:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69777439/1234435351.0.jpg)
Day in Camp: Dak Prescott returns to team drills, Cowboys continue dealing with COVID-19 outbreak - Calvin Watkins, DMN
Great news for the Cowboys and the fanbase as Dak Prescott gets more involved in practice.
During Wednesday’s practice session, Prescott threw a 20-plus yard pass to Blake Jarwin down the sidelines and a nearly 30-yard strike to fellow tight end Dalton Schultz.
Prescott moved in the pocket to avoid pressure to compete passes and stepped up in the pocket to complete a hard throw to undrafted wide receiver Aaron Parker in the middle of the field.
The only incompletion came when safety Jayron Kearse knocked a pass down at the line of scrimmage.
Outside of that, it was a near perfect practice conducted in hot and sticky conditions at The Star.
“Dak looked really good,” running back Ezekiel Elliott said after practice. “He’s throwing the ball with some pop. He looks like he rested good.”
Later, Elliott added, “I’m sure he rather not have to take those steps and just be out there the whole camp. He’s a grinder. He’s a true pro just the amount of work he puts in just to get back to where he is off the ankle and back off this strained muscle. It’s a true statement to the leader and player he is. (I’m) excited to get him back.”
Cowboys camp observations: Ezekiel Elliott says Dak Prescott throwing with ‘pop’ in team drills - SportsDay Staff, DMN
Dak Prescott took part in 11-on-11 drills only Wednesday, according to Michael Gehlken.
Cowboys have concluded practice. QB Dak Prescott did not participate in 7-on-7, his competitive throwing focused on team period. Prescott took 18 snaps in 11-on-11, completing 11 of 12 passes. Only incompletion was batted. Prescott remains on track for Week 1.
Rico Dowdle Out For Season; What’s Next at RB? - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
A hip injury has ended the season of Dallas’s leading rusher throughout the preseason, Rico Dowdle. While surgery may not be necessary, his season is over nonetheless.
Whether or not Dowdle will undergo surgery, he will not be allowed to return to the team this season.
NFL rules state that players must be on the 53-man roster for one day before being moved to the IR-Return list.
The Cowboys were able to get safety Israel Mukuamu back from the Covid-19 protocol list, taking the roster spot of Dowdle.
The team doesn’t have to make any more roster moves at the moment because they have players still under protocol.
...
With Dowdle out, that leaves the Cowboys with Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, JaQuan Hardy and Brenden Knox as true tailbacks. Rookie fullback Nick Ralston might get more of a look to carry the ball from the running back spot in this last preseason game Sunday against the Jaguars.
Cowboys guard Connor Williams enters pivotal contract season looking to increase his value - Mike Crum, Cowboys Wire
Coming out of college, Connor Williams displayed great athleticism and a knack for run-blocking. Now, entering a contract season, he’ll have to continue building on the positives.
Williams has been a solid pick for the Dallas Cowboys as he has increased his games started, snap count, and quality of play every season. He has built up his body in order to hold up inside while blocking more consistently, and also staying healthier. Many fans see Williams have plays where he is overpowered and use those highlights to exaggerate his poor plays into him being a poor player.
In the 2020 season, while the OL was in crisis with injuries, Williams not only started every game, and played every snap on offense, but he played his highest percent of the special teams snaps as well. Williams posted his best OL and PFF grades of his career, and was rated as the 21st-best guard in the league.
His deficiencies have lead some to speculate that Connor McGovern could be battling for the starting LG position, which hasn’t shown to be true in any substantial way in camp or in the preseason. Williams is a solid, young, starting OG in the league, who not only has experience at OT from college, but has also spent time moonlighting at center as a potential in-game backup.
Greg Zuerlein Passes Physical, Returning From PUP - Staff, DallasCowboys.com
While Dallas’ kicking game has struggled at times this preseason, their starting kicker looks to be ready to make his debut.
The Cowboys waived kicker Lirim Hajrullahu on Tuesday, a strong indication that Zuerlein is ready to return from offseason back surgery that has sidelined him for all of training camp and preseason to this point.
Zuerlein hasn’t practiced yet but has made gradual progress kicking on his own, special teams coordinator John Fassel said recently.
All along, the expectation has been that Zuerlein should be ready for the season opener and possibly kick in Sunday’s preseason finale against Jacksonville. With Hajrullahu waived, it looks like Zuerlein should be ready for Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys add 2 more players to COVID-19 list; 3 of 6 players are safeties - Stefan Stevenson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Cowboys will be tested at the safety position this week.
Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Connor Williams and safety Damontae Kazee were added to the team’s COVID-19 list on Wednesday.
The Cowboys now have six players and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn unavailable because of the coronavirus. Three of the players are safeties.
Four of the players have tested positive, including Williams and Kazee. The other two came in contact with COVID.
Only six Cowboys players were not vaccinated as of Saturday. The Cowboys coaching staff is 100% vaccinated.
The other Cowboys players on the COVID list include defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Malik Hooker, and safety Israel Mukuamu.
HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ 2021: Best Cowboys Storylines, Moments, Reaction for Episode 3 - Scott Polacek, Bleacher Report
‘Hard Knocks’ episode 3 aired with storylines and moments that included Dallas’s 20-14 loss to the Houston Texans in their third preseason game.
The narrator said the Ford Center was “the vision of one man, Jerry Jones.”
It makes sense, then, that fans chanted the Cowboys president’s name when he addressed them before a practice, but Tuesday’s episode wasn’t all about the lavishness that often defines America’s Team.
The players also got plenty of shine during sequences that included rookie running back JaQuan Hardy struggling with his contacts until he switched to rec specs, cornerback Trevon Diggs Facetiming with his brother—who just so happens to be Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs—and Amari Cooper’s return to practice as he recovers from an ankle injury.
BTB Podcast Schedule
- Monday: Jersey Boyz with Dave Sturchio, Bret Ernst, and Keith Ernst
- Tuesday: The 75O with Tony Casillas and RJ Ochoa
- Wednesday: Talkin’ The Draft with Connor Livesay, Cole Patterson, and Dalton Miller
- Thursday: Ryled Up with Roy White and Tom Ryle
- Friday: Girls Talkin ‘Boys with Kelsey Charles and Meg Murray
- Saturday: Cowboys Hoy with Mauricio Rodriguez
We also offer daily episodes of The Ocho where we give you that day’s latest headlines so that you always stay caught up. The BTB podcast network is available on all major podcast avenues.
You can find your preferred platform right here. Make sure to subscribe, rate the feed, and leave a review! Our latest episode is available in the feed down below.