Don't miss any of the action with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Cowboys' regular season. Presented by Blockchain.com
Oct. 3 Updates
3:52 p.m. - If Dak Prescott is going to play this week against the Rams, he'll need to practice on Wednesday, at least according to head coach Mike McCarthy, who said he wants his quarterback to have a full week of practice before returning to action.
"I definitely want to see Dak go through a full week of prep before he plays," McCarthy said on Monday. "I mean, we're not talking about (already missing) one week here or two. This is going to be a month (if Dak misses Sunday, which would be his fourth straight game out with a thumb injury).
Dak is scheduled to meet with the doctors on Tuesday, which will determine how this week goes. While it seems unlikely he would be ready to play against the Rams, the following Sunday in Philadelphia (Oct. 16) might be a more realistic return.
In the meantime, the Cowboys are 3-0 with Cooper Rush as the starter since Dak's Week 1 injury.
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3:49 p.m. - One of the more surprising players of the first four games this year has been Noah Brown, who continues to come up with big plays for the offense.
Brown had three catches for 61 yards against the Commanders and currently ranks second on the team in both receptions 18 and yards 274 through four games. His 15.2 average per catch leads the team.
He suffered a neck injury late in the game Sunday but head coach Mike McCarthy said he expects Brown to practice on Wednesday and should be available for Sunday's game in LA.
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3:45 p.m. - Defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna left the game early Sunday with a shoulder injury and didn't return. But the Cowboys are hopeful he will practice on Wednesday.
Bohanna has been one of the pleasant surprises of the first four games of the season and has solidified the Cowboys' run defense, especially in the middle.
A sixth-round pick in 2021, Bohanna started just one game last year but has started all four for the Cowboys here in 2022.
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Oct. 2 Updates
10:30 a.m. – Michael Gallup will officially make his 2022 debut for the Dallas Cowboys when they host the Washington Commanders on Sunday, his first game back after suffering a torn ACL in Week 17 of the 2021 season. Gallup was all but returned on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants, but decided to wait another week to prepare
Dak Prescott will not be joining him though, as expected, as the franchise quarterback continues to work his way back from a fractured thumb.
But the Cowboys will see the return of starting tight end Dalton Schultz, who missed the victory in Week 3 due to a knee sprain.
Along with Prescott, other inactives include Jayron Kearse, Nahshon Wright, Devin Harper, Matt Waletzko and rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert. Tolbert made his NFL debut last week in the absence of an injured Luke Gifford but with the return of Gifford as a special teams ace and Gallup to help headline the WR unit, the rookie will hope to find his way back to the field in Week 5.
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Oct. 1 Updates
3:23 p.m. – As expected, the Cowboys elevated quarterback Will Grier from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders.
Grier once again will back up Cooper Rush, who's starting a third straight game Sunday in place of injured starter Dak Prescott (thumb). The Cowboys on Friday ruled Prescott out against Washington.
This is the third practice squad elevation of the season for Grier, the limit for a player during the season. Beginning next week, the Cowboys would have to sign him to the active roster if they need him up for game day.
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Sept. 30 Updates
2:58 p.m. – Wide receiver Michael Gallup's game status for Sunday is not in question, according to Friday's practice report, as signs point to Gallup making his season debut against the Washington Commanders in Week 4.
Gallup has had full practice for a second straight week, and head coach Mike McCarthy said Friday morning that Gallup is on a "good path" toward hopefully playing Sunday. This would be Gallup's first game action since tearing his ACL in past January against Arizona and undergoing surgery in February.
Safety Jayron Kearse (knee), tight end Dalton Schultz (knee) and guard Connor McGovern (ankle) are listed as questionable for Sunday. Quarterback Dak Prescott (thumb) has been ruled out for Week 4, which means Cooper Rush is set to start against Washington.
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Sept. 29 Updates
2:47 p.m. – Quarterback Dak Prescott (thumb) was the only player on the Cowboys' current active roster who did not practice Thursday, as several players – including safety Jayron Kearse (knee) tight end Dalton Schultz (knee) and guard Connor McGovern – have returned to practice this week.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who briefly exited Monday's game against the New York Giants with a foot injury, was able to finish the game and has practiced on a limited basis this week -- a good sign for his availability to play Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Cowboys head coach McCarthy said the team medical staff "felt good" about Lawrence's foot injury heading into Week 4.
Lawrence had three sacks against the Giants in a 23-16 Cowboys victory.
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1:56 p.m. – Cooper Rush held no ill-will toward the Cowboys after they opted to part ways with him in favor of Andy Dalton, leading to a short stint for Rush with a Giants offense that was then led by former Dallas head coach Jason Garrett. Instead, when the Cowboys did call him for a reunion, he jumped at the chance and now, in 2022, he's 3-0 as a starter and has the team above .500 as they await the return of Dak Prescott.
"At that point, I just wanted to get back in the building," Rush said. "Obviously being here is a fortunate situation - knowing Kellen [Moore], the staff - so it was obviously a good fit. At that point, I just wanted to get back in: practice squad, whatever worked. Because once you're in, you've got a chance."
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1:37 p.m. – Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are now both enjoying the fruits of their labor over the past two weeks - the Cowboys having now risen from their Week 1 loss to a two-game win streak largely fueled by the success of the RB tandem behind Cooper Rush. It was Pollard punching the Giants into submission with his first 100-yard rushing game since Week 2 of the 2021 season but, in any given week, it could be either (or both) throwing the haymakers.
"I say this is definitely the best [the running game] has been in a while," Elliott said following practice on Thursday. "We just need to keep getting better and keep taking steps forward, and keep improving in the run game. … We have two different running styles you have to prepare against."
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Sept. 28 Updates
3:26 p.m. – Jayron Kearse is working his way back to the field for the Cowboys, having suffered a knee injury in the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He avoided being placed on injured reserve - which would've guaranteed he'd miss at least four games - but having already missed two, head coach Mike McCarthy says there's a chance he won't miss a third.
"I don't have odds for you, but he'll work [on Wednesday]," said McCarthy. "We'll give him the full complement tomorrow. We'll see how he comes out of the rehab part of today. He wants to go - I do know that.
"Tomorrow will be a big practice and the heaviest workload we have of the week."
In the absence of Kearse, players like Donovan Wilson have stepped up and in impressive fashion, but defensive coordinator Dan Quinn says the Cowboys "won't have a problem" fitting Kearse back into the mix.
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Sept. 27 Updates
2:00 p.m. – Cooper Rush continues to impress the entire NFL with his play, which includes his third career victory on Monday night.
