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Dallas Cowboys DST

Player Outlook
The Cowboys, led by arguably the best pass rusher in football in Micah Parson, took a major step back in their first season without defensive coordinator Dan Quinn at the helm. They finished with just the 19th-most Fantasy points per game and injuries to playmakers like Trevon Diggs limited their Fantasy upside. Diggs is recovering from an ACL injury as are two other potential starters on that Dallas defense. While there is upside for Dallas to return Fantasy value, some of their past success was predicated on touchdowns off interceptions and in the return game. Neither is bankable from a projection standpoint. There are better DSTs to target on draft day.

Fantasy News

  • Earnest Brown: Let go by Cowboys

    Rotowire
    The Cowboys cut Brown (undisclosed) on Tuesday. Brown picked up an undisclosed injury towards the end of camp but got back to full health before being cut. The 2021 fifth-round pick has played 15 regular-season games since entering the league, recording 14 tackles (five solo).
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  • Cowboys' Caelen Carson: Lands on IR

    Rotowire
    Carson (knee) was placed on injured reserve by the Cowboys on Wednesday. Carson was diagnosed with a hyperextended knee in late July and was expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks. He'll have a lengthier recovery, as he'll now be sidelined for at least the first four weeks of the regular season.
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  • Cowboys' Micah Parsons: Back no longer an issue

    Rotowire
    Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated Tuesday that Parsons would be considered medically cleared to practice, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports. The 'would be' is doing a lot of work in that statement, as Parsons likely isn't going to show up for practice to confirm it while he remains in a contract dispute with the team. It's another sign that the star edge rusher's health isn't the thing keeping him off the field, however. Schottenheimer, as well as teammates like Dak Prescott and Trevon Diggs, still seem confident that a deal will get worked out and Parsons will be in the lineup for a season-opening tilt against the Eagles, but without any practice time ahead of Week 1, his workload could be limited out of the gate. "Do I think he would play 75 plays and every play? Probably not," Schottenheimer said Tuesday. "I don't think that that's [realistic]. But I do think that he can be very disruptive like we all know."
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  • Cowboys' Payton Turner: Missing four games at least

    Rotowire
    The Cowboys placed Turner (ribs) on injured reserve Tuesday, ruling him out for at least the first four games of the regular season. Turner could have his practice window opened after Week 4 and be back on the field in time to suit up Week 5 against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 5, depending on the recovery timetable required for his ribs injury. Once fully healthy, 2021 first-round pick, who spent the first four years of his NFL career in New Orleans, will work to carve out a depth role in the Cowboys' pass-rush rotation.
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  • Cowboys' Shavon Revel: Sent to reserve/NFI list

    Rotowire
    The Cowboys placed Revel (ACL) on the reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday. Revel will be required to miss the first four games of the regular season, at least, as he continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered last September during his final collegiate season at East Carolina. Once healthy, the rookie third-round pick is expected to compete for a significant role in the Cowboys' secondary, but he'll have to wait until after Week 4 at the earliest to resume practicing.
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  • Cowboys' DeMarvion Overshown: Out first four games, at minimum

    Rotowire
    The Cowboys placed Overshown (ACL) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday. Overshown will have to miss at least the first four games of the regular season as a result of the transaction, making him eligible to return Week 5 against the Jets on Oct. 5 at the earliest. The 2023 third-round pick is working his way back from a right knee injury suffered Week 14 of last season, when he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, so it wouldn't be surprising if he requires longer than the four-game minimum to get healthy.
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  • Christian Matthew: Gets waived with groin issue

    Rotowire
    Dallas waived Matthew (groin) with an injury designation Monday, Joe Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports. Matthew suffered a groin injury during the Cowboys' second preseason game versus the Ravens, and now he's going to waivers. If he's not claimed by another team, he'll revert to Dallas' injured-reserve list and be required to stay there for the entire 2025 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team.
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  • Cowboys' Trevon Diggs: Aiming to start Week 1

    Rotowire
    Diggs (knee) said Monday that he has no limitations physically, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. It's no longer the condition of Diggs' knee that would potentially prevent him from playing in Week 1 at Philadelphia, but rather, from an extended absence from team activities dating back to Week 15 of last season that may have taken a toll on his conditioning and left him with a layer of rust. The Cowboys will open the regular season on Thursday, Sept. 7 at Philadelphia, leaving Diggs with relatively little time to get back up to speed. It's possible that Dallas opts to ease its $97 million corner back into action rather than throwing him into the deep end as soon as regular-season play begins.
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  • Cowboys' Robert Rochell: Returns from hamstring injury

    Rotowire
    Rochell recorded seven total tackles and intercepted a pass in Friday's 31-13 preseason victory over the Falcons. Rochell suffered a hamstring injury during Dallas' first preseason contest. He played a significant role in his return, logging 54 total snaps (44 on defense). Rochell appears unlikely to make the roster but could carve out a role on special teams.
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  • Cowboys' Alijah Clark: Two tackles in preseason finale

    Rotowire
    Clark recorded two tackles in Friday's 31-13 preseason win over Atlanta. Clark had been sidelined since Aug. 12 with an elbow injury. He logged 43 total snaps (32 on defense, 11 on special teams) and could find his way onto the roster as a special-teams contributor.
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  • Cowboys' Trevon Diggs: Ready to return to practice

