The Dallas Cowboys just can’t seem to find a way to get through training camp and the preseason without a major injury to an impact player. They lost Trevon Diggs a season ago, and now they lost Sam Williams two Sundays ago.
Williams’ season ended with a torn ACL and a partial MCL tear, and although the Cowboys hosted some free agents that we all know, did they sign at least an average player to replace Sam?
Of course, they did not, they opted to sign two guys that have done slim to nothing in this league.
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Yes, you are reading his name the same exact way that I am. Who is that?
Drafted in the sixth round in 2017 by the New Orleans Saints, he was cut at the end of the season. He did become a full-time starter with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.
In 2022, Muhammad followed Colts’ former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to the Chicago Bears. Muhammad struggled with the Bears, though, and was released after one season.
When he rejoined the Colts last year, guess what happened? He got a suspension for violating the league’s Performance Enhancing Drugs policy. Great idea, Cowboys.
In four seasons with the Colts, Muhammad only registered 11 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 127 total tackles, and three fumble recoveries.
If you do the math, in his four seasons with the Colts, he was only able to muster just over 2 sacks a season. Sam Williams very easily could have topped double-digits this season.
Sure, Williams had problems with penalties, but that is easier to fix than adding a player who has never been able to produce at a high level.
#Cowboys jersey update:
Al-Quadin Muhammad: No. 92
Shaka Toney: No. 72— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 2, 2024
Shaka Toney
The only thing I know about Shaka Toney is that he played at Penn State with Micah Parsons.
He was in the same draft as Micah, but was not picked until the 7th round. He has done absolutely nothing in his time in the NFL, like why did Dallas sign this guy? Oh wait, because he was the cheapest one available.
Like Muhammad, he had to sit out a year due to a suspension. He got caught for betting.
In two seasons, he recorded just eight pressures on 112 pass rush reps, 16 tackles, and 1.5 sacks. Like really Jerry Jones?
In addition to agreeing to a deal with DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, the Cowboys have agreed with DE Shaka Toney. To make room, WR Corey Crooms, who suffered an injury in practice this week, will be waived. Muhammad still has to miss one regular season game because of a suspension.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 1, 2024
Nothing More Than Depth
Let’s be honest here. Neither one of these guys is going to make an impact.
They are depth, yet I would rather have a player like Yannick Ngakoue. A veteran that could step in and produce for this team. He played 13 games for the Chicago Bears last season.
Ngakoue finished with four sacks, 34 pressures, and eight quarterback hits. He is solid in run defense, finishing with six tackles for loss.
Even a guy like Shaq Lawson would have been okay. He has battled injuries, but at least you know he will produce when on the field.
With Mike Zimmer calling plays, this defense might not need all the flashy plays they got with Dan Quinn, but two guys who just got suspended to replace Sam Williams, it is hard to get excited about this team. They can’t even sign CeeDee Lamb.
Cowboys WR Jalen Brooks on the changes he sees in Dallas’ new defense: “Their disguise now is insane. It’s insane. (Dan Quinn) had some disguises, but (Mike Zimmer’s) are pretty good. I gotta give him full credit for that. It’s really good.”
He specifically mentioned Micah… pic.twitter.com/WD4HCrOt5K
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 5, 2024
The problem is Jerry will feed us and tell everyone that he loves his guys, and we’ll have to watch guys like Tyrus Wheat struggle for most of the year. This will open up a bigger chance for Marshawn Kneeland, who I am pretty hyped to see in action. The rest, not so much.
Neither Toney nor Muhammad will do anything for Mike Zimmer and the Cowboys defense this season. I wouldn’t even be shocked if one of them was cut by the time week one rolls around.
