Dallas City News

Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson is doubtful for Sunday – Charean Williams, NBC Sports

Dallas will likely have to alter their plan at tight with Jake Ferguson doubtful.

The Cowboys’ depth at tight end will be tested Sunday against the Saints.

Only two Dallas players have designations for Week 2, and both play tight end. John Stephens (hamstring) already is ruled out, and starter Jake Ferguson (knee) is doubtful.

Luke Schoonmaker, a second-round pick in 2023, is expected to make his first career start. He played 368 snaps last season as a rookie and made eight receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns.

Brevyn Spann-Ford also is on the active roster at the position, and Princeton Fant could get a call up from the practice squad.

Ferguson’s injury looked far worse than what it was as he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 medial collateral ligament sprain. Though Ferguson said earlier this week he thought he could play this week, he did not practice.

First big opportunity awaits Luke Schoonmaker with Ferguson likely out – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

The former second-round pick will more than likely get his shot to shine in Week 2.

Last week in Cleveland, plenty of focus was given to this year’s rookie class as three players started Week 1.

But opportunities often surface at different times for different players.

Enter Luke Schoonmaker, who played all 17 games last season but mostly behind Jake Ferguson, who had a Pro Bowl year.

But Ferguson is not expected to play this Sunday against the Saints because of a knee injury that has him listed as “doubtful” on the team’s injury report.

The Cowboys have Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford on the roster, but Princeton Fant is expected to be called up from the practice squad for his first elevation. The team also can use fullback Hunter Luepke at the tight end spot.

Schoonmaker would likely get his first career start against the Saints Sunday at AT&T Stadium. If that’s the case, the focus will be simple.

“It’s really about not having a drop-off,” Schoonmaker said. “Guys just need to be able to execute at a high level when your number is called.”

It sounds like Schoonmaker’s number is about to be called, something that didn’t happen often in 2023. The second-round pick from Michigan played in every game, but had just 15 targets and caught eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns.

How elite expectations fuel brotherly bond between Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

The Cowboys’ two best defenders have a special connection.

Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs have playful nicknames for each other that would make some blush.

Parsons and Diggs, as the two young stars of the Cowboys’ defense, tease and support each other like brothers. And they compete.

Pingpong. Connect 4. iPhone games. Slap boxing. Sprints. Wrestling. You name the game, they’ve faced off.

During a training camp practice last month in California, Parsons performed a wrestling move on Diggs, playfully body-slamming him and pinning him to the ground.

In another practice, Parsons threw jabs at Diggs. The cornerback, while moving back, returned his own straight jabs.

“That’s my brother,” Diggs said of the pass rusher. “We’ve got a great relationship. Our families know each other and we’re really close. I’m always pushing him if he’s doing something that he’s not supposed to or if he sees me doing something I’m not supposed to — whether that’s eating something I’m not supposed to — we always get on each other. I appreciate our relationship.”

Diggs admits he’s not an easy person to get to know. He has a pleasant demeanor but is cautious before opening up.

Parsons is inviting. In interviews with reporters, he’ll answer anything.

5 things to watch when the Cowboys host the Saints on Sunday – Dan Rogers, Blogging The Boys

Dallas has some things to be aware of against New Orleans and one intriguing advantage.

Chasing Taysom

Alvin Kamara is a dynamic runner who can hurt you both as a rusher and receiving. He’ll be the focal point of the Saints rushing attack. But the fun doesn’t stop with him. The Saints love to use utility knife player Taysom Hill in a multitude of ways. He’ll come in as a change-of-pace running back, he’ll roll out as a receiver, and he’ll take a direct snap from time to time. Hill is a slippery runner whose strength and speed make him so difficult to bring down on first contact. He will challenge the Cowboys’ tackling skills.

The last time the Cowboys played the Saints, Hill was their starting quarterback and the only offensive weapon they had. Despite a losing effort, Hill still managed to run for over 100 yards in that game. He won’t be asked to carry the workload in this one, but every time he has the ball in his hands, he’s a threat to make a big play.

