Dallas Cowboys News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24

Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks

Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.

Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.

Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy Addresses Week 10 QB Usage; No Future Starter Decision Made

As a final decision is sought out in terms of how Dak Prescott will proceed with respect to his hamstring injury, the Cowboys need to sort out who will start under center for the remainder of the campaign. Discussions will take place on whether Cooper Rush will get the nod next week or if he will be replaced by Trey Lance.

[RELATED: Jerry Jones Confirms No In-Season Coaching Changes Will Be Made]

Rush played most of Sunday’s contest – a blowout loss to the Eagles in which Dallas mustered only two field goals – completing 13 of 23 passes for 45 yards. He also fumbled twice, something which contributed to the Cowboys’ overall turnover problem in the loss. The 30-year-old now has seven starts to his name, all with the Cowboys.

Lance saw time at different parts of the game, and overall he went four-for-six passing with an interception. The former 49er added 17 yards on three carries, and his rushing ability gives him a different skillset than Rush as the Cowboys contemplate their options. Heading into Week 10, it was clear Rush was the team’s preferred choice under center; it ultimately came as little surprise that Lance was included in certain aspects of the game plan, however.

“We’re not there yet,” head coach Mike McCarthy said in his post-game press conference (video link). “I mean, we had a package for him. We wanted to get him into the flow of the game was the thought process coming in here. Then to get him in when we did, then I took him out on the third down… I put Cooper back in for that play, for third down, we had the fumble, the turnover there. Something I’ll obviously discuss tomorrow.”

Acquired via trade after the 49ers elected to move on from him, Lance did not see any playing time last year. Prescott’s injury has opened the door for the former No. 3 pick to receive a look during the second half of the campaign, though, something which would greatly influence his market value. Lance, 24, joins Rush in being a pending free agent.

Sitting at 3-6 on the year, the Cowboys’ prospects of a postseason berth are increasingly bleak. Once Prescott’s attention fully turns to rehab, the quarterback spot will no doubt be one focused largely on evaluation to close out the season. It would thus come as no surprise if both Rush and Lance were to see notable time, but no decision for Week 11 has been made yet.

Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Not Interested In Midseason Coaching Change

Despite a 34-6 loss to the Eagles dropping Dallas to 3-6 on the year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not interested in firing head coach Mike McCarthy before the end of the regular season, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota.

Jones added that he regretted firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start to the 2010 season, per Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, and also referenced moving on from Chan Gailey in 2000 after just two years as head coach, both of which included playoff berths.

Jones’ comments indicate that McCarthy’s job is safe at least through the end of the regular season. He entered 2024 with a .627 winning percentage as Dallas’ head coach, the best in franchise history, but has dropped to fourth place with a .592 winning percentage to date. Additionally, he is 1-3 in the playoffs during his tenure.

Jones even seemed to give McCarthy some cover if the Cowboys struggle during Dak Prescott‘s absence, which could be anywhere from six weeks to the rest of the season depending on a final opinion from a New York specialist.

“Anybody that loses their top quarterback has some adjustments to make and they’re usually adjusting uphill,” said Jones on Sunday, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS

One of those adjustments could be starting Trey Lance in Week 11, something McCarthy will consider this week, according to Hill. Lance played 15 snaps in Week 10 after Cooper Rush only managed 45 passing yards on 23 attempts. Lance completed four of his six attempts for 21 yards plus an interception to close out Dallas’ blowout loss.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Seeking Final Opinion On Surgery

NOVEMBER 10: Prescott confirmed that he will be in New York on Monday to seek a final opinion on his partial right hamstring avulsion, per WFAA’s Ed Werder.

If the specialist determines that surgery is necessary, then it will take place in New York this week with a three-to-four month recovery period. If Prescott avoids surgery, he will still need six-to-eight weeks to heal before he can return to the field, according to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.

NOVEMBER 9: After the Cowboys baffled the media by not placing quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve today, reports have followed detailing the reasoning for the delay. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Prescott is still seeking multiple opinions as he attempts to avoid surgery.

After it was reported that Prescott had suffered a partial hamstring tendon avulsion, it became clear that the 31-year-old would miss an extended period of time. Further investigation of the injury determined that it may be necessary for Prescott to undergo season-ending surgery. Yesterday it was announced by team officials that Prescott was headed for injured reserve, but at this point, no such transaction has been made.

Schefter reported today that the plan is for Prescott to undergo the season-ending surgery. The only reason he hasn’t already is because he plans to seek “the opinion of one final specialist.” Prescott flies to New York next week to meet with the specialist. If the specialist agrees with every other opinion so far, the quarterback will undergo surgery on Wednesday.

Multiple sources set the recovery timeline for the surgery at six to eight weeks. Cowboys staff are already convinced that he’ll require surgery, so it wouldn’t make a difference whether they place him on IR today or later this week. If, by some miracle, the specialist comes away with a different opinion, the Cowboys keep open the potential option for Prescott to return sooner.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/24

Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.

Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.