As he takes over for the injured Dak Prescott, Rush has taken command of this offense and is turning heads left and right.
Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones was asked on 105.3 "The Fan" to assess the most impressive aspect of Rush's game. Jones named three key traits.
"No. 1, is his leadership. He's got confidence of the team," Jones said. "I think 2, is getting the team in rhythm. his knowledge of the offense and knowing where to go with the ball and how quickly he gets the ball out. I don't think they had a sack and didn't have many pressures either. I think the offensive line did a great job but it's really nice when you have a quarterback who knows where to go with the ball and gets it out in a timely fashion."
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1:30 a.m. — Tony Pollard wasn't in the mood to take any prisoners on Monday evening at MetLife Stadium. Going against a Giants defense that allowed more than 100 yards to Christian McCaffrey a week ago, Pollard and the Cowboys knew there was a meal to be had, and they planned on using both he and Ezekiel Elliott to enjoy the feast.
Pollard helped lead the Cowboys to a 23-16 victory and a 2-1 record after running all over the Giants for 105 yards on 13 carries, and Elliott added another 73 yards and a rushing touchdown on 15 handoffs - the tandem combining for 180 total yards from scrimmage.
"Yeah, we got into a real good groove today," said Elliott. "The O-line did their thing. They established that line of scrimmage, established the run early and in the second half we adjusted well and kept running well."
Cooper Rush was able to parlay the success in the run game to success in the passing attack, a plan the Cowboys have now successfully executed two weeks in a row; and they're now enjoying a two-game win streak as a result of that commitment.
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1:21 a.m. — It was a rough start for undrafted rookie tight end Peyton Hendershot against the New York Giants in primetime, but the self-proclaimed "Villain" got the last laugh. He bounced back from two penalties in the first half and delivered two critical catches for Cooper Rush in the second, finishing the game with 43 yards total on three catches.
"Yeah, Peyton's awesome," said Rush. "A guy who loves ball, wants to learn, both of those young tight ends, man, they're in it. They're great to work with, super happy, I mean Peyton bailed me out on a catch, an unbelievable catch behind him and then we got him on the sideline shot. Those guys are going to just keep getting better and better - it's very exciting."
Hendershot saw hefty playing time in the absence of starting tight end Dalton Schultz - ruled out just ahead of gametime with a knee sprain - and joined fellow rookie Jake Ferguson in providing Rush with additional weapons to challenge the Giants defense.
In the end, they did just that, and in large part due to Rush and the Cowboys trusting that they would.
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1:15 a.m. — There was no shortage of youth that contributed to the Cowboys victory over their division foe in Week 3, downing the Giants with a mix of contributions from key veterans and rookies who stepped up as needed, and while the NFL debut of Jalen Tolbert wasn't an explosive one - he contributed to the victory despite some adversity.
The rookie third-round pick narrowly missed on making a big play for Cooper Rush when a deep target down the sideline scraped off of his fingertips, but he was also one of the more disciplined players on Monday (and there's certainly value in that for the oft-penalized Cowboys) - Tolbert accounting for zero penalties and contributing on special teams as well.
He'd also grab his first NFL reception in the win over the Giants, a four-yard catch that helped move one of the Cowboys offensive drives forward. Tolbert can only improve going forward after finally getting his first taste of professional action, and the Cowboys have shown they're not afraid to ask him to be a big play threat - the rookie needing only to prove them right when given the chance.
It's unclear if Michael Gallup will be given the green light after being ruled inactive at gametime in Week 3, but despite the presence or absence of Gallup, the team has high hopes for Tolbert.
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1:11 a.m. — It's a team that's beginning to pride itself on resiliency in 2022, and Donovan Wilson had some of his own adversity to overcome in helping the Cowboys escape New York with their first division win of the season.
Wilson, a notable sure-handed tackler who has shown he can impact games, was unable to take down Saquon Barkley in the backfield on a play that ended in a 36-yard touchdown run that gave the Giants their first lead of the game in the third quarter - marking the second missed tackle by Wilson. He'd fight through, however, and flew in to deliver key takedowns thereafter.
A player head coach Mike McCarthy describes as an "impact" guy continues to show he is exactly that, also not allowing a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty get him down (on Daniel Jones as the quarterback ran down the sideline and out of bounds) to dampen his intensity.
And, as such, the word the Cowboys have made their mantra in 2022 again showed itself in Wilson: resiliency.
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Sept. 26 Updates
6:45 p.m. — Dalton Schultz was a gametime decision against the Giants after suffering a knee sprain in Week 2 but, after testing the injured knee ahead of kickoff, the veteran tight end was listed as inactive for "Monday Night Football".
He's joined by Michael Gallup who, after being a full participant in each practice this week for the first time since suffering a torn ACL in 2021, will not make his 2022 debut in Week 3.
With Dennis Houston waived and re-signed to the practice squad (not elevated for Week 3), and Gallup again joining the inactives, it will be rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert making his debut for the Cowboys along with nine-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Jason Peters, the latter having signed to the active roster on Monday from the practice squad..
Other inactives for the Cowboys include Dak Prescott, Jayron Kearse, Connor McGovern, Nahshon Wright and Luke Gifford. Gifford was a late addition to the injury report this week and will be replaced by Jabril Cox who, like Peters and Tolbert, has a chance at taking the field for the first time this season.
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3:05 p.m. — Jason Peters appears set to make his Cowboys debut Monday night against the New York Giants.
The Cowboys have signed Peters to the active roster and elevated quarterback Will Grier and tight end Sean McKeon from the practice squad for Monday's road game.
Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has been going through a football ramp-up on the practice squad since signing with the Cowboys in early September. He gives the team options at tackle and guard. First-round draft pick Tyler Smith has played well at left tackle the first two games. Second-year guard Matt Farniok has been filling in for Connor McGovern (ankle) at left guard.
The Cowboys created an open roster spot this week by waiving rookie wide receiver Dennis Houston, who has since signed to the practice squad.
Grier will back up Cooper Rush, who's set to start in place of Dak Prescott (thumb) for the second straight week. Prescott has been officially ruled out of Monday's game.
McKeon will provide depth at tight end with starter Dalton Schultz (knee) listed as questionable to play Monday.-
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Sept. 25 Updates
2:17 p.m. — The Cowboys added linebacker/core special teams contributor Luke Gifford to the injury report Saturday with a hamstring injury that limited his participation in practice. He's now listed as questionable for Monday night's road game against the New York Giants.
In addition to his primary role on defense and special teams, Gifford also was a lead blocker for Tony Pollard's first-quarter touchdown run against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.
