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Cowboys To Shut Down CeeDee Lamb

December 26th, 2024 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Battling a shoulder injury for a few weeks, CeeDee Lamb will not continue to play through the issue. The Cowboys are shutting down their recently extended wide receiver.

Additional testing conducted this week will lead the Cowboys (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) to sit Lamb during the season’s final two games. Lamb, however, is not expected to need surgery. It could be implied from this report that Lamb would have remained active had the Cowboys been vying for a playoff spot. Now that they are eliminated, their top weapon will be shut down.

Lamb signed a monster extension this offseason, with the Cowboys giving in on term length. Preferring five- or six-year deals, the Cowboys granted Lamb a four-year re-up worth $168MM ($67MM at signing). Lamb’s $25MM 2026 base salary will lock in by 2025. This shoulder setback figures to be relatively minor for the fifth-year wideout in the grand scheme, as no surgery being expected should not threaten any training camp availability.

It will be somewhat interesting if this issue impacted Lamb’s availability for voluntary Dallas workouts come April. Those will be of greater importance if the Cowboys do not give Mike McCarthy another contract. Lamb being off the field will hinder Dallas’ ability to add more wins to their season total, something that would play into the team’s thinking on McCarthy. Despite being a lame duck, however, the fifth-year Cowboys HC has seemingly reestablished some momentum as he attempts to cement his case to stay.

Dak Prescott‘s midseason hamstring injury hampered Dallas’ passing attack, but Lamb has remained productive. The 2020 first-round pick posted his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, finishing with 101 catches for 1,194 yards. While this is well south of where Lamb got to in 2023 (135/1,749), he played 17 games and had Prescott targeting him throughout. Making a handful of starts like he did in 2022, Cooper Rush has done a good job finding his All-Pro weapon. Lamb’s 79.6 yards-per-game number barely trails his 2022 rate (79.6). He will be back in place as Dallas’ lead wideout in 2025.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

December 24th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Two weeks remain in the regular season, and while a number of teams are jockeying for playoff spots several others are still in contention to land a coveted draft slot. It remains to be seen where the No. 1 selection will wind up.

The Giants and Raiders entered Sunday’s action with two wins apiece, and New York’s loss kept the team strongly in contention to kick off the draft in April. By virtue of winning against the Jaguars, though, the Raiders hurt their chances of finding themselves in that position. A top-two spot (or thereabouts) may be required to draft either of this year’s top passers, but a small move up the order positioning Vegas to add one could still be on the table.

Five teams currently sit a 3-12, and a head-to-head matchup between the Titans and Jaguars on Sunday will be key in deciding where each of them wind up. Another three squads own a 4-11 record, so plenty of potential exists in terms of changes being made to the order at the top of the board. Numerous expected suitors for a Day 1 quarterback (including teams like the Browns and Jets) may very well find themselves out of reach for Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders without a trade-up being necessary. The Panthers’ starting situation with Bryce Young is certainly not settled for 2025, but adding a passer on Day 1 would come as a surprise at this point.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. New York Giants (2-13)
  2. New England Patriots (3-12)
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
  4. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
  5. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
  6. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
  7. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
  8. New York Jets (4-11)
  9. Chicago Bears (4-11)
  10. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
  11. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
  12. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
  13. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
  14. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
  15. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
  16. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
  17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
  19. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
  20. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
  21. Houston Texans (9-6)
  22. Denver Broncos (9-6)
  23. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
  24. Washington Commanders (10-5)
  25. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
  26. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
  27. Green Bay Packers (11-4)
  28. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
  29. Buffalo Bills (12-3)
  30. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
  31. Detroit Lions (13-2)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/24

December 24th, 2024 at 6:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s minor NFL moves, including elevations for tomorrow’s Christmas Day doubleheader:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles 

San Francisco 49ers

The Cardinals – who were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday – will close out the season without either of their starting tackles. Both Johnson and Williams are dealing with knee injuries, and they will be shut down for the remainder of the campaign. The former was a full-time starter as a rookie last year and made 14 appearances in 2024 upon switching to the blindside. Williams signed a one-year deal in free agency to handle RT duties, but two separate knee ailments will limit him to six games played this year. The 27-year-old’s free agent stock will take a hit as a result.

