The 2023 NFL season feels like it will be different than years past.
Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Will McClay built a roster highlighting abundant talent at multiple positions.
Gaps that were present last year are gone.
As we all know, injuries are a part of the game, and it is the ultimate equalizer in sports.
What happens if that capacity within their roster is compromised?
Better question, what happens if Dallas loses an impactful player for a more significant portion of the season?
The low-hanging fruit is to point toward the elite players like Micah Parsons or the most crucial position like the quarterback.
That’s too easy, and I prefer to take the scenic route.
A few players do not get the headlines but losing them for an extended period could impact the long-term plan of this team.
Losing the starting center is something Dallas has become familiar with
Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have some history of dealing with reshuffling their offensive line.
In 2018, the team lost Travis Frederick to a Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosis.
Joe Looney was ready and willing to provide the position flexibility Dallas raves about.
Last season, the offensive line played a version of musical chairs when Tyler Biadasz suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 18 matchup versus the Washington Commanders.
Connor McGovern slid from the left guard to center.
Tyler Smith kicked to the interior position, and Jason Peters held down the left tackle spot in that game.
The movement could have been better, but Dallas made it work.
McGovern cashed in on free agency and is no longer available should the need arise.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari are already piecing together the puzzle.
The OTA and mandatory minicamp reports suggest they are tinkering with different offensive line combinations.
If the fourth-year center from Wisconsin suffered any injury, players like Matt Farniok, Chuma Edoga, or Asim Richards might get their world turned upside down.
Hiking the ball when a 300lb man is barreling down on you makes for an uncomfortable signal caller.
The added pressure of appropriately identifying pre-snap blocking assignments makes the man in the middle of that chaos appear irreplaceable.
Tyler may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he is what the doctor ordered in Dallas.
Allowing only 3 hits with 0 sacks and 12 pressures will be hard to match if he is lost for any stretch of time.
His absence could undoubtedly impact the direction of the season.
Losing the best Edge run defender could cause heartburn
DeMarcus Lawrence was arguably the best defensive player on the team until Micah Parsons’ arrival.
He provided adequate pressure from his edge position and played stout run defense.
What happens if he is not available for a substantial period?
According to Pro Football Focus, the Dallas Cowboys would be missing a player that offered them 55 tackles, six sacks, and 41 hurries.
Not to mention, Dallas would lose a player who averaged a 79 grade from PFF against the run.
The defensive end depth behind DeMarcus is plentiful from a pass-rushing standpoint, but the run defense is up and down.
The first and foremost issue that Dallas would encounter is losing a capable body in the trenches.
It is easier said than done replacing a defensive player at any point in the season.
The Denver Broncos signed Frank Clark to a deal before the mandatory minicamp. Injuries will occur, but replacing your depth can be a challenge.
Dallas does have some in-house players who will get the first crack at replacing DeMarcus.
Dante Fowler specializes in getting to the money makers in packages. Stopping the run has never been his forte. The average PFF grade of 56 supports that.
Sam Williams and Dorance Armstrong also provide the explosion in the pass rush but are a work in progress in the run defense.
Both players had their moments but nothing from a consistent standpoint.
While Lawrence finds himself a necessity across this defensive line, he is also the vocal leader of this team.
Every team needs a player who talks the talk and is ready to walk the walk.
DeMarcus has always been that player, and it is virtually impossible to put a grade or a price tag on its intrinsic value.
The safety room keeps its versatility when Jayron Kearse remains on the field
Jayron Kearse will never be the most talked about player on the Dallas Cowboys, or any team for that matter.
His presence with him when he is on the field, is undeniable.
Dallas is one of several teams that uses all three safeties in various ways.
Donovan Wilson finds himself near the line of scrimmage, probably more than any of them.
Malik Hooker is the team’s best center-field player, and Kearse is a matchup player.
Dan Quinn can match him up with the new breed of tight ends that provide issues for the linebacking core.
He is a sure tackler. In the two seasons he has been with the team, he yielded a total of 6 missed tackles.
Many fans are chomping at the bit for Israel Mukuamu, Markquese Bell, or even Kelvin Joseph to start grabbing at some of the safety snaps.
It’s all good in theory, but when you put that theory into practice, the rubber meets the road.
Not many 6’4″ 215lb players can tackle like a linebacker but have decent movement skills to complement that.
Dallas has tasted what it was like to miss Kearse in a regular season game. He missed three games last season with sprained ACL.
Luckily for the team, the opponents (Cincinnati, Washington, and New York) did not pose a threat from the tight end position.
However, fast forward to this season, two of the first six games include George Kittle and Darren Waller.
While Kearse’s appreciation across the league is debatable, he is undoubtedly someone Dallas relies on, and it is noticeable when he isn’t in the game.
