Two weeks ago, we had the first addition to the Cowboys’ injury report of the year. Defensive End Sam Williams went down with an ACL tear. Two weeks later, Dallas is praying that some other key pieces don’t end up on the same list.
The injury bug is unavoidable.
Last year, it was guys like DeMarvion Overshown going down before the season, and C.J. Goodwin and Trevon Diggs during it.
You can’t escape players getting beaten up and injured, but naturally, some guys missing time hurts more than others. That especially applies to the 2024 Cowboys with their limited depth and top-heavy roster.
This offseason did the Cowboys no favors.
Thanks to their own strategy, or lack thereof, the roster was depleted of starters and depth pieces, which will put this extra focus on staying healthy into effect.
There are three players in particular who could blow this whole thing up if they can’t stay on the field in 2024.
Let’s take a look at who those guys are, and why.
DeMarcus Lawrence’s Big Year
The aforementioned Williams injury, if nothing else, has put a tremendous amount of pressure on the shoulders of veteran DeMarcus Lawrence.
“Tank” is headed into his 11th season, and it might be his most important yet. This is a contract year for him, and at 32 years old, his next pay-day will be his last. What is more important than that, however, is his significance on the field for Dallas.
He is the only thing standing in the way of pass-rusher being the Cowboys’ biggest need.
If Lawrence were to join Williams on the Cowboys’ injury list at some point in the season, the depth behind superstar Micah Parsons would be rookie Marshawn Kneeland, Tyrus Wheat, Viliami Fehoko, and recently-signed veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad.
In other words, woof.
Barring breakout seasons from one of those guys, that kind of pass-rush help for Parsons would be a non-factor.
Lawrence is coming off two great seasons: two Pro Bowl nods, 10 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, and 32 games played during that time. Dallas desperately needs him to continue at that level of production and availability.
If he misses time in 2024, Mike Zimmer’s defense might be DOA against good passing offenses.
Rico Dowdle Carrying The Load
Don’t get it twisted, folks. Rico Dowdle is the Cowboys’ true RB1 heading into this season. The return of Ezekiel Elliott is fun, and he will be good at pass-catching, run blocking, and at the goal line. However, Dowdle is better everywhere else.
At this point in Elliott’s career, he can’t carry the rock 200+ times and rush for 1,100+ yards. That is the reality of the shelf-life of running backs.
Dowdle, on the other hand, has 96 career carries and all the juice you could ask for.
He looked explosive and tough in his running last year when Pollard came off the field, and we will only see improvement from that this year.
If he were not available, the running game in Dallas would get awfully grim very fast. Elliott and Royce Freeman running the show? Maybe in 2018, but not in 2024.
If there are going to be any big plays, energy, and high potential from the Cowboys running back room, it is going to come from Dowdle.
Unless you’re banking on a resurgence from Deuce Vaughn, who is fighting for a roster spot this month, or a breakout year from Malik Davis. Dowdle cannot be off the field for extended periods of time. He will be crucial to Dallas’ offensive success.
If we see Dowdle’s name on the Cowboys’ injury report this season, the entire offense is going to be on the shoulders of the guy I’m talking about next.
All Eyes on Dak Prescott
We’ve reached the most obvious name on this list with Quarterback Dak Prescott. No, I don’t care that Cooper Rush was 4-1 as the starter in 2022, nor do I care that Trey Lance was a third-overall draft pick.
Without Prescott at the helm, any realistic chance of a Cowboys playoff run is out the window.
Regardless of his postseason record now, when you take the MVP runner-up out of the equation and replace him with career-long backups, you’re done for.
We’ve seen Dak on the Cowboys’ injury report too many times at this point. For his personal sake, and the success of the team, he needs a full healthy season in 2024.
With this being a contract year for him, he has a record-breaking deal in sight. Whether that is from Dallas or another team, it’s too early to know, but that fact remains the same.
There is one, and only one thing that could jeopardize that eventual pay-day, and that’s another injury.
All eyes are on Prescott to stay healthy, deliver another strong season, and yes, actually perform that way once the postseason rolls around. If he can’t do that, his record-breaking contract and the Cowboys’ chances this year might be down the drain.
This is a big year for both him and the team, and a relatively healthy year all-around will be crucial, but especially in the case of Dak Prescott.