Dallas City News

Micah Parsons: ‘If I’m in rhythm, there’s nothing they can do’ – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

Dallas’ best defensive player is getting back in the swing of things.

For the last few days, Micah Parsons has found himself standing next to Dak Prescott quite often.

That’s what happens when Parsons gets into he backfield so fast, he’s waiting on Dak to throw the ball, knowing that he certainly can’t make contact with the quarterback – or anyone wearing the red jerseys – but he’s undoubtedly disrupting the play. And he’s been doing it more and more the last few days.

“I’m in rhythm now,” Parsons said. “The first few days (of camp), I hadn’t played in seven, eight months. (But now), I know my angles. I feel like I’m in Week 4 right now. I’m in the backfield all day.

If I’m in rhythm, there’s nothing they can do. They might as well start chipping, sliding, or it’s gonna be a long day here.”

Parsons credits the change to the majority of the defense now being installed. When he first got to camp, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was still installing some of the packages and blitzes.

“Before, everyone was in partials, right? They just wanted to see certain things and we were running just normal (down-and-distance),” Parsons said. “But now, the third-downs, second-downs, it’s everything. And this is what it’s going to look like. Everything is in now. If they don’t chip (block) me, there’ll be five or six sacks every day. It’s pretty much, I’m going to tell you right now.”

In Zimmer’s new scheme, Parsons will likely line up all over the place, from the edge at defensive end, to all three linebacker spots. But make no mistakes, Parsons is still rushing the quarterback, just from different parts of the field.

Several times already in practice, the Cowboys have continued the play, despite Parsons already getting next to the quarterback for a would-be sack. And even the sack-hungry Parsons understands that it’s important to extend the play.

“Now they said they’re just gonna leave guys out there to see where they are, because they got to see where they at,” Parsons said, referring to the receivers continuing out the play. “I’m just trying to make the team better, that’s it. But I feel like I’m in shape now. The first day (of practice) I was dog tired. Now, my body is adjusted to it.”

And it’s leaving the offenses having to adjust to him.

NFL preseason trade matches: Which teams could make a deal? – Seth Walder, ESPN

If Dallas want to tinker with the roster, there are trade possibilities out there.

Cowboys receive: RB Elijah Mitchell, 2025 sixth-round pick

49ers receive: 2025 fifth-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick

You knew the Cowboys’ running back situation was tough when team COO Stephen Jones started talking up Royce Freeman. Dallas’ running back room consists of veteran journeyman Freeman, a 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and some other contenders. As much as running backs have correctly become devalued, those players probably aren’t good enough right now to lead a backfield for a Cowboys team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Mitchell could be the answer, though. He is the presumed backup to Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, though Kyle Shanahan recently indicated that Jordan Mason could also be in the backup mix. Plus, the 49ers drafted Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round and recently added Matt Breida. If San Francisco feels good about its running back depth, might it be willing to deal Mitchell — who enters the final year of his contract — for some draft compensation? Perhaps.

Mitchell would have a good argument to be the Cowboys’ best running back. He has averaged 0.4 yards over expectation per carry in his career, per NFL Next Gen Stats. While not an overwhelming figure, it is much better than what we can expect from Elliott, who has had negative RYOE per carry in each of the past three seasons. Dowdle’s RYOE per carry was slightly negative last season, too.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott provides update on WR CeeDee Lamb amid holdout: ‘He is ready to be back with the boys’ – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

QB1 knows his favorite weapon is itching to get back with the team.

Dallas Cowboys 2023 All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has missed the entirety of the team’s offseason program, holding out in search of a new, long-term deal as he enters the final season of his rookie deal in 2024.

However, the 2023 NFL receptions leader (135) didn’t let that holdout get in the way of him wishing his quarterback Dak Prescott, who turned 31 on July 29, a happy birthday. During his well wishes to Prescott, who is also in negotiations with the Cowboys for a long-term extension as he too enters a contract year, Lamb expressed his desire to conclude his current contract standoff with the Jones family and the Dallas front office.

“My birthday just passed, and I got a great happy birthday message from him. That led to some talks as well,” Prescott said on Friday. “He shared with me that he wants to get back, ready to get back. Hoping that this thing gets done for him, I know I am as well. Hopefully we can get him back sooner rather than later. I know he is grinding, I know he is itching and working. He is ready to be back with the boys.”

Cowboys COO Stephen Jones indicated talks are heating up with Lamb and his representatives a week ago, categorizing the dialogue as “cordial and upbeat.”

“We keep having multiple exchanges with CeeDee,” Jones said. “He actually sent us something late [Sunday]. We continue to grind away on it. I would characterize both [Lamb’s and Prescott’s] negotiations as very cordial and upbeat. We’re optimistic we’ll continue to work toward getting something done.”

Amid Signings, Cowboys Cut ‘Swiss-Army Knife’ Rookie Before Playing Game – Jonathan Adams, Heavy.com

There’s only so much room on the roster, some are bound to be let go.

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy making roster moves at the start of training camp which unfortunately cost rookie linebacker Byron Vaughns a roster spot. The Cowboys announced the release of Vaughns after signing the following three players: linebacker Darius Harris, defensive tackle Albert Huggins and linebacker Nick Vigil.

After not hearing his name called in the 2024 NFL draft, Vaughns signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent. DallasCowboys.com’s Nick Harris described Vaughns as a “Swiss-army knife” thanks to his versatility on defense.

“Byron Vaughns was a Swiss-army knife in his time in college as his length (84-inch wingspan) and athleticism allowed him to play off the edge, on the ground as a defensive lineman and off the ball as a linebacker,” Harris detailed in a May 10, 2024, message on X. “The Fort Worth Eastern Hills grad started this morning with the linebacker group in his first practice in Dallas.”

Vaughns’ release is brutal timing as the rookie’s family had just traveled to Oxnard, Calif. to cheer on the rookie during training camp.

“So sad for Byron Vaughns. His family came up from Fort Worth today,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill Jr. detailed on X on August 6. “The NFL is a cruel game.”