After thoroughly dominating the Philadelphia Eagles and claiming sole possession of the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys are officially on their bye week. It couldn't possibly come at a better time. Not only are there several players who need to get healthy, but it's the perfect time to reassess what's gone right and wrong thus far for them in 2019.
During the week off the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff is going to be really busy. They need to reevaluate just about everything, which includes the current roster as it stands right now. Why? Well, not only is the trade deadline approaching quickly, but teams can also bring back players who have been on injured reserve after Week 8.
Per NFL rules, teams can bring back a total of two players who have spent the first eight weeks of the season on injured reserve. The Dallas Cowboys have designated players to return from IR in the past, but will they do so again this season?
When thinking about who the Cowboys might bring back from IR two names immediately popped into my head, Wide Receiver Noah Brown and Offensive Guard Connor McGovern. After doing a little research though I discovered Noah Brown doesn't qualify because he's on the Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP), not IR. Let's talk a little about him before we discuss McGovern's 2019 fate.
Even though Noah Brown can't be designated to return from IR, the Dallas Cowboys still have to make a decision on his 2019 future pretty quickly as well. You see, players on the PUP list have until November 4 to start practicing and then the Cowboys would have three weeks to either activate or shut him down for the season.
Unfortunately, as recently as last week reports indicated Noah Brown isn't ready to practice due to a lingering knee injury. That doesn't bode well for him suiting up this season, meaning we could see him placed on IR at some point in the next few weeks.
That leaves Connor McGovern as the Dallas Cowboys most logical option to be designated to return from IR. With the Cowboys current offensive line depth on the roster right now it doesn't make much sense for them to add McGovern to the active roster, but the trade deadline could change all of that.
The Dallas Cowboys currently have three offensive lineman in the last year of their contracts (Joe Looney, Xavier Su'a Filo, and Adam Redmond). The Cowboys would surely take a call from any team showing an interest in trading for any one of the three, especially if they believe Connor McGovern is ready to step in as a replacement.
Personally, I have a hard time seeing the Dallas Cowboys make such a move. I think they will keep McGovern on IR and allow this to be a redshirt year of sorts for him. Of course, that could all change if the Cowboys become sellers before the trade deadline.