DE Micah Parsons To Return In Week 10

NOVEMBER 9: Parsons will indeed return to the lineup on Sunday, Schefter’s colleague Todd Archer reports. While Dallas will be without Prescott against the Cowboys – and quite possibly the rest of the season – the team’s defense will receive a major boost with Parsons back in the fold.

NOVEMBER 4: The Cowboys had a rough Sunday as injuries affected the availability of newly paid offensive stars Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. With news that Prescott’s injury would likely result in a multi-week absence, the Cowboys should feel some relief to hear that their defensive star, Micah Parsons, could be gearing up for a return this week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Back after a Week 4 win over the Giants, the Cowboys saw Parsons suffer a high ankle sprain. While they initially looked at a then-approaching 10-day break between games with optimism, it quickly became apparent that Parsons’ injury was worse than expected. Further tests revealed a more realistic timeline of two to four weeks. Five weeks and four missed games later, Parsons is finally rumored to be ready for a return. Schefter quotes a source who claims Parsons “should be back” this weekend for a divisional matchup against the Eagles.

Like Prescott, Lamb was also injured yesterday, but it appears that the star wideout will avoid missing any time. Todd Archer of ESPN reports that Lamb was dealing with an AC joint issue in his right shoulder during yesterday’s loss to the Falcons.

While the injury caused Lamb to miss some snaps, he was able to return to the field and play through the issue, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. WFAA’s Ed Werder confirmed that Lamb’s MRI results today were encouraging and that, based on his ability to play through the injury, Lamb may not miss any time. He’ll undergo treatments throughout the week to determine his status for this Sunday’s matchup with Philadelphia.

The 2024 season has not gone according to plan so far for the 3-5 Cowboys. Perhaps with Parsons returning to the field, a defense that’s allowed the sixth-most points in the NFL can start to find its stride. Lamb likely won’t be rushed back with Prescott on the bench, but if he’s able to play safely with no risk of furth injury, expect Lamb to be out there as a reliable target for Cooper Rush.

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Headed To IR, Aiming To Avoid Surgery

NOVEMBER 9, 1:36PM: In an interesting decision, the Cowboys have elected not to place Prescott on injured reserve today. According to Ian Rapoport, they have only submitted their standard gameday practice squad elevations today, deciding not to make a transaction for their injured quarterback.

While this does leave open the possibility that Prescott may not need to miss four weeks, allowing him to return earlier, it could hinder a comeback, as well. If Prescott is, indeed, still headed for IR, and the Cowboys wait until after tomorrow’s game to make the move, it will delay his return one week more than it would be if they made the move today.

NOVEMBER 8, 4:00PM: Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the team is planning to put Prescott on injured reserve on an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Prescott will be sidelined for at least the Cowboys’ next four games, though Jones indicated that the team is not sure how long his absence will last.

“Right now, I don’t think anyone knows whether it will be four weeks, six weeks or the season. We’ll just have to continue to monitor that and see where it takes us,” said Jones on Friday. 

NOVERMBER 8, 12:38PM: The hamstring injury which left Dak Prescott sidelined for the end of the Cowboys’ Week 9 contest will lead to missed time. It remains to be seen if season-ending surgery will be required, but the quarterback’s preference would be to avoid it.

“He doesn’t want surgery,” owner Jerry Jones said of Prescott during a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Jon Machota of The Athletic). “He wants to be on the field and go for it. We’ll just see how it goes here.”

Nevertheless, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys plan to move Prescott to injured reserve today or tomorrow. That move will ensure at least a four-game absence and leave the team shorthanded on offense while attempting to return to playoff contention. Sitting at 3-5 on the year, Dallas’ postseason prospects were already in question, but shutting Prescott down for a notable stretch would hurt them even more.

Updates from earlier in the week pointed to an IR move, so it would come as no surprise if Dallas ultimately takes that route. Provided the team does so, Cooper Rush will be in position to handle QB1 duties with Trey Lance being elevated to the status of backup. The latter is not under consideration to serve as the Cowboys’ starter at this point, something which is signficant since both signal-callers are pending free agents. Rush has made six starts and 30 appearances in his career, all with the Cowboys.

The 30-year-old’s most recent run atop the depth chart came in 2022, when he logged five starts in place of an injured Prescott. Rush went 4-1 in those contests, although he managed only 116.8 passing yards per game during that span while throwing five touchdowns and three interceptions. Improved efficiency through the air will be critical over the coming weeks for Rush and the offense given Dallas’ lack of success on the ground this season.