Wallace has made 13 appearances in 2024, his first season with the Broncos. The veteran has handled part-time defensive duties along the way, while also chipping in on special teams. As Denver returns to health at the CB spot, though, Wallace will hit the waiver wire. Should he clear, head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos would like to re-sign him via a practice squad deal (h/t Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette).

Fashanu exited the Jets’ Week 16 contest on crutches, and it was recently reported he would miss the rest of the season as a result. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Tuesday surgery to repair the first-round rookie’s plantar fascia would be needed, but the team has since clarified a procedure will not take place. Fashanu is expected to recover in full through rehab.

Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys Future Could Be Tied To Mike McCarthy’s

December 23rd, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike McCarthy‘s job security with the Cowboys has been a key talking point throughout the campaign, and it will not be resolved one way or the other until at least the end of the regular season. Owner Jerry Jones has consistently praised the team’s head coach, who like the other members of his staff is on an expiring contract.

“All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he’s doing,” Jones said of McCarthy after the Cowboys’ win on Sunday night (via Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press). “Don’t have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do… after we’re through playing this year.”

Jones has remained steadfast in avoiding any declarations about McCarthy’s future since confirming the former Packers Super Bowl winner would remain in place through the current campaign regardless of the team’s performance. He has since left the door open to McCarthy receiving a new deal, but the way in which the season ends will play a role in determining Dallas’ direction. Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers represented the Cowboys’ fourth victory in their past five games, and delivering strong performances during the remaining two weeks could help McCarthy’s stock.

Regardless of what happens on that front, the status of the rest of the staff will be worth following as well. In the case of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, it remains to be seen what will happen, particularly if McCarthy is not retained. Dan Quinn‘s decision to take the Commanders’ head coaching job created a vacancy, and Zimmer returned to the Cowboys as DC after previously holding that title. The former Vikings head coach made it clear this offseason he would welcome the chance to serve as a head coach again, although he does not expect that opportunity to arise. When asked if McCarthy and Zimmer are viewed as a package deal in Dallas, Jones answered in the affirmative.

“In a way I do,” Jones said (via WFAA’s Ed Werder).“Especially after the last ball games. I think you’re seeing the best of Mike Zimmer. I should say you’re getting to see some of the best, and maybe the best is still ahead of us. It’s been really impressive [with] the attrition we’ve had and the availability of our players. I give him that.”

Dallas has been hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball, but the team’s 7-8 record offers optimism for the future if a return to health takes place in 2025. Plenty still needs to be decided in advance of next year (by which point team and player will hope to have a Micah Parsons extension worked out), but McCarthy and Zimmer may have helped their chances of remaining in Dallas beyond the next two weeks.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/24

December 21st, 2024 at 7:34pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

After being activated from injured reserve in early November, Bates only played two games before suffering a concussion. The 27-year-old has not played since Week 11 and will now miss the remainder of the season on IR. Bates is under contract through 2025.

Micah Parsons Aiming For Cowboys Extension Prior To Free Agency

December 20th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

A mutual interest exists between the Cowboys and Micah Parsons for a long-term extension to be worked out. Negotiations with the All-Pro edge rusher will be a central storyline during the offseason, but Parsons hopes to have a deal in place before the start of the new league year.

“I’m going to try and work with them as much as possible to help them attack free agency,” Parsons said about extension talks (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “I want to be back with this team. This offseason, I want to be here… I want to take big steps, so hopefully it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.”