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Sept. 24 Updates
1:31 p.m. – Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (knee), tight end Dalton Schultz (knee), linebacker Micah Parsons (illness) and defensive tackle Quinton Bohanna (neck) are officially listed as questionable for Monday night's road game against the New York Giants.
Gallup has had full practice all week as he points toward possibly making his season debut Monday. Bohanna was added to the injury report Friday with limited practice participation.
Schultz and Parsons got back into practice on a limited basis Saturday (an estimation because it was a walkthrough). Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones told reporters Thursday that the expectation is Parsons will be able to play Monday.
As expected, three players have been ruled out of Monday's game: quarterback Dak Prescott (thumb), safety Jayron Kearse (knee) and guard Connor McGovern (ankle).
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Sept. 23 Updates
10:37 a.m. – Jason Peters has a very good shot at potentially making his debut for the Cowboys when they visit the Giants on Monday, aided by the extra day of work this week, but head coach Mike McCarthy draws a red circle around Friday's workload as what will be a key factor in deciding his status for Week 3.
"He got a little more work yesterday," said McCarthy of Peters, also adding in a key note regarding Gallup. "This will be a big day for both Jason and Michael, really because they're [both] on the same work plan.
"We want to try and get both of those guys as much work as possible. I think Michael took somewhere between 16-18 [team reps], and Jason took more team reps than he did last week. We're definitely going to increase their practice load today in pads."
McCarthy also added that Gallup responded well physically to the added work on Thursday - a strong indicator he's trending in the right direction for Monday.
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10:34 a.m. – Micah Parsons was absent from practice on Thursday as he battles what the team describes as a cold, with owner and general manager Jerry Jones confirming on Thursday that it's not related to COVID-19, but the First-Team All-Pro linebacker will again miss practice on Friday as he recovers.
On Friday, head coach Mike McCarthy noted Parsons is "feeling better" and mirrors Jones' sentiment that there is no concern about his availability or ability to play and impact the battle with the Giants.
On a similar note, First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs was also not present at practice on Thursday but his was an excused one due to a personal matter, and he'll return to the field on Friday - per McCarthy - as the Cowboys ramp up preparation for Daniel Jones and the Giants offense.
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Sept. 22 Updates
12:00 p.m. – The Cowboys have brought back two players to the practice squad, including Dennis Houston.
The rookie receiver played in the first two games but was waived on Tuesday. He cleared waivers and is now back on the practice squad, along with defensive
end Mika Tafua, who spent all offseason and training camp with the team.
Houston, an undrafted rookie from Western Illinois, caught two passes for 16 yards in the opening game against the Bucs.
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10:44 a.m. – Micah Parsons won't take part in Cowboys practice on Thursday, per head coach Mike McCarthy, but not because of an injury. While Parsons did miss a handful of plays on the back end of the 20-17 victory over the Bengals on Sunday, McCarthy says the team's First-Team All-Pro linebacker "is fine" on the injury front.
He is, however, working through what's described as a "bit of a cold" and, as such, will be held out of practice as the team "plays it safe" with one of their defensive superstars.
Parsons delivered another two sacks in Week 2 to bring his team-high tally to a total of four on the young season, already nearly halfway to matching the 11 sacks he racked up over the course of his astounding rookie season.
There is currently not expectation the illness would impact Parsons' availability for the primetime divisional matchup against the New York Giants in a few days.
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10:43 a.m. – Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy stopped short of saying that wide receiver Michael Gallup will definitively play Monday night against the New York Giants, but he reiterated that the plan for
Gallup this week is a "full slate" of practice reps to get ready for his possible debut.
If Gallup does play Monday, don't expect a full "70 plays" in his first game back from offseason knee surgery, McCarthy said.
"At the end of the day, Michael being ready to play, we've already crossed the physical threshold," McCarthy said. "It's more about reps and getting him back into game-ready, not speed, but mind speed, getting him up to speed on the little things. (Thursday) will be his second padded practice since last year. It's really more about that. But he has great confidence in where he is physically."
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Sept. 21 Updates
10:41 a.m. – In a bit of a surprising move by the Cowboys front office, the decision was made on Tuesday to waive undrafted rookie wide receiver Dennis Houston; but the move wasn't made without a lot of discussion having been had.
On Wednesday, head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned several reasons for the possible release - pointing at nine-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Jason Peters (who is currently on the practice squad but has a chance at making his Cowboys debut in Week 3 against the Giants).
The same goes for Michael Gallup who, like Peters, is expected to get a "full slate" in practice this week and if he's a go in New York, would require his fair share of targets from Cooper Rush.
McCarthy also hinted strongly at more opportunities for Simi Fehoko and rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert - the latter having been inactive the first two weeks of the season. As for Houston, should he clear waivers, he would be eligible to sign with the Cowboys practice squad.
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10:39 a.m. – Wide receiver Michael Gallup will take a "full slate of reps" in practice this week as he inches closer to his return from offseason knee surgery, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said.
The Cowboys will take the full week before determining whether Gallup will be available to play Monday night against the New York Giants.
"We'll give him every opportunity to get ready," McCarthy said.
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10:37 a.m. – Safety Jayron Kearse (knee sprain) and guard Connor McGovern (high ankle) sprain are making progress with their injuries, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said.
McCarthy said both players had good rehab workouts Monday with the athletic training staff and will try to do more this week.
Kearse and McGovern were injured in the Cowboys' season-opening loss to Tampa Bay but were not placed on short-term injured reserve, an indication that they could return to action sooner than the four-week IR period.
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Sept. 20 Updates
8:42 a.m. – It'll be a late-week decision on Dalton Schultz's availability for the coming divisional matchup against the New York Giants on Monday night.
The starting tight end exited the 20-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with an apparent knee injury, putting his status for Week 3 in question. On Tuesday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones gave insight into the injury.
"I don't have anything definitive there," he told 105.3FM the Fan. "We'll see how it works. This is the news. This is the plan. We'll see how he works this week.
"Just got a sprain there, but the issue is whether he goes this week or not. I don't look for this to be — my assessment of it is it's not long-term, but it will be a question of whether or not he'll be affected this week. I know that we're all trying to see if he can do that."
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Sept. 19 Updates
5:11 p.m. – The Cowboys should have a much better idea on a return date for Dak Prescott this week.
When asked about the timetable for his quarterback, head coach Mike McCarthy said the team would know more in a few days.
"Let's get the stiches out first," McCarthy said, referring to a procedure that should occur this week.
Prescott underwent surgery on his right thumb earlier this week and the initial prognosis is anywhere from 4-8 weeks but the Cowboys opted not to put him on IR, which would immediately sideline him for four games.
