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Blogging the Boys
Cowboys injuries: Micah Parsons did not practice, John Stephens tore his ACL
The Dallas Cowboys were impacted by injury news in yesterday’s practice. Tight end John Stephens unfortunately tore his ACL in practice and is lost for another year with this same type of injury.
Cowboys TE John Stephens suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Wednesday’s practice, according to sources. He missed last year with the same injury in the same knee. Surgery upcoming. He had yet to be active for a game this season but the club liked his upside.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 24, 2024
After working with the training staff yesterday, Micah Parsons has not yet worked into practice. Head coach Mike McCarthy said his status for Sunday was “up in the air.” Among those also not practicing were DaRon Bland (foot), who still awaits his season debut after starting the year on injured reserve and kicker Brandon Aubrey did not practice and was excused for jury duty. Listed today as limited participants were Eric Kendricks, still managing a calf injury, and wide receiver Ryan Flournoy (ankle). For a second consecutive day, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (wrist) was a full participant, as was cornerback Caelen Carson.
Blogging the Boys
Mazi Smith has not elevated his game against the run or the pass as hoped
Even the most glowing optimists have to admit things have not looked great for Mazi Smith.
Smith has not lived up to his No. 1 ranking and has struggled to translate the strength he showed in college to the NFL. Per NFL Pro, Smith has failed to record a single pressure on any of his 80 pass rushes this season. He is the only defensive tackle who has not registered a pressure on at least 50 pass rushes.
According to NFL Pro, there have only been 16 defensive tackles to not record a pressure through Week 7 with at least 50 pass rushes since 2018. Not the historic company a young defensive tackle would want to be associated with.
Even if you trust the numbers of Pro Football Focus more than NFL Pro, Smith has just two pressures on the season on pass rush snaps per PFF. That is still tied for 107th among interior defensive linemen playing at least 20 percent of the pass rush snaps.
Big Blue View
Azeez Ojulari ‘just working’, not focused on trade rumors
Edge defender has three sacks over the past two games
Ojulari is trying to focus on his job, not on the speculation.
“I’m just working, man,” he said in the locker room on Thursday. “I know it’s business. I’m just here every single day grinding with my teammates, just blessed to keep working hard one day at a time. Take every opportunity. Never take it for granted.”
Search ‘Azeez Ojulari trade rumors’ online and you find speculation that the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and a few other teams could have interest in Ojulari, who is still just 24 years old.
There was reportedly interest in Ojulari from other teams prior to the season.
Ojulari is in the last year of his rookie contract. With Thibodeaux, currently on IR with a fractured wrist, and Brian Burns as the team’s primary edge defenders, Ojulari might be auditioning for a role elsewhere either via trade or offseason free agency.
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Matthew Stafford on triumphant returns of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua: ‘It was great for our entire team’
With wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua healthy and back playing together for the first time since Week 1, Matthew Stafford carved up the Vikings’ stout defense with 279 yards and four touchdowns in the 30-20 victory.
L.A.’s dynamic duo combined for 12 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown in the season-changing win, which puts the Rams (3-4) right in the thick of an NFC West race that’s there for the taking.
Stafford recognized the return of his top wide receivers as a big boost for the entire team, let alone the offense.
“It’s what you envisioned (for this offense) when training camp started and it’s nice to have those guys back,” Stafford said. “I said it earlier, but I really do think it was great for our entire team. It was great for our offense, obviously. I was so happy and proud for those guys to be back out on the grass with us, but also really big for our defense, our special teams, (because) everybody feels that when those guys are back in.”
Pro Football Talk
NFL must make face mask fouls reviewable
The Rams probably would have won anyway. But the way the door was slammed on the Vikings serves as a clear and obvious reminder of one of the biggest flaws in the league’s current replay system.
Face mask fouls continue to be not reviewable.
It’s one of the original safety rules, passed long before the NFL had its epiphany regarding player health. At one point, the league ditched the distinction between major and minor (five-yard) fouls and made any grabbing and pulling of the opponent’s face mask a personal foul — 15 yards and an automatic first down.
So why has it never been subject to replay review? It requires little time to see that it happened. The evidence is always clear and obvious. And the consequences of the failure of the officials to spot it in real time can be devastating.
On Thursday night, the failure of the officials to see that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold’s face mask had been grabbed and pulled on the game-cementing safety eliminated any chance Minnesota had to drive the length of the field and force overtime.
Discussion topics
Face of the football program. Most recognizable person associated with Penn St. Demands athletes be held accountable. Paid millions, some of it taxpayer money.
Yet refuses to stand up and deliver a statement or face important questions from reporters doing their jobs. https://t.co/FDhybIV8Ku
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 24, 2024