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Dallas Cowboys Updates

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Updates: Safety help at nickel without Bland?

Sept. 12

8:45 a.m. -- With DaRon Bland not in the lineup for Sunday's home opener against the Giants, Brian Schottenheimer said on 105.3 The Fan that the team could look for help at the safety position to step up and play in the nickel spot. In doing so, he was complimentary of defensive cooridnator Matt Eberflus' ability to change things on a dime.

"One of the things I loved about [Eberflus] when I was going through the interview process, talking to people about him, is his ability to adjust and move things," Schottenheimer said on 105.3 The Fan. "I think we saw that with Matt and his staff in the second half against Philadelphia."

The two safeties on the active roster not named Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson are Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell. Thomas took some reps at nickel during OTAs and training camp in Oxnard, but did not practice on Thursday due to a personal, non-injury related reason.

Undrafted free agent Alijah Clark is currently on the practice squad, so he could get elevated along with fellow UDFA Zion Childress to get a chance against New York. Second-year nickel corner Reddy Steward is also an option for the Cowboys on the active roster, and will likely get the starting nod.

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Sept. 11

4:00 p.m. -- For the most part, Dallas' Thursday injury report remained the same aside from one new addition: Safety Juanyeh Thomas, who did not participate due to personal reasons that were non-injury related.

CB DaRon Bland (foot) once again did not practice as he's expected to be sideline for a few weeks, and S Malik Hooker (foot) was limited for the second day in a row.

On the Giants side, a majority of their players listed as DNP on Wednesday participated in practice in a limited capacity on Thursday, including starting OL Andrew Thomas (foot) and WRs Wan'Dale Robinson (ankle) and Darius Slayton (groin). Star WR Malik Nabers (back) went from a limited participant Wednesday to a full participant Thursday.

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Sept. 10

4:00 p.m. -- Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland was not seen on the field during the media's viewing period of practice on Wednesday, and was listed as DNP with a foot injury on the first injury report of the week.

Last season, Bland suffered a stress fracture in his foot during training camp that sidelined him until Week 12 against the Washington Commanders. It's unclear if this injury occurred on the same foot.

Safety Malik Hooker, who was also is dealing with a foot injury, was listed as limited in Wednesday's practice. For the Giants, starting OL Andrew Thomas (foot), and star DT Dexter Lawrence (NFR-personal) did not practice. Second-year WR Malik Nabers (back) was limited.

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Sept. 9

10:30 a.m. -- Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs played on a pitch count against the Eagles last Thursday, logging 26 snaps out of 62 total defensive plays. With the Giants coming up on Sunday, owner/GM Jerry Jones was asked if he believed Diggs would be back to a full-time player in Week 2.

"Well I think he's ready, yes..." Jones said with a slight chuckle. "Yes. He's ready to play."

Diggs has spent the last few months recovering from his second significant knee injury in as many seasons. His return to the field last week was ahead of even his own schedule, which he estimated to come between Week 2 and Week 4. Now, the ramp up process continues.

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Sept. 4

6:50 p.m. -- It's nearly time for the Dallas Cowboys to kick off their 2025 regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles, but that also means it's time for several to be listed as inactive for the game.

Mazi Smith headlines the group of Week 1 inactives after the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark via the trade of Micah Parsons, but the absence of Perrion Winfrey due to injury looms large here as well.

Joining Smith is rookie running back Jaydon Blue, along with fellow rookies Shemar James and Ajani Cornelius, as well as Hakeem Adeniji and Trevor Keegan.

Cornelius and Adeniji are both seated as Tyler Guyton returns to the field following a knee injury suffered in training camp, making Nate Thomas the swing tackle against the Eagles — Trevon Diggs also returning as well.

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4:30 p.m. -- Ryan Flournoy earned his way onto the active 53-man roster before being waived to make room for additional transactions, later re-signing with the Cowboys via their practice squad.

In preparation for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Flournoy has been elevated from the practice squad, along with linebacker Buddy Johnson.

This marks, obviously, the first of three allowed elevations for both players.

Bringing up Flournoy ensures the Cowboys have at least five receivers on their gameday roster for Thursday Night Football.

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Sept. 3

1:00 p.m. -- Trevon Diggs is back after a long journey of rehab from a season-ending knee injury in 2024.

The All-Pro cornerback carries no game designation heading into the matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles to open the 2025 season, following a week of full participation in each practice and no setbacks.

Joining him in being medically cleared to go is former first-round pick and starting left tackle Tyler Guyton, who suffered a bone fracture in his knee during training camp in Oxnard.

Guyton and Diggs are both expected to take the field at Lincoln Financial Field for Thursday Night Football.

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Sept. 2

3:00 p.m. -- Tuesday's injury report in the lead up to Thursday's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles was the same as Monday's.

Tyler Guyton, Trevon Diggs and Brevyn Spann-Ford were all full participants for the second straight day, a good sign of their availability to be able to play later this week. The question is whether or not Brian Schottenheimer and his staff decide to play them, or if they feel they need some more time after not being on the field. In terms of interchangeability, Schottenheimer said earlier Tuesday it's easier do at cornerback than it is offensive line.

Yesterday, Diggs told reporters that he felt there was a "75-80" percent chance he'd be able to play Thursday, and Guyton has relayed similar confidence as both recover from knee injuries.

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2:30 p.m. -- When the Cowboys signed DaRon Bland to his four-year extension on Sunday, attention immediately turned to what many think will be the next young Cowboys star that'll earn a pay day: Tyler Smith.