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4:29 p.m. – The Cowboys were hoping to get fifth-round pick John Ridgeway back on the practice squad this week but he was claimed by Washington.
A rookie defensive tackle from Arkansas, Ridgeway spent the first week of the season on the 53-man roster but was waived on Saturday to make space for players needed for injuries.
Ridgeway could face the Cowboys when the Commanders come to AT&T Stadium on Oct. 2.
With him going to Washington, Ridgeway is now the only player in the Cowboys' 2022 draft class not to be with the team. Damone Clark is currently on NFI (Non-Football Injury) and the rest of the class is on the active roster.
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Sept. 18 Updates
8:48 p.m. – With the absence of Tarell Basham – placed on injured reserve this week with a thigh contusion - the Cowboys were looking for players like Dorance Armstrong to step up and make an impact against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he took the challenge head-on.
Armstrong, an unsung talent on the Cowboys defensive line over the past several seasons, made it his personal mission to help Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and others across the defensive line in bullying Joe Burrow and, as such, to shut down a potentially lethal Bengals offense.
In the harrowing 20-17 win at AT&T Stadium, Armstrong took Burrow down not once, but twice en route to his first-ever multi-sack game. It showed just why owner Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy have maintained so much confidence in the veteran pass rusher, leading to the club re-signing him this past offseason to a two-year deal.
After finishing the 2021 season with a career-high five sacks and nearly getting half of that entire year's production in just one game, the needle is pointing due north for Armstrong and a defense that has shown it can shut down some of the best arm talent in the NFL – sacking Burrow a total of six times on the afternoon.
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8:40 p.m. – With no Jayron Kearse on the field against the Bengals, the veteran safety sidelined with a knee injury suffered in Week 1, the expectation was the Cowboys would deploy second-year talent Israel Mukuamu and impressive undrafted rookie Markquese Bell in sort of a two-for-one deal to replace the production of Kearse; but it was Donovan Wilson who stole the show at the position.
Wilson finished the fight with the Bengals as team leader in tackles, eight in all with six of them solo, and several of them were timely in shutting down critical third-down attempts by Burrow and the Bengals offense.
The former sixth-round pick had a breakout season for Dallas in 2020 before seeing his 2021 season mostly derailed by injury, but he showed on Sunday that he's not only completely healthy, but that he's back to being an impact player as well. This will serve the Cowboys well both now and when Kearse returns - because the more special players on the roster, the better.
Look for Wilson to be a key part of what defensive coordinator Dan Quinn looks to do against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants in Week 3 as well, seeing as it's unlikely Kearse – who is progressing well but still a big question mark for that contest – may not be available to return quite yet.
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8:21 p.m. – Backup linebacker Luke Gifford was used in a different role Sunday against the Bengals, lining up on offense for the first time in his career.
In need of a fullback, Gifford was inserted into a goal-line package, leading the way for Tony Pollard's 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Gifford played mostly on special teams, but could have a role in the short-yardage situations, especially with Connor McGovern (ankle) out for a few games.
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1:59 p.m. – It's almost time for kickoff in the coming matchup between the Cowboys and the Bengals, and that means both teams have to decide which players won't suit up in Week 2 - instead being inactive for the contest.
For the Cowboys, three of the slots were named early in the week before becoming official on Friday with Dak Prescott, Michael Gallup, Connor McGovern and Jayron Kearse having all been ruled out with injury.
The team went on to add rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert to the list, marking the second time he's been inactive in as many games to start the season. Tolbert is "crushing it" in practice the last two weeks - per head coach Mike McCarthy - but is also "a step behind" others in the WR group after suffering a hamstring injury that slowed him in training camp before now being "full go" once again.
Tarell Basham was initially ruled out as well but having now been moved to IR for the signing of Cooper Rush to the active roster negates the need to list him as inactive, and it is instead linebacker Jabril Cox joining Tolbert in not suiting up for a second consecutive game as he continues to ramp up from a torn ACL suffered in 2021; and cornerback Nahshon Wright rounds out the list.
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Sept. 17 Updates
12:50 p.m. – As expected, the Cowboys officially signed quarterback Cooper Rush from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, with Rush set to start in place of Dak Prescott (thumb) Sunday against the Bengals.
The Cowboys also signed kicker Brett Maher from the practice squad to the active roster. To make room for Rush and Maher, the club waived rookie defensive tackle John Ridgeway and placed defensive end Tarell Basham (thigh) on injured reserve. Basham was injured in the second half last Sunday against the Bucs and will now miss a minimum of four weeks.
With their two available practice squad elevations, the Cowboys elevated quarterback Will Grier and rookie center Alec Lindstrom.
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Sept. 16 Updates
2:44 p.m. – The Cowboys have officially ruled wide receiver Michael Gallup out of Sunday's game against the Bengals, though Gallup continues to move closer toward a return to game action.
Gallup was again a limited participant in practice this week but progressed to seven-on-seven drills after doing only individual drills last week. He has not played in a game since tearing his ACL this past January. Thursday was his first padded practice since the injury.
"Michael's done an excellent job of hitting those (injury rehab) targets and I think we're kind of in the final stages here," head coach Mike McCarthy said.
As McCarthy said earlier in the week, quarterback Dak Prescott (thumb), safety Jayron Kearse (knee), guard Connor McGovern (ankle) and defensive end Tarell Basham (thigh) also have been ruled out of Sunday's game.
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Sept. 15 Updates
11:01 a.m. – The determination on when Jason Peters will make his debut for the Cowboys remains rooted in how quickly he can both reacclimate to the rigors of regular season football - having participated in no training camp reps for any club - and his acclimation to the offensive scheme and personnel in Dallas.
That said, he's continued to make progress toward said debut, and that includes having taken on more work in practice on Wednesday, per McCarthy, and there's a good chance he'll be tasked with doing a bit more on Thursday as well.
One day after the nine-time Pro Bowl lineman did some work in individual drills, expect more of that on Thursday, at minimum, but if you're wondering where Peters will play when given the green light - having already declared he's willing to be whatever the Cowboys need - you won't find that reveal coming from McCarthy just yet.
"I can't tell you that," McCarthy said with a smirk and hint of gamesmanship. "Not yet."
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11 a.m. – Wide receiver Michael Gallup again had limited participation in Wednesday's practice but did take part in seven-on-seven drills, head coach Mike McCarthy said.
That's continued progress for Gallup in his recovery from offseason knee surgery. The Cowboys are in pads Thursday – another chance for him to take a step forward.
