after the team waived 2017 first rounder Taco Charlton - Todd Archer, ESPN

It’s always a good idea to try to learn from your mistakes.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones and vice president of player personnel Will McClay have reviewed the Cowboys’ draft reports after the team waived 2017 first rounder Taco Charlton on Wednesday. “Every time we miss on a player, we go through that,” Jones said. “What’d we miss? Who could we have taken? It’s all hindsight but you obviously want to not make a mistake again.” Were there warning signs on the notes? “Yeah, I think there were,” Jones said. “But, you know, he played for a tough coach in (Jim) Harbaugh and the arrow was up with Taco when he was there.”

20 Cowboys notes, including specifically how Dak Prescott has improved as a passer - Jon Machota,The Athletic

Jon Machota gives us a look at his weekly notebook, including some defensive line debuts for the Cowboys.

4.) Robert Quinn is ready to make his Cowboys debut.

The veteran defensive end has been working with the first group at right DE during practice this week. Coming off hand surgery and a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, Quinn probably isn’t ready for a full workload of 50-plus snaps. But he says he’ll be ready if needed. “If you ask a man what he can and can’t do, I’m sure he’s going to tell you he can do everything,” Quinn said, “so if they need me to play 50-60 snaps, that’s what I have to do.” Ironically, he’ll make his Cowboys debut against the team that traded him in March. “Just get a W for the team,” Quinn said. “I realize, don’t try to make things more than what it is. Me coming back, the team has been doing well, so I’m just coming back, trying to contribute as best I can and not let this team down in any way, shape or form. I don’t want overwork myself, overhype myself. It’s a football game.

Cowboys’ Trysten Hill to Make Regular Season Debut vs Dolphins? - John Williams, Inside the Star

Quinn’s not the only new Cowboys making his (likely) debut on Sunday.

Facing the Miami Dolphins on Sunday will is an excellent opportunity for Trysten Hill to get some experience and earn opportunities to be on the gameday roster in the future. Trysten Hill has the skills to be a force for the Dallas Cowboys.

With the depth that the Cowboys have along the defensive line, it’s not always possible to bring everyone you have to the gameday roster. With injuries and earned opportunities, the time has come for Trysten Hill to get an opportunity to show his skills in the regular season. That’s a good thing for the Dallas Cowboys. Not so much for Josh Rosen and the Miami Dolphins.

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Many Cowboys fans across the country aren’t going to be too happy as Fox is all over the place for the one game they are broadcasting this week. Several other matchups are drawing plenty of attention as well. Here is your TV coverage map for this week courtesy of 506 Sports.

Dolphins-Cowboys Preview - Associated Press, Yahoo Sports

Yahoo Sports provides their game preview, including how Dak Prescott and the offense is swimming in unfamiliar waters with some record-breaking numbers.

COOKING WITH GAS

The Cowboys haven’t started a season with 400-plus yards and 30-plus points in each of their first two victories since 1978, back when going to the Super Bowl was a regular thing for them. This year, Dallas hopes to end a nearly 25-year stretch without advancing past the divisional round.

Prescott is trying to become just the third quarterback with at least three touchdown tosses and a passer rating of 120-plus in four straight games. His streak goes back to last year’s regular-season finale. Russell Wilson had five straight for Seattle in 2015, the now-retired Andrew Luck four with Indianapolis last year.

Film room: 3 bold predictions for Cowboys-Dolphins, including Randall Cobb’s opportunity for a big day - John Owning, Dallas Morning News

DMN’s John Owning makes three bold predictions for today’s game, including how a veteran receiver could be in for a big game.

Randall Cobb goes over 100 receiving yards

Through two weeks, Randall Cobb is the only member of Dallas’ top trio of receivers to not record a 100-yard receiving game. Fret not, however, as Cobb gets a juicy matchup in a game where he should see more opportunities with Michael Gallup injured and out of the game. Thus far this season, Cobb has been used mostly as an option in the short to intermediate portions of the field, as his average depth of target (aDot) is just 3.55 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, per Pro Football Focus. Nevertheless, Cobb has made the most of those targets with an average of 7.33 yards after the catch per reception. Cobb’s ability to navigate and elude defenders after the catch has come in handy for the Cowboys, as he’s been able to find a way to pick up the first down when initially catching the ball short of the sticks.

Start or Sit? NFL fantasy football tips for Week 3 - David Howman, Blogging The Boys

Make sure to check out these last minute fantasy tips by our own David Howman, including a couple Cowboys players you might want to considering starting.

WR Randall Cobb vs. Miami Dolphins

With the Cowboys’ leading receiver Michael Gallup out this week, Dak will have to find someone else to throw to. While the Dolphins will probably rely on Xavien Howard to limit Amari Cooper, the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick should open things up for a big day from Cobb, who’s already showcased some good chemistry with his new quarterback.

K Brett Maher vs. Miami Dolphins

For the first time in history, there are two teams favored by 20+ points this week: the Patriots and Cowboys. Pats kicker Stephen Gostkowski is usually a safe bet, but he missed a field goal and two extra points last week. Maher, on the other hand, is hitting 100% in both areas so far (knocks on wood vigorously). Look for him to rack up some points through extra points and possibly also some field goals.

It should also be noted that the Patriots defense racked up seven sacks, four interceptions, allowed no points, and had two defensive scores against Miami last week. If there ever was a time to start the Cowboys defense, this is it.