FRISCO, Texas – On Monday night in Primetime, the Dallas Cowboys play their first home game of the season and host division rival Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams currently sit at a 1-1 record through the first two games of the 2021 NFL season, and a win would boost standings in the NFC East. Dallas currently ranks third, behind Washington (1-1) and Philadelphia. The Cowboys enter the meeting with several key players missing from the lineup. Here are some storylines for the Cowboys heading into Monday night’s matchup at AT&T Stadium.
Decimated Defensive Line:
The hits just keep coming. Starting left defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and three-technique Neville Gallimore (elbow) are currently on the Reserve/Injured list. Defensive tackle Trysten Hill (knee) is on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chargers and defensive tackle Carlos Watkins sustained a knee injury. Both have been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup.
Now, the shuffle continues. Second-year defensive end Bradlee Anae is in COVID-19 protocols. He entered the protocol on Friday, as a result of testing positive according to McCarthy. He was not a close contact and will not play against Philadelphia. The Cowboys’ depth will face a litmus test against Eagles’ dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts possesses a rare ability to extend drives outside of the pocket and eludes defenders along the perimeter when he gets in space. Hurts currently ranks second among NFL quarterbacks with a team-high 144 rushing yards through two games, trailing only Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (193). Setting the edge will be critical for Dallas, a team without three defensive ends (Lawrence, Armstrong, Anae).
“You’ve got to do some stunts,” Parsons told D210SPORTS when asked about Hurts’ running style. “It’s going to be a great challenge, great player. You look at him through Alabama and Oklahoma. He’s always been a threat with his legs, and you’ve got to learn how to slow him down and spy him up a little bit. Get to him, get him off his point to where he won’t want to come out of the box.”
Starting right defensive end Randy Gregory is back from the Reserve/COVID-19 list and will add much-needed reinforcement to the embattled unit against the squad’s division rivals. Tarell Basham and Azur Kamara are part of the end rotation, and rookie Chauncey Golston could make his NFL debut against the Eagles. Rookie Micah Parsons lined up exclusively as a defensive end against the Chargers in Week 2 and could once again rush the passer from the edge on Monday.
On the inside at defensive tackle, Dallas will have Osa Odighizuwa, Brent Urban, and Quinton Bohanna. If needed, the Cowboys have the option of calling up Justin Hamilton from the practice squad.
The Premier Route Runner’s Status:
Despite a cracked rib, Amari Cooper will play on Monday against the Eagles. Cooper was a full participant in Friday’s practice according to the team’s injury report. The four-time pro bowl receiver said he is “feeling better” every day and will wear a protective chest guard against Philadelphia. The injury occurred on Cooper’s touchdown catch in the season opener against Tampa Bay. The Alabama product managed the injury but “weird movements” against the Chargers last Sunday caused pain/aggravated the injury.
Cooper is tied atop the NFL with 16 receptions in 2021 and posted a 100-yard performance (139) against the Bucs in Week 1. The Cowboys have recorded 35 plays of 10-plus yards (third-most) on offense in 2021, and conversely the Eagles have allowed only 19 plays of 10-plus yards (tied, third fewest). Philadelphia’s defense is allowing 162.5 yards-per-game through the air, third in the league. Cooper will certainly elevate the Cowboys’ offensive attack on Monday with his ability to create separation.
He has faced Eagles’ cornerback Darius Slay one-on-one many times and Monday the two will likely meet again in a high-anticipated receiver-cornerback chess match.
“He’s a smart football player, so you just gotta try to be smarter and got to do all the little things right,” Cooper described to D210SPORTS on Slay. “It’s definitely a challenge. You look forward to those challenges because you can kinda see where you are every year.”
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore dialed up a pass-heavy game plan in Week 1 to combat Tampa Bay’s loaded front. Prescott threw 58 times against the Bucs and the next week, it was a heavy dose of the run game to offset the Chargers’ two high shell (light box) with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Regardless of the plan in Week 3, Cooper will be a go-to weapon for Dak Prescott.
In seven career games against the Eagles, Cooper has 33 receptions for 614 yards and four touchdowns. That is the most catches and receiving yards he has had against any other NFL team.
Micah Parsons’ Role:
The Cowboys are building the defense around the squad’s new swiss army knife. Micah Parsons does it all, whether it is lining up over the center, as an outside 3-4 linebacker, or on the edge as a standup pass rusher. His rare, 4.3 closing speed wreaks havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Against the Chargers, Parsons lined up at defensive end and consistently harassed quarterback Justin Herbert to the tune of eight pressures, four quarterback hits, a sack, and a tackle for loss.
The rookie linebacker had not played defensive end since high school but his prowess as a pass rusher was on full display in Los Angeles. This week against the Eagles, Parsons will likely have a significant role from the edge to boost the team’s front four amidst injuries. He practiced with the defensive line unit on Thursday and Friday. “Pressure” is a word that has become synonymous with Parsons and regardless of his role on Monday night, the premise remains the same- get to the quarterback.
“Micah can do whatever Micah wants to do on the field,” Randy Gregory emphatically told local media. “Perfect example was last week, him getting off the ball and getting to the quarterback. We can have him out there, have him playing linebacker, he can cover guys, he’s going to be out there rushing the passer again this week. It’s nice to see that. He could have double-digit sacks this year if he wanted to. He really could. I really feel that way…I think when we see there’s blood in the water, keep him out there and let him do what he’s got to do, and I think that’s what we did.”
Last week, the Cowboys lined up Parsons against the Chargers’ backup right tackle Storm Norton. The Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is one of the best in the game so Dallas could shuffle the more experienced Gregory to left defensive end to battle Johnson at the line of scrimmage, with Parsons on the opposite side. Eagles’ starting left tackle Jordan Mailata injured his knee during Thursday’s practice and did not practice on Friday. Mailata is out for Monday night and Andre Dillard will start at left tackle. The Cowboys will potentially stick to a similar plan from the previous week- Parsons exploiting the weakness.
“I’m comfortable with it now,” Gregory remarked on playing left end. “I think in the past I mostly played right and felt better being in a left-handed stance on the right side and now we can standup a little bit more and things like that and sometimes I’m on the left, sometimes I’m on the right. It’s all about repping, repping in practice so it’s normal in games and by now it’s pretty normal. Just different angles you gotta take as a rusher.”