Considering Prescott’s $60MM-per-year extension signed this offseason, a cautious approach on the team’s part would be sensible. That is especially true given Dallas’ record and steep path to the playoffs as things stand. As Jones noted, however, more time will likely need to elapse before a final decision is made with respect to surgery. As Rush prepares to take over for the foreseeable future, Prescott’s health status remains uncertain.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/24

Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Booth has been unable to remain in the mix for two teams, being traded from the Vikings and now cut from the Cowboys’ 53-man roster. But Dallas will still attempt to develop the Clemson alum, bringing him back after he cleared waivers. The former second-round pick made a start for the Cowboys, after being traded straight up for fellow CB Nahshon Wright in August, but has only logged 38 defensive snaps in three games this season.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Slayton, Ojulari, McCloud, Cowboys, Mingo

Despite rumored trade interest, the Giants were not interested in dealing wide receiver Darius Slayton at the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

The 2-7 Giants were thought to be sellers at the deadline as they ponder the team’s future, especially at the quarterback position. Slayton is set to be a free agent after the season and New York has yet to explore an extension with their 2019 fifth-round pick, so a trade could have recouped some value for the Giants if they were planning to part ways in the offseason.

Not only has Slayton been extremely consistent in the NFL, with at least 45.0 yards per game in four of his five seasons, he is on pace for one of the best seasons of his career with 32 catches for 469 yards through nine games. While he doesn’t have the same pedigree as other receivers who were moved at the deadline like Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins, Slayton was statistically outperforming both players even though all three were dealing with uneven quarterback play.

But rather than enter the active receiver trade market, the Giants held onto Slayton. It’s possible the team wants to keep him in New York past this season, but they may also be trying to field the most competitive team possible for the rest of the season. They declined to trade Saquon Barkley at the 2023 deadline for the same reason, per Raanan.

Cowboys Not Considering Starting Trey Lance Over Cooper Rush

Trey Lance has been on the Cowboys’ roster for more than 14 months. Dallas added the former San Francisco starter after Sam Darnold had beaten him out for the 49ers’ QB2 job in 2023, effectively going forward with a roster stash. But Lance has not made much progress with his second NFL team.

The former No. 3 overall pick entered this season as the Cowboys’ third-stringer, doing so after being inactive throughout the 2023 slate. Any notions of him factoring into the team’s 2025 starter conversation were buried once the team gave Dak Prescott a record-smashing extension (four years, $240MM). With Prescott moving to IR, the door is open for Lance. For the time being, however, a 3-5 Cowboys team does not appear to have designs on starting him.

[RELATED: Micah Parsons Expected Back In Week 10]

Cooper Rush is the locked-in starter over Lance, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who indicates the team believes the veteran provides a better chance to win. Lance-specific packages may be implemented, but Graziano adds no consideration is being given to him leapfrogging Rush on the depth chart for a potential extended look. This comes after Stephen Jones kept the door open for Lance work amid Prescott’s hamstring injury.

With the Cowboys teetering on the brink of dropping out of the playoff chase during a season in which Mike McCarthy is a lame duck, it is certainly understandable the coaching staff is not interested in long-term evaluations just yet. Whether ownership could eventually intervene could be an interesting subplot for this year’s Cowboys edition, especially if the team’s current losing streak continues without Prescott, who is guaranteed to miss at least four games.

Dallas has held its own with Rush at the helm in the past, going 5-1 with the former UDFA as the starter. Rush, who is five years into his second Cowboys stint, replaced Prescott in September 2022 — after the longtime starter suffered a thumb injury. Prescott missed five games that season, and Rush earned praise by going 4-1 as a starter during that stretch. He completed less than 59% of his passes, however, at just 6.5 yards per clip. Prescott already exited Week 9 ranked 25th in QBR, highlighting issues with the quarterback’s performance and the team around him. It will be interesting to see how Rush fares in this situation, as he now holds the keys to the Cowboys reentering playoff discussions or moving toward the NFC basement.

An midsummer report indicating Lance had a chance to usurp Rush did not precede such a move, as Rush held onto the No. 2 QB gig during training camp. The Cowboys gave Lance extensive preseason work, as the North Dakota State alum has a historically thin resume — for a top prospect, at least — in terms of game work post-high school. The Cowboys were tied to a fully guaranteed $5MM on Lance’s contract by trading for him, but they joined the Steelers (Justin Fields), Jaguars (Mac Jones) and Broncos (Zach Wilson) in declining the fifth-year option on a traded first-round QB from the 2021 class.

With Rush a fairly known commodity at 30, any Lance work would immediately generate more interest in Dallas. Lance, 24, has not seen any regular-season action since a fractured ankle sustained in Week 2 of the 2022 season moved him out of the 49ers’ starting lineup. The 49ers had reached a renegotiated deal with Jimmy Garoppolo as Lance insurance that year, after the team spent the offseason dangling Garoppolo in trades. With Lance proving unready, Garoppolo (and then Brock Purdy) piloted San Francisco back to the NFC championship game. Darnold then beat out Lance, who had effectively lost his job to a former seventh-round pick, leading him to Dallas.

The Cowboys have now given up fourth-round picks in trades for Lance and Jonathan Mingo, the latter transaction occurring Tuesday. While Mingo is signed through 2026, Lance is not headed toward 2025 free agency with any momentum. The Cowboys could potentially provide some by greenlighting some game work, but more than a year into his Dallas tenure, it is notable the team is not looking into moving him past an eighth-year backup to replace Prescott.