"This will be his first padded practice since last year. … If he crosses that hurdle today, then hopefully we'll do more next week," McCarthy said.
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10:59 a.m. – Quiet as it's kept, James Washington is progressing well in his recovery from a fractured foot suffered in training camp. The veteran receiver made an appearance at Cowboys practice on Wednesday - doing rehab work off to the side on resistance bands - with no visible aid on his surgically-repaired foot.
"He's moving forward," said head coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday.
He remains on injured reserve for now, unable to return until Week 5 at the earliest, and would be a welcome addition for a Cowboys receiving group that floundered out of the gate but could soon see Washington join a nearly-ready Michael Gallup on the field with Cooper Rush and eventually Dak Prescott.
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10:42 a.m. – The Cowboys drafted a receiver in the third round to provide immediate help to a position of need. Yet, Jalen Tolbert was no active for Sunday's game with the Bucs, passed over by an undrafted rookie and a fifth-round pick from last year.
But head coach Mike McCarthy explained why Tolbert has if further behind the others but doesn't sound discouraged by his development.
"He's a young player that a lot has been asked of him," McCarthy said of Tolbert. "We were so impressed when he arrived. The hamstring (injury) really played a factor in this. Having him play all the positions, we treated him like we did with CeeDee (in 2020)."
But McCarthy said special teams is what is currently holding Tolbert back, stating that playing all the positions at receiver didn't allow him much time to learn the spots in the kicking game.
"He's a step behind the other guys (on special teams). That's really all it is. It's just where Jalen is. You have to recognize Dennis and Simi for what they've done. The last few weeks, he's been crushing it. I look for him to get more opportunities."
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Sept. 14 Updates
4:27 p.m. – Rookie Tyler Smith has received praise for his NFL debut at left tackle against the Bucs, but the first-round draft pick wants to build on those 69 snaps heading into this Sunday's game against Cincinnati.
"They said it was good to finally get my toes in the bucket, but to constantly improve," he said. "We're never pleased. We're never satisfied. … Just keep getting better every day."
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4:25 p.m. – After a productive week returning to practice on a limited basis, wide receiver Michael Gallup could progress to some group drills this week, head coach Mike McCarthy said.
Gallup continues to work his way back from offseason knee surgery. The Cowboys did not place him on short-term injured reserve to start the season, which means there's optimism he could return to game action sometime in the first four weeks. But it's uncertain at this point whether Gallup could be available for this Sunday's game against the Bengals, as he would likely need to put some full practices together first.
Gallup had limited participation in Wednesday's practice, according to the official injury report.
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10:55 a.m. – Quarterback Dak Prescott is back at The Star after undergoing right thumb surgery Monday, and head coach Mike McCarthy echoed Jerry Jones' comments that the team is optimistic about Prescott's return timeline following the procedure to repair the thumb fracture.
But McCarthy didn't want to speculate on a return date for Prescott until he gets through the "first stage," which is the healing process after surgery.
"Let's get over that hurdle first," McCarthy said. "I know at the conclusion of the surgery, the surgeon was very optimistic. … We need to get past these seven days, then we'll have a better idea."
Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday that Prescott is not expected to go on short-term injured reserve, which would mean a minimum four-week absence according to IR rules.
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Sept. 13 Updates
12:33 p.m. – All indications point towards Cooper Rush getting the start this Sunday in place of Dak Prescott. But backup Will Grier shouldn't be dismissed in the equation.
In fact, on 105.3 "The Fan" on Tuesday, owner Jerry Jones mention both Rush and Grier when asked about the direction the team is going to replace Dak, and if signing an outside veteran is possible.
"Consequently the people that are ready to play quarterback for us are the ones that played preseason for us, Cooper Rush and [Will] Grier. They had a real competition," Jones said. "Grier got slowed there right at the end with a hamstring issue. But should be through that now. So, we got a lot of good snaps for those guys both in our practice session as well as all the preseason games for the most part. Those guys know the offense well. They've had a lot of reps in it, and consequently give us our best shot."
Grier is currently on the practice squad, as was Cooper Rush last week. But the Cowboys can elevate players on Saturday before the game.
In two preseason games, Grier completed 18 of 32 passes for 186 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions (94.0 QB rating). Grier also has some mobility, rushing for 35 yards on six attempts.
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Sept. 12 Updates
11:07 a.m. – Dak Prescott, by all accounts, will not take the field again for the Cowboys anytime soon, having suffered an injury to the thumb on his throwing hand in the fourth quarter of the team's 19-3 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 1. The keys will now be tossed to backup quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Will Grier for the foreseeable future, that is unless the Cowboys entertain the addition of an outside talent to aid in their effort to weather the storm.
In speaking with 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday, chief operating officer Stephen Jones didn't rule out the possibility of the latter being in consideration - also making clear that both Rush and Grier have the inside track.
"Certainly, we'll be evaluating all options," Jones said. "Cooper [Rush] stepped in and did a great job for us last year when Dak had to sit out a game. He knows the system. Will Grier knows the system."
Rush finished the regular-season opener for an injured Prescott and went on the complete seven of 13 pass attempts for 64 yards, but he'll be more rightfully judged on what he can or cannot do after having a week of preparation with the first team in practice. He and Grier locked horns in a fiery battle for QB2 during training camp prior to Grier being slowed with a groin injury, and the Cowboys look to have one eye on possibly giving both a shot while also understanding what's at stake for the 2022 season.
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10:57 a.m. – Without Amari Cooper, the onus expectedly falls onto CeeDee Lamb to be the definitive WR1 for the Cowboys in 2022 and beyond, but that campaign is off to a rough start. In the Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium, the former first-round pick was not in Pro Bowl form - to say the very least - ending the contest with just two catches for 29 yards on 11 targets.
"We've certainly got to step up and do better," Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan. "...We've got to be better there. CeeDee has got to improve and work his way into being the No. 1 receiver. We think we can."
Lamb will get a chance to redeem himself when the Bengals claw their way onto the field in Week 2, but the degree of difficulty has increased by way of injury to Prescott's throwing hand that could sideline him for several weeks. That means Lamb will have to find chemistry with backups Cooper Rush and Will Grier - Rush to get the initial nod as starter - to help lead a WR unit that looked completely out of sorts in the regular season opener.
And while some of the incompletions tossed at Lamb was accountable to Prescott having a struggle-filled evening, others were noticeable drops that could've helped an offense that couldn't mount so much as a sputter on Sunday evening. Lamb has proven he can be explosive when he has two other 1,000-yard receivers on the field but, with Cooper gone and Gallup not yet returned, he has to prove he can do it with only a cast of young, unproven talent.
