The Dallas Cowboys pass rush was supposed to be an area of strength this season. However, after six games they have generated just 11 sacks, with four coming from Aldon Smith, who hasn’t recorded one since Week 3 vs the Seattle Seahawks.
Help is on the way, though, as Defensive End Randy Gregory will be active Sunday for the first time since the 2018 playoffs. Gregory returned to the practice field a few weeks ago after his conditional reinstatement has looked impressive according to teammates. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has also liked what the former second-round pick has shown so far, as he expressed earlier this week.
“Obviously, what jumps off the video before arriving here is just his athletic ability, his ability to bend, his twitch,” McCarthy said. “He can do a lot from that position. He’s not only tough as a rusher, he’s a playmaker. He can play in space. There is not anything he can’t do from a coverage responsibility. A very versatile athlete.”
Before his indefinite suspension for violating the league’s old substance-abuse policy in February of 2019 Gregory was starting to make a name for himself. He finished with six sacks (second on the team), two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 15 quarterback hits.
The Cowboys rank a disappointing 19th in the NFL in sacks per game (1.8) this season. The hope is that the return of Gregory will boost those particular numbers. He now joins the aforementioned Smith and Everson Griffen to form what the Cowboys hope is a productive trio of edge rushers opposite DeMarcus Lawrence, who just recently recorded his first sack of the season in a Week 5 victory vs the New York Giants.
Gregory has battled his demons off of the field and is now ready to get back to what he does best, pressuring the quarterback. His road redemption starts Sunday vs the Washington Football Team as the Cowboys look to stay atop the NFC East.