Another vulnerable O Line

The Cowboys’ defense got a break by facing an injured Browns offensive line last week. Now, they’ll go up against a Saints group that is healthier, but still a little shaky. The Saints have invested a lot of draft capital in their line in recent years with four first-round investments Ryan Ramczyk (2017), Cesar Ruiz (2020), Trevor Penning (2022), and Taliese Fuaga (2024), but not every investment has produced dividends. Ramczyk is their best lineman, but he is out for the year recovering from a knee injury.

In Week 1, the Saints rolled out a promising young rookie in Fuaga on the left side, but a less promising Penning on the right side. Fuaga is on the injury report with a back issue and his status is unclear. This could mean more of the same for the Cowboys’ defensive line as DeMarcus Lawrence is notorious for exploiting tackles who are fundamentally deficient. And Micah Parsons is so electric that he will be a handful for whoever he lines up against.

The speed of Shaheed

The Saints don’t have a slew of receiving weapons. Chris Olave is their best pass catcher, but the skills of third-year receiver Rashid Shaheed shouldn’t be overlooked. He made himself known to the Panthers on the fifth play from scrimmage when he caught a 59-yard bomb from Derek Carr to quickly take a 7-0 lead. Shaheed is a fast receiver who has big-play-making ability.

Dallas’ defense didn’t allow any big plays last week and they would like to keep it that way. With some of the playmakers the Saints have on offense, this will be a tough challenge. If they allow Shaheed to get behind the corners, it could mean bad things for the Cowboys’ secondary. And don’t be surprised if the Saints look for more ways to get him the ball on Sunday.

Mike Zimmer to get first Cowboys test against dreaded Shanahan offense Week 2 – Reid Hanson, Cowboys Wire

An old bugaboo for the Cowboys defense will be on the other side this Sunday.

The Shanahan offense. For years it’s been a thorn in the Cowboys’ side. Popularized in San Francisco, coach Kyle Shanahan has created a schematic juggernaut that’s elevated numerous offenses across the league to be far greater than the sum of their parts. Its branches extend from coast to coast and its many spinoffs have traditionally given the Cowboys absolute fits.

In Week 2 the Cowboys welcome New Orleans to take on the latest Shanahan spinoff, Klint Kubiak’s Saints. This will mark the first big test of the Mike Zimmer era and will go a long way into making fans and media believe this year might be different in Dallas.

Zimmer’s predecessor, Dan Quinn, enjoyed enormous success during his three years with the Cowboys. But despite building a one of the best defenses in the NFL, Quinn couldn’t get over the Shanahan hump.

Quinn’s unit was often exposed going up against a Shanahan offense. All three postseasons under Quinn, two of which were at home, abruptly ended at the hands of a Shanahan offense. As John Owning of PFF pointed out over the winter, in the Quinn era the Cowboys gave up an EPA of 0.045 against Shanahan offenses compared to -0.094 EPA against non-Shanahan offenses. That’s a +0.139 swing which, to put it bluntly, is nothing short of radical.

DMN staff predictions for Cowboys-Saints – Staff, DMN

The six DMN panelists all picked the Browns for a win in the season opener, now they’re unanimously picking the Cowboys over the Saints.

Abraham Nudelstejer: Mike Zimmer had a stellar debut as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, and now his job will be to stop the march of the Saints, who enter AT&T Stadium in high spirits after their crushing victory over the Panthers. Pressing Derek Carr so he doesn’t feel comfortable in the pocket when throwing the football and preventing Alvin Kamara from averaging 5.5 yards per carry like he did last week will be key, while Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb put on their usual aerial circus to help Dallas claim its second win, although it will be a nailbiter. Cowboys 28, Saints 27

Kevin Sherrington: The Cowboys are coming off one of their most impressive debuts of this century, which is what I have to say after all six DMN panelists picked them to lose to Cleveland. Maybe we’ll find out that game said more about the Browns than the Cowboys, but until further notice, we’ll believe in Mike Zimmer. His linebacker trio of Micah Parsons, Eric Kendricks and DeMarvion Overshown looks like it could be the Cowboys’ best in years. Maybe decades. Cowboys 30, Saints 17