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10:55 a.m. – Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said left guard Connor McGovern will probably be sidelined "a week or two" with the high ankle sprain he suffered in the first half against the Bucs.
"It's one he's had before, which, believe it or not, sometimes helps them get back sooner," Jones said.
Second-year lineman Matt Farniok filled in for McGovern at left guard.
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12:51 a.m. – While the team had a disappointing night overall, Micah Parsons did not. He notched two more sacks on Tom Brady, putting him in elite company to begin his career.
Parsons is now tied for second in NFL history with most sacks (15.0) in his first 17 games of his career. Parsons had 13 last year as a rookie but picked up two more.
He also has the most multi-sacks game in the first two years of a career in Cowboys history, and that's just one game into his second pro season.
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12:46 a.m. – Jayron Kearse exited the Cowboys home opener with a knee injury that needs to be further evaluated, but the good news for the safety unit in Dallas is they're deeper than they have been in several years and that was evidenced by Donovan Wilson in Week 1 against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Wilson, who had a breakout season in 2020 before being slowed by injury in 2021, is again healthy and flew around the field en route to grabbing an interception against Brady in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, as was often the case throughout the evening, the offense failed to turn the takeaway into points, but it did serve as a reminder of what a healthy Wilson brings to the team.
Even when Kearse is on the field, the Cowboys often deployed three-safety sets in Week 1 that allowed Wilson to play alongside Malik Hooker and it proved to be an effective strategy in flummoxing and otherwise unshakable Brady - who showed signs of frustration at times in being unable to capitalize on drives with touchdowns, instead often settling for field goals.
Should Kearse miss any amount of time, Wilson will be looked upon to help Hooker keep the safety unit churning in the right direction, and to help mentor young talent such as rookie Markquese Bell and second-year safety Israel Mukuamu. He finished Week 1 with five combined tackles to go along with his INT.
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Sept. 11 Updates
7:48 p.m. – Starting left tackle Connor McGovern injured his ankle on the Cowboys' first offensive series against the Bucs and is questionable to return to Sunday's game.
McGovern limped off the field with help from the Cowboys' athletic training staff, but soon returned to the sideline testing out the ankle. Matt Farniok has replaced him at left guard.
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6 p.m. – Despite a late-week neck issue that landed him on Friday's injury report, Cowboys starting safety Jayron Kearse is active for Sunday's season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here's the full Cowboys' inactive list for Sunday: wide receiver Michael Gallup (knee), who was ruled out on Friday; linebacker Jabril Cox; rookie wide receiver Jalen Tolbert; cornerback Nahshon Wright; safety Markquese Bell; rookie defensive tackle John Ridgeway; and safety Israel Mukuamu.
Kicker Brett Maher and backup quarterback Cooper Rush were elevated Saturday from the practice squad and are active against the Bucs. Rush will be the only backup to starter Dak Prescott on Sunday. Will Grier is still on the practice squad.
Bucs star wide receiver Chris Godwin is active for Tampa after having limited practice time during the week in his return from January knee surgery.
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Sept. 10 Updates
As expected, the Cowboys elevated kicker Brett Maher and backup quarterback Cooper Rush from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Bucs.
Since 2020, the NFL's practice squad rules allow teams to elevate two players to the roster each game week. This year, a player can be elevated up to three times and return to the practice squad following the game.
Maher is expected to handle place kicks and kickoffs, and Rush will be the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Dak Prescott.
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Sept. 9 Updates
3:07 p.m. — The Cowboys added safety Jayron Kearse (neck) to Friday's injury report and officially listed him as questionable for Sunday's opener against Tampa Bay.
Kearse practiced Wednesday and Thursday but did not take part in Friday's walkthrough.
As expected, quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) was a full participant in Friday's walkthrough. Prescott and cornerback Jourdan Lewis (hamstring) do not have injury designations for Week 1, which means they're set to play Sunday.
Wide receiver Michael Gallup (knee) has been ruled out of Sunday's game as he inches closer to a return from offseason knee surgery.
Click here for the full injury report for the Cowboys and Bucs.
10:22 a.m. - The impact of adding Jason Peters to the roster is already being felt by the Cowboys, and before he's had a chance to take a single snap for the team. The nine-time Pro Bowler signed on Labor Day to the practice squad to allow time for him to ramp up for the regular season, but his ability to mentor - another valuable reason he was sought after - is something Tyler Smith is benefiting from in Week 1.
"Jason has made us better," said head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. "He's done an excellent job communicating with Tyler [Smith]. It's been a really good fit - the young players enjoy their time with him."
Smith is benefiting from the tutorials of two future Hall of Famers in both Peters and an injured Tyron Smith, a unique situation for a first-year player but one that could help him acclimate quickly to the professional level; and the sooner the better with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading to AT&T Stadium on Sunday.
The younger Smith spent the entirety of training camp at the guard position after being drafted as a former tackle at Tulsa, so reacclimating to the edge could potentially take a moment, but the learning curve could be shortened by Peters and, of course, the elder Smith.
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Sept. 8 Updates
4:21 p.m. – Wednesday marked another milestone in Michael Gallup's recovery from February knee surgery, as the fifth-year receiver practiced on a limited basis for the first time since tearing his ACL in January.
"I thought his workout was excellent really the last two days," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "… He has checked every box the whole way. ... Physically he looks really good. But we don't have a timeframe (for his return). That will answer itself. But we've been very encouraged by the work."
McCarthy was asked if he might be tempted to play Gallup in Sunday's season opener against the Bucs.
"Well, if he practices today, we'll talk about it," McCarthy said.
Indications have been that Gallup will not play in Week 1, however. Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said in late August on 105.3 The Fan that Gallup would play if Sunday were the Super Bowl, but added, "We want to be conservative with him. … He won't be out there, more than likely, against Tampa."
Gallup practiced on a limited basis again Thursday. So did cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who appears to be on track to play against Bucs. Quarterback Dak Prescott (ankle) was also limited in practice Thursday, saying he had a minor issue with new cleats he was wearing, but emphasized that he's "good to go" for Sunday's game.
Click here for the full injury report for the Cowboys and Bucs.
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Sept. 7 Updates
2:52 p.m. – Only two players are listed on the Cowboys' first official injury report of the season: wide receiver Michael Gallup (knee) and cornerback Jourdan Lewis (hamstring). Both had limited participation.