Parsons stated before the 2024 campaign he would not engage in contract talks during the season. With Dallas set to miss the playoffs, though, a window of opportunity will soon open for team and player to reach agreement on a deal prior to free agency starting in March. The Cowboys are not expected to be aggressive in adding outside pieces this spring, and retaining in-house players will again be a top priority. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb secured new contracts ahead of Week 1 this year, and doing the same with Parsons will ensure stability along the edge.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones recently made comments which fell short of guaranteeing the 25-year-old would be extended this offseason, although he confirmed the team’s desire to avoid a trade or free agent departure next offseason. Owner Jerry Jones then made it clear no consideration has been given to a trade involving Parsons, who is on track for a fourth straight season with double-digit sacks despite missing time earlier in the campaign. Dallas made a record-breaking $60MM-per-year commitment to Prescott after Lamb’s extension checked in at $34MM per season (the second-highest figure for receivers).

Parsons has long been considered a candidate for a pact making him the league’s highest-paid edge rusher. That distinction currently belongs to Nick Bosa, whose 49ers deal carries an AAV of $34MM. In his most recent comments on a potential extension, however, Parsons has indicated reaching the top of the position’s pecking order may not be necessary to get a deal done. The Penn State product doubled down on that stance when again stating his desire for the Cowboys to bring back as many members of their current edge rush group as possible.

If no extension is worked out in the near future, the possibility could be in place that Parsons holds out from voluntary workouts during the spring. The three-time Pro Bowler is currently set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a major raise from his scheduled $21.32MM will be in store once a new deal is worked out. Parsons said he does not anticipate holding out from minicamp and/or OTAs in the event an agreement has not been reached; it will be interesting to see if successful negotiations prevent such a scenario from taking place.

Trevon Diggs Could Miss Start Of 2025 Training Camp

December 20th, 2024 at 10:38am CST by Ben Levine

DECEMBER 20: Diggs is expected to undergo bone graft surgery, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports. That procedure carries a longer recovery timeline than other surgical options, but it likely offers the best outcome in the long run. Moore notes a timeline is not in place with respect to when Diggs’ operation will take place, but in any event he faces a lengthy rehab process.

DECEMBER 16: Trevon Diggs‘ impending surgery won’t only knock the Cowboys cornerback out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign. During an appearance on 1053 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones admitted that Diggs likely wouldn’t be available for at least the start of training camp. Jones also confirmed that Diggs was playing through significant pain before suffering another cartilage issue.

[RELATED: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Set To Have Season-Ending Surgery]

“He was having to play with fluid in his knee,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “He was out there doing everything he can because he wants to play, he wants to compete, he wants to contribute. … But unfortunately he [suffered] a new injury that has to do with cartilage. It’s certainly a very legitimate injury that’s gonna take him some time to recover from. … I don’t think he’ll be a player during training camp. I think his timeline is going to be right about the start of the season.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is a bit more definitive with his timeline, noting that Diggs’ recovery could take up to eight months. That would keep the cornerback off the practice field until at least August, and depending on his required ramp-up period, Diggs could be forced to miss the early part of the regular season.

Rapoport clarifies that Diggs will undergo “surgery to repair an issue related to his articular cartilage.” We’ve already learned that this latest injury isn’t related to the player’s ACL tear from the 2023 campaign. In his comeback season in 2024, Diggs battled a torn calf while also missing two recent games with designations of groin and knee injuries. With his latest season-ending ailment, Diggs’ 2023 and 2024 campaigns will see him combine for 13 total appearances.

The Cowboys are surely hoping the former second-round pick can return to his dependable, All-Pro form, as Diggs is currently in the first year of his five-year, $97MM extension. The defensive back is only a few years removed from his prolific 11-interception season, and his 2022 follow-up was just as productive. In his limited looks over the past two years, sites like Pro Football Focus (subscription required) haven’t been as fond of his performance, but we could attribute the downturn to his lingering injuries.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/24

December 19th, 2024 at 8:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

While the Lions navigate a long list of injuries to their defense, the team did get some good news today, as linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin returned to practice. The 29-year-old suffered a neck injury in early November that required a stint on IR. While there seemed to be some initial pessimism surrounding the injury, the veteran will now have a chance to return for the stretch run of the season.

A former fourth-round pick, Reeves-Maybin spent the first five seasons of his career in Detroit before a one-year stay in Houston. He’s spent the past two seasons back in Detroit, including a 2023 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod for his special teams prowess. He’s continued to serve an important ST role in 2024, but he also saw time in 111 defensive snaps in eight games. That represented his highest defensive snap count since the 2021 campaign.