    Rotowire
    Diggs (knee) passed his physical Sunday and has been activated from the active/PUP list, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Diggs has spent the offseason rehabbing from left knee surgery that he underwent in January. He started training camp on the PUP list, but he has progressed enough in his recovery to pass his physical and has been given the green light to return to practice. There's no guarantee that Diggs will be cleared to play in the Cowboys' regular-season opener against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4, so his practice participation over the next two weeks will be worth monitoring. Kaiir Elam and Andrew Booth both started at corner in the Cowboys' first two preseason games and figure to be the frontrunners to start at outside corner opposite DaRon Bland if Diggs doesn't suit up for Week 1.
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  • Cowboys' Micah Parsons: Clean MRI results for back issue

    Rotowire
    Head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters Saturday that Parsons recently underwent an MRI on his back and that the results "came back pretty clean," Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. Parsons has not participated in practice since training camp opened in July, in part due to a lingering back issue and with contract extension talks with the Cowboys stalling. The results of his recent MRI are a positive sign and indicate that the issue shouldn't prevent him from playing in Week 1 against the Eagles on Thursday, Sept. 4. Whether Parsons plays without a new deal remains to be seen, though Schottenheimer expressed optimism Wednesday that the 2021 first-rounder would play in the Cowboys' regular-season opener regardless of how contract talks play out, per Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News.
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  • Cowboys' Trevon Diggs: Not ruling out Week 1

    Rotowire
    Diggs (knee) continues to accelerate his rehab work and wouldn't rule out being in the lineup Week 1 against the Eagles when asked Friday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. The star cornerback is making his way back from January knee surgery. Back in the spring and early summer, a lengthy absence to begin the season seemed almost certain for Diggs, but his progress suggests he might be able to miss fewer than the minimum four games that would be required if he were to remain on the PUP list. The Cowboys could use him back as quickly as possible given all their other injuries in the secondary, but the team isn't likely to jeopardize Diggs' long-term health by rushing him back in 2025.
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  • Cowboys' Shemar James: Picks off pass in preseason finale

    Rotowire
    James recorded five tackles (two solo) and an interception in Friday's preseason win over the Falcons. The 2025 fifth-round pick has been coming on as training camp progressed, and he was in the right place at the right time Friday to pick off an Easton Stick pass over the middle early in the fourth quarter. James won't begin his career as a starter, but he appears to have done enough to secure a roster spot and should see snaps on special teams while working in as a depth option at linebacker behind Marist Liufau, Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn.
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  • Bruce Harmon: Reaches injury settlement

    Rotowire
    Harmon (knee) was waived from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement with the Cowboys on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Harmon was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in the Cowboys' preseason matchup with the Ravens. He will now be eligible to return to action this season if he passes a physical and signs elsewhere.
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  • Cowboys' Bruce Harmon: Reverts to IR

    Rotowire
    Harmon (knee) went unclaimed on waivers and reverted to injured reserve Tuesday. Harmon hurt his knee during the Cowboys' second preseason game. He'll now be in line to miss the 2025 season, unless he can reach an injury settlement with the team.
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  • Cowboys' Micah Parsons: Expected to play Week 1

    Rotowire
    Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said "I feel good about that, yeah" when asked Wednesday whether he expects Parsons (back) to suit up Week 1 against the Eagles, with or without a new deal, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports. Parsons has officially been held out of practice since the start of training camp, though it seems the largest roadblock to the star pass rusher taking the field for Dallas remains his lack of a new long-term deal. His dissatisfaction with the absence of progress in contract talks resulted in a trade request made Aug. 1. If no extension is reached, Parsons will be set to play out the 2025 campaign on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which carries a $24 million contract. Schottenheimer's willingness to express optimism Wednesday could be a sign that contract negotiations are beginning to move forward.
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  • Cowboys' Earnest Brown: Sits out practice

    Rotowire
    Brown (undisclosed) didn't participate in Dallas' practice Tuesday, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Brown is currently battling an undisclosed injury, and it's unclear for how long he will be sidelined. Once healthy, the 26-year-old will continue to compete to earn a spot as a depth defensive tackle on the team's final roster.
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  • Cowboys' Mazi Smith: Not guaranteed roster spot

    Rotowire
    Smith may be on the roster bubble for the Cowboys, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports. The 2023 first-round pick has failed to make any kind of impact in his first two NFL seasons, with his only redeeming quality being that he hasn't missed a game. Smith graded out 208th among 220 interior defensive linemen last year according to Pro Football Focus, and offseason turnover in the coaching staff means that the current brain trust of head coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus have little investment in keeping the 24-year-old Michigan product around. "We're still in the information gathering process," Schottenheimer said Monday. "We'll sit down after we play Friday and we'll make some decisions about the entire roster. There will probably be some surprises from some of the mock things that are out there in terms of, 'Hey, I thought for sure this guy was gonna make it.'" The coach did note that Smith "did some good things" in last Saturday's preseason game against the Ravens, but he also highlighted his lack of consistency. "Mazi wants to be a great player. Mazi can. But what he has to do is be more consistent. That great play I described where he's getting his second step in the dirt and fish-hooking the center and he's basically destroying the line of scrimmage, that's got to be the standard. Not the, 'Okay, I did that,' and for two plays I'm not holding the point as strong as I need to." Smith may get his last chance to prove he belongs on the 53-man roster in Friday's preseason finale against the Falcons.
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  • Cowboys' Michael Ojemudia: Links up with Dallas

    Rotowire
    Ojemudia signed with the Cowboys on Monday, the team's official website reports. A third-round pick in 2020, Ojemudia's last NFL action came in 2022 with the Bears, when he was coached by current Dallas defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Ojemudia is coming off a strong UFL campaign this spring that saw him record 20 tackles and one interception over nine regular-season games for the eventual champions, the DC Defenders. Even in an injury-plagued Cowboys secondary though, the 27-year-old faces an uphill battle to win a roster spot.
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