This is Gallup's first practice since undergoing knee surgery in February to repair a torn ACL. Although indications throughout training camp were he's not expected to play Sunday against the Bucs, Gallup clearly continues to be on track in his rehab with the athletic training staff and could return to game action sometime this month. The club opted not to keep him on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would have meant a minimum four-game absence on PUP.
Lewis has been dealing with a hamstring strain suffered during a joint practice with the Chargers in mid-August, but Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said the team feels good about where his in his recovery from the injury.
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10:37 a.m. - There is good news coming out of The Star in Frisco on Wednesday as it relates to the Cowboys secondary. Kelvin Joseph, the former second-round pick expected to take a step forward in his development in 2022, returned to practice on Monday. Joseph suffered a concussion in the preseason finale against the Seahawks and was relegated to concussion protocol to that point.
The availability of Joseph adds depth to a cornerback room that is readying to face Tom Brady and his stable of offensive weapons on Sunday evening, and while it's unclear how much Joseph would be tasked with doing in Week 1 - he'd become one more tool in the toolbox of Dan Quinn (assuming no setbacks between now and game day).
Joseph had a mostly solid camp in his second offseason with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and cornerbacks coach Al Harris, at times showing the coverage ability that led to the Cowboys giving him the nod early on Day 2 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He'll simply need to build momentum going forward, because the better he can be at his position, the more dangerous the secondary – as a unit - can become in Dallas.
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10:35 a.m. - There's a great chance you'll see Jourdan Lewis on the field when the Cowboys host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the regular season opener at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 11.
The veteran cornerback is working through a hamstring tweak suffered in mid-August, but while he had already returned to doing individual drills at practice, he hadn't yet been cleared to return to team reps.
That changed on Monday, per head coach Mike McCarthy, who confirmed Lewis' appearance in team drills earlier this week. As things get underway on Wednesday, Lewis will again be a full go in practice - a strong sign he experienced no setbacks following Monday's work.
Lewis is returning with the hopes of building on what was a career-best season in 2021, and as one-third of a triumvirate that includes Anthony Brown and is headlined by First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs. The Cowboys appear to be whole in the CB room to begin the regular season, and that will be key when facing the likes of Brady on Sunday night.
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Sept. 5 Updates
10:14 a.m. – The good news regarding the progress of Michael Gallup in his recovery from a torn ACL continues to pour in.
Gallup has not yet been cleared to return to practice, but he has passed his physical and, as such, avoided being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin the season - a move that would've deleted him entirely for the first four games.
Instead, per head coach Mike McCarthy, Gallup continues to progress well and with no setbacks.
"He'll be in the rehab group [in Week 1]," McCarthy said. "That's all I can really tell you. He's hit every target to date. He looks really good. I mean, every medical report is extremely positive about Michael."
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10:09 a.m. – Jourdan Lewis is rapidly approaching a return to the field for the Cowboys. On Monday, head coach Mike McCarthy gave an update on where Lewis stands in his recovery from a hamstring tweak suffered during the week of scrimmaging in Los Angeles.
"I know he had really good work last week with [Cowboys trainer Britt Brown]," said McCarthy. "The goal is to kind of introduce him to today and hopefully have him cleared by the end of the week. It's the goal, we'll see how he does in the pre-practice work."
Lewis was moving very well in individual drills,, a sign he's likely close to being 100% – barring an unexpected turn of events. This is great news for a Cowboys secondary that is suddenly one of the team's biggest strengths under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
As for Lewis himself,, who is coming off of a career-best season in most categories, it's about ramping back up quickly to prepare himself for a battle with Brady and a stable of offensive weapons.
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Sept. 2 Updates
10:46 a.m. – Michael Gallup continues to progress in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in 2021 in "outstanding" fashion, as owner and general manager Jerry Jones labeled it on Friday, but the Hall of Famer wanted to clear the air on recent comments regarding the Super Bowl that were viewed as a hint that Gallup is potentially ready to play in the regular season opener - the veteran wideout still needing some time to become game-ready.
"If he gets hurt in the Super Bowl, you've got an entire offseason," Jones told 105.3 FM the Fan. "If you're doing it the first game of a long season – that's stupid. You can't take that risk. ... He's capable of going out and catching passes, but [the risk]."
It's reasonable for Jones to ensure the appropriate expectation is set for Gallup, who also effectively ruled himself out of Week 1 in a post-practice conversation in Oxnard. This means there is no change in plans for Gallup and no setbacks have been suffered, hence the team carrying him on the active roster versus placing him on PUP that would see him unable to return until October.
Instead, Gallup is allowed to begin practicing with the team as soon as he receives complete medical clearance, having already passed his physical on Tuesday. The timeline for his return is still to-be-determined, but the Cowboys are obviously eyeing a September debut in 2022.
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10:34 a.m. – The decision on whether Jason Peters will join the Cowboys could be imminent, or it could take a while - the nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle currently in the building at The Star in Frisco to continue talking with team leadership.
"He's here getting a physical," owner and general manager Jerry Jones told 105.3FM the Fan on Friday morning. " ... We're very familiar with him. We're gonna sit down here – I'm going to meet with him in just a few minutes."
That means, for all intents and purposes, Jones was set to sit down with Peters literally moments after concluding his weekly in-season radio segment, and the Cowboys will review the outcome of Peters' physical and potentially begin negotiating a compensation package; but that's not all.
They'll also have to explain to the six-time All-Pro what his role with the team would be in 2022, considering rookie first-round pick Tyler Smith is expected to start at left tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 following injury to Tyron Smith. That could mean Peters playing backup duty as he also works to ramp up - having not participated in a football contest since Jan. 9 for the Chicago Bears.
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Sept. 1 Updates
2:38 p.m. – It's almost time for Jabril Cox to make his return for the Cowboys. The former fourth-round pick saw his rookie season mostly derailed in 2021 by a torn ACL, but has now been available for much of training camp after not being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list in July.
With an eye on the regular season opener against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers on Sept. 11, Cox's journey toward potentially becoming the impact player the Cowboys expect him to be will resume and, for his part, he feels the only thing to overcome now is finding his regular season lungs - making it clear his knee is back to 100% health.
"I'm feeling great," Cox said after practice on Thursday. "… I think I'm there [in top form]. Game reps will definitely help because there's no better way to get ready for a game than to play in a game - getting in game shape will be one of the main things - but right now I'm prepared for Week 1."
He'll take the field for a linebacker corps that now features both First-Team All-Pro Micah Parsons and four-time Pro Bowler Anthony Barr, along with Pro Bowler Leighton Vander Esch; and the more quickly Cox can again find his stride the more dangerous the Cowboys already dominant defense can possibly become.