Jerry Jones Shoots Down Micah Parsons Trade Speculation

December 17th, 2024 at 7:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cowboys’ disappointing season has stirred much speculation about the future of the franchise, but owner Jerry Jones adamantly shot down any chance of trading Micah Parsons.

“That’s never been uttered in this organization that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” Jones said on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan via ESPN’s Todd Archer. 

Recent comments from Cowboys executive vice president and director of player personnel Stephen Jones snowballed into speculation that the team was considering trading their All-Pro pass rusher.

“Obviously we’re totally all-in on Dak [Prescott] and CeeDee [Lamb],” said Jones via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah [Parsons]. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”

That led to a postgame question for Parsons on Sunday regarding a potential offseason trade.

“I understand how that business side goes. There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else,” responded Parsons, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Obviously I’ve stated that I want to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.”

While Parsons could earn one of the league’s biggest defensive contracts on the open market, he seems open to less money if that means staying in Dallas.

“So, I would rather just be in the best situation, you know? At that point, I don’t think there’s a big difference between $30 million and $40 million in my eyes, you know?” said Parsons on December 9, per Archer. “At the end of the day,whatever it takes for me just to continue to be a Cowboy until I retire, that’s what I want,” he continued. 

The Cowboys picked up Parsons’ fifth-year option in March, keeping him under contract in 2025 for $21.3MM, but a long-term extension would free up more money for Dallas to address other holes on their roster.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

December 17th, 2024 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

This NFL season saw several teams slip out of contention quicker than usual, slimming wild-card races and expanding the pursuit for the No. 1 overall pick. Two teams now lead that race.

While no prospect on the Caleb Williams level is dangling for the Raiders and Giants, an interesting showdown has formed. With three weeks to go, the Giants would currently hold the top 2025 draft choice. But based on projected strength of schedule, the Raiders would win the tiebreaker if the results held. The team with the weaker overall strength of schedule would win that. The Giants still have a game against the 12-2 Eagles, while the Raiders’ upcoming matchup with the 3-11 Jaguars works in their favor.

The Giants have not held the No. 1 pick in the common draft era (1967-present), last making a choice atop a draft in 1965 (running back Tucker Frederickson). Their Eli Manning trade occurred after the Chargers had chosen the quarterback to start the 2004 draft. The Raiders have held the top pick once in the common draft era, famously choosing JaMarcus Russell to start the ’07 draft. Both teams have coaches fighting for their jobs, but each also has seen All-Pros (Dexter Lawrence, Maxx Crosby) removed from equations. Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders follow their Jaguars matchup with games against the Saints and Chargers. The Giants, who have dropped nine consecutive games, go Falcons-Colts-Eagles to close the season.

Five 3-11 teams sit behind the Raiders and Giants presently, with the NFL having nine teams who have already lost double-digit contests. If a Giants or Raiders win occurs, there are candidates to move toward pole position in what could be races for Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Though, a non-Giants or Raiders team finishing in the top two creates a bit more intrigue, as both those clubs are in dire need of QB help.

With an eye on teams’ projected strength of schedule based on current records, here is how the draft order looks with three games to go:

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
  2. New York Giants (2-12)
  3. New England Patriots (3-11)
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
  5. Carolina Panthers (3-11)
  6. Tennessee Titans (3-11)
  7. Cleveland Browns (3-11)
  8. New York Jets (4-10)
  9. Chicago Bears (4-10)
  10. New Orleans Saints (5-9)
  11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)
  12. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
  13. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
  14. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
  15. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
  16. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
  17. Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
  18. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
  19. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
  20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
  21. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
  22. Washington Commanders (9-5)
  23. Denver Broncos (9-5)
  24. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
  25. Houston Texans (9-5)
  26. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
  27. Green Bay Packers (10-4)
  28. Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
  29. Buffalo Bills (11-3)
  30. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
  31. Detroit Lions (12-2)
  32. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
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