Smith is the least bit concerned about his contract at the moment, and instead has his full attention on Thursday's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Everything will happen in due time," Smith said. "The most important thing is focusing on Thursday."

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Sept. 1

4:37 p.m. - There was good news received by way of the Cowboys' injury report and Trevon Diggs on Monday.

The All-Pro cornerback continues to claw his way back to the field after a season-ending knee injury in 2024, having been removed from the team's PUP list ahead of roster cutdowns and, as such, is eligible to return as early as the Week 1 matchup against the Eagles in Philly.

He's certainly trending in that direction too, considering he was a full participant in team drills and practice on Monday, only three days ahead of kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field.

Diggs put his own odds of playing against the Eagles at "75-80 percent", and that is substantial, but if he's held out, look for newly-extended cornerback DaRon Bland to tandem with Kaiir Elam and a nickel corner that is TBD, for now, during Thursday Night Football.

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4:35 p.m. - It was an emotional rollercoaster for Perrion Winfrey during roster cuts, but it had a storybook ending for the veteran defensive tackle, going on to make the active 53-man roster in Dallas.

His journey is not without another pothole in the road however, it seems, having left practice on Sunday with a back issue that's been described as tightness.

Winfrey also did not take the field in Monday's practice as he continues to rehab the issue only two days prior to the Cowboys traveling to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in the season opener.

If Winfrey is unable to play in Week 1, it would make the decision to trade for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark very fortuitous for the Cowboys.

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4:32 p.m. - When Tyler Guyton went down with a knee injury back in training camp, it looked as if the second-year left tackle could miss the entire season with what the team doctors initially thought was a torn ACL.

Instead, it was bone fracture and Guyton is now on track to play the season opener, as he practiced in full at left tackle on Monday, which was the "Thursday" practice in a normal week, three days before kickoff.

If Guyton doesn't play, Nate Thomas was likely start and make his NFL debut.

Also returning to full practice was tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, having missed the last several weeks of practice and the preseason with an ankle injury.

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August 31

1:32 p.m. - Still just a few days removed from a trade that sent him from Green Bay to Dallas, Kenny Clark is trying to get settled in. Part of that process is figuring out the right jersey number.

On Sunday, Clark was on the field with his teammates for the first time, and wearing a new number from Friday when he was more of a bystander.

Clark has switched to No. 95, after initially agreeing to wear 96.

With the Packers, Clark spent his nine-year career in Green Bay and wore No. 97.

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August 30

10:30 a.m. -- After clearing waivers, the Cowboys have brought back wide receiver Ryan Flournoy to the practice squad.

Flournoy, who originally made the 53-man roster as the fifth wide receiver, is now on the practice squad, where he can be elevated up to three times to the gameday roster before needing to be added to the active roster. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been highly complimentary of Flournoy's ability on special teams, especially as a gunner.

The corresponding move to keep the numbers at 17 on the practice squad was the team releasing offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles.

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August 29

3:58 p.m. - Before ever playing in an NFL game, Zion Childress is already getting a lesson in the business side of things.

On Tuesday, the rookie cornerback was on the 53-man roster when the Cowboys initially trimmed it down from 91. But on Wednesday, he was released and subject to waivers. But Childress cleared waivers and has now re-joined the Cowboys on the practice squad.

The undrafted rookie from Kentucky had an impressive training camp and at one point found himself in the mix to compete for the starting spot at slot cornerback.

Childress still has a chance to play in the games as all practice squad players can be elevated to the game-day roster three times.

To make room on the practice squad, the Cowboys cut Kemon Hall, a cornerback that played in six games for the team last year.

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3:11 p.m. - As soon as head coach Brian Schottenheimer heard the news on the Micah Parsons trade, he immediately got on the phone. The coach said he thought it was necessary to communicate directly with some of the key players on the team to explain the reasoning and the focus moving forward.

One of those players who got the call was cornerback Trevon Diggs, who seems to be Parsons' closest friend on the team. Diggs and Parsons have more than just the catchy "7-11" connection, but even did a joint interview at training camp. Last week, Diggs commented on Parsons after the preseason game, serving as a spokesman for Parsons, who is now a former teammate.

Schottenheimer said he didn't want to get into specifics of his conversation with Diggs or any other player.

"I wanted them to hear my voice," he said, "You never know how guys are going to take news like that."

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August 28

5:20 p.m. -- Aside from the ground-breaking Micah Parsons trade on Thursday evening, the Cowboys also made another roster move, claiming offensive lineman Trevor Keegan off waivers.

The corresponding move was to release WR Ryan Flournoy, who was the fifth wide receiver on the roster and got heavy praise from Brian Schottenheimer for his abilities on special teams as a gunner.

With Kenny Clark also being acquired in the trade with Green Bay, the Cowboys will need to make another roster move in order to get back down to a 53-man roster.

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August 27

4:00 p.m. -- The Cowboys continued a long day of roster moves on Wednesday, as the 24-hour threshold passed for players on the 53-man roster to move to injured reserve while being able to return after four games instead of missing the season.

Rookie running back Phil Mafah and cornerback Caelen Carson were the two players that Dallas placed on IR Wednesday afternoon, opening up two spots for the active roster.

Those spots were filled by two veterans who were released, not waived, on Tuesday in offensive lineman Hakeem Adeniji and safety C.J. Goodwin.

As things stand right now, the Cowboys 53-man roster is set for Week 1 against Philadelphia and the team still has one remaining practice squad spot available.

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