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2:27 p.m. – With head coach Mike McCarthy making it official on Wednesday - naming Cooper Rush as the QB2 entering the 2022 season - the veteran quarterback again prepares to be the insurance policy for Dak Prescott as the regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers approaches.
Rush is certainly no stranger to the role, having eventually earned the nod after joining the club as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and proving he was a viable option. As he enters his sixth season in the league, the 28-year-old
"Grinding it out in the offseason and preseason to get that job," said Rush. "That's my goal every year - to get that job. It obviously feels good [to get the nod]."
The competition for the role of QB2 was a bit more fiery than initially anticipated as Rush found himself working to hold off Will Grier, who made waves throughout training camp before being slowed by a groin injury. As it stands, both have rejoined the club as members of the practice squad following Tuesday's roster deadline, but expect Rush to be on the sideline on Sept. 11.
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11:36 a.m. – During Thursday's practice, wide receiver/kick returner KaVontae Turpin was still sporting his No. 2 jersey. But that will probably be for the last time.
Expect several number changes over the next few days, including Turpin, who is expected to wear No. 9.
He'll be the first offensive player to wear the jersey since Tony Romo, and the first receiver in franchise history with No. 9.
Turpin signed early in training camp and was given No. 2, the same as cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who will keep his number. Other multiple numbers include No. 3, worn by both Anthony Brown and Dennis Houston, who is expected to change numbers as well.
As the Cowboys continue to shuffle the roster and practice squad over the week, the full list of changes will be announced by Monday.
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11:30 a.m. – With two seats still vacant on the practice squad, the Cowboys made moves to fill them - adding an offensive lineman and a running back to the mix. On Thursday, the team signed Qadree Ollison and Dakoda Shepley to the unit, officially filling out the 17-man group, with both players set to join the final practice of the week.
Shepley, 27, is a former fifth-overall pick of the Canadian Football League (2018) who went on to become an NFL undrafted free agent that same season, signing on with the New York Jets before returning to the CFL by way of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He'd make his return to the NFL by joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and ultimately the Seattle Seahawks in 2021.
The decision to sign Shepley is to help add depth to a needy offensive line, while Ollison will join a running backs room that is far from deficient. A former fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2019, it was current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn who drafted Ollison - during Quinn's time as head coach in Atlanta - and the 25-year-old will compete with rookie halfback Malik Davis on the practice squad.
Ollison is a former ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year (2015) who could make things interesting in the RB depth battle behind Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle. For Shepley, it'll be about finding a way to show he can be productive on the interior offensive line.
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Aug. 31 Updates
3:26 p.m. – The feel in the air is that Jourdan Lewis will, in fact, be on the field when the Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 11 - barring any unexpected setbacks.
Lewis has made great strides in his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in mid-August, and recently noted he'd begun running and remains on track for the regular season opener, and this sentiment was mirrored by head coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday.
"Doing very well," said McCarthy. "…The goal is to hopefully get him out there on Monday… he's doing really well."
The veteran cornerback participated in individual drills on Wednesday but not team drills, with McCarthy also leaving the door open for Lewis to potentially return to the field for team work as early as Thursday. Lewis is coming off of a career-best season in nearly every category and will be key in trying to keep a lid on Tom Brady and the Bucs offense.
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3:31 p.m. – The battle for the seat behind Dak Prescott has effectively ended one day after both Cooper Rush and Will Grier were both set free during roster cutdowns on Tuesday. As expected, the Cowboys re-signed both to the team's 17-man practice squad as they continue to finalize their roster, but McCarthy has already penciled in who'll be on the sideline in Week 1.
"Cooper [Rush] will be our No. 2," said McCarthy.
Grier applied some very real pressure to Rush in training camp but was slowed by a groin injury in August that held him out of reps against the Denver Broncos before he eventually returned to play against both the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.
Rush was solid enough to hold off Grier in the battle for QB2, aided by his familiarity with the system run in Dallas by offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, having been with the Cowboys since joining as an undrafted free agent in 2017 - his only stint elsewhere being a short stay with the New York Giants in 2020 before returning to North Texas that same season.
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2:45 p.m. – After sitting out last week with a sprained ankle, rookie offensive lineman Tyler Smith was practicing again during the portion open to the media on Wednesday.
Smith appears to be the leading candidate to replace left tackle Tyron Smith (hamstring) in the starting lineup Sept. 11 against the Bucs.
The first-round pick from Tulsa spent most of the offseason practicing at left guard but is back to tackle, the position he played in college.
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2:40 p.m. – Cornerback Jourdan Lewis was not practicing during the open portion Wednesday, still recovering from the hamstring strain he suffered during a joint practice with the Chargers two weeks ago. Lewis has not gone on short-term injured reserve, though, which indicates the Cowboys are optimistic he won't miss much more time.
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Aug. 30 Updates
8:41 a.m. – There are some very difficult decisions awaiting the Cowboys on Tuesday, and they have only until 4 p.m. ET to make them. The cutdown from 80 players to the mandatory count of 53 must happen today, but it's unclear which positions will run rich on the roster and which will run lean, although owner and general manager Jerry Jones did give insight into which category the defensive line will likely fall into.
"I'm going to go to the center of the defensive line," Jones told 105.3 FM the Fan on Tuesday morning. "Trysten Hill has really had a great camp and has come back with the kind of energy – he's always had the skills and the quick-twitch that we wanted. And [Quinton] Bohanna, the big nose tackle in there. If you look at where we are inside, we're beefed up. And that's what we wanted."
Hill, a former second-round pick entering the most pivotal season of his young NFL career, has flashed in this year's training camp and stands to be a contributor for the Cowboys in 2022. The same goes for Bohanna and others like Chauncey Golston, Osa Odighizuwa and Neville Gallimore, to name a few.
It sounds as if the defensive line in Dallas may be willing to run plus-one or plus-two to keep one of the strongest units on the team whole, but it's a numbers game, and that means reducing the number of bodies in one of the other position groups.
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Aug. 29 Updates
2:11 p.m. – Michael Gallup isn't putting a timetable on his return to practice and game action.
"That's all up to the trainers," he said at last week's Season Kickoff Event.
But the fifth-year receiver continues to make progress in his rehab from February ACL surgery. He's currently still on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, a designation that has kept him out of preseason practice and games.
Last week, Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones indicated that Gallup won't have to start the season on PUP, which requires a minimum four-game stay on the reserve list. If not, that means Gallup could be ready to return to the lineup sometime in September or early October.
"I'm back to running routes now, actually getting to catch balls now," he said. "There's not a whole lot more I've really got to do."
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