Luck goes a long way toward winning a Super Bowl. Yes, you have to be talented and well-coached, but a team has to find a way to get to the playoffs and beyond with a reasonable amount of health.
The 2020 Dallas Cowboys didn’t have any of that luck. Instead, they were one of the most injured teams in football. Only the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots lost more games to injury of players of import than the Dallas Cowboys did last season per Football Outsiders. The records reflect just how important injury luck is to a team’s chances at winning.
With a few weeks remaining until training camp, the Cowboys are entering the Summer with a lot of optimism regarding the health of this team.
Dak Prescott is back and looks ready to go. Tyron Smith and La’el Collins are projected to be ready to start week one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tyler Biadasz is healthy and has a full offseason to prepare for the season. Even new addition Damontae Kazee looks recovered from his 2020 Achilles tear.
All things are looking up for the Cowboys as they look to rebound from a disappointing 2020 season. But they’ll need that health to maintain throughout the season to be ready to compete. Injuries happen. It’s inevitable, but the Cowboys won’t be able to withstand the same amount of injuries like they did last year and hope to contend.
Keeping Dak Prescott upright and most of the offensive line intact will be huge for the Cowboys’ chances to contend in the NFC East and the NFL. Even without their star offensive linemen and terrible defensive performance, the Cowboys were still competitive. Yes, they had a losing record at 1-3, but they were staying in games.
The Cowboys were one of the most injury-riddled teams in the NFL in 2020, and it showed. Often playing their fourth and fifth offensive tackles and as many as four quarterbacks, there was little chance they would be able to compete. However, if they can get a reversal of fortunes in 2021, the Cowboys will be among the best teams in the NFL.
