Jerry Jones didn’t exactly hide the Cowboys’ intentions this week. On Tuesday, he said Dallas had talked about a “substantive” trade with another team on Monday, then made it clear the club never really stepped away from its pursuit of Maxx Crosby. That kind of public nudge says plenty: the Cowboys believe they’re one difference-maker away on defense, and that puts the spotlight squarely on the edge rushers already in camp.
Sam Williams has answered that challenge early.
Through the first two practices, Williams has been one of the defensive standouts, and Cowboys team reporter Nick Eatman went so far as to call him “dominant.”
“Sam Williams has a big opportunity in front of him this year and he looked rather dominant during the team drills,” Eatman wrote.
“On two straight plays, he showed the variety of skill set the Cowboys have always admired from Williams, who ran stride for stride with running back Dominic Richardson on a wheel route down the field, and then stuffed the same running back in the hole on the next play. Also, Williams lived in the backfield, creating all kinds of pressure rushing from the left side.”
That’s the kind of problem Dallas should be happy to have. If Williams really is taking a leap, it changes the look of the whole defense.
The outside linebacker room already has pieces worth watching. Rashan Gary brings a strong run-defending floor, while Donovan Ezeiruaku has the kind of upside that could swing how dangerous this pass rush becomes.
Gary forced a fumble on Thursday, and Ezeiruaku was getting into the backfield with ease. The Cowboys are also high on first-round pick Malachi Lawrence, who was reportedly “dominant” against the run in Thursday’s practice.
Add in James Houston, who finished second on the team last season with 5.5 sacks, and there’s at least a real case that this group could be better than expected.
Williams is the most intriguing name in the bunch because the upside has always been there, even if the production hasn’t fully followed yet. He was coming off a torn ACL last season, and now he’s two years removed from that injury.
For most pass rushers, that matters. Unless you’re Nick Bosa, it usually takes time to get all the way back.
Dallas clearly still believes there’s something worth betting on. Williams returned on a one-year, $2.5 million deal in March, with $2 million guaranteed. It’s not a massive commitment, but it’s enough to show the Cowboys didn’t want to let him leave for nothing.
The one thing to keep in mind is that the pads still aren’t on. Practice buzz in shorts and shells only tells you so much, and Williams’ true test will come when the contact ramps up. Even so, the early signs are hard to ignore.
If Williams does turn this start into a real breakout, the Cowboys could end up with an unusual kind of good problem: too many pass rushers playing too well. That would be an enviable spot for a team that entered camp with the position among its biggest questions.
In Other News...
Cowboys Suddenly Have A New Veteran Pass Rush Possibility
Training camp in Oxnard has a way of turning even a routine practice into a talking point, and the latest buzz around the Cowboys came with a familiar veteran pass-rush name attached. Von Miller, still a free agent and long one of the leagues most accomplished edge defenders, stopped by a Cowboys practice as Dallas works through its preseason preparations, adding another layer to the conversation about how the team might keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Miller has made it clear he would be interested in playing for his hometown team, which is enough to keep the idea alive even without a reported workout or contract in hand. For a Cowboys defense looking for every possible edge, the appeal is obvious, but the question now is whether the visit was just a stop in camp or the first hint of something more serious taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Opened The Door To A Cowboys Ownership Twist
Jerry Jones has left a new possibility hanging over the Cowboys, one that would have sounded far-fetched not long ago: the idea of adding a minority stakeholder to the franchise. The longtime owner said he is open to bringing in Mark Cuban, and the former Dallas Mavericks owner has already signaled that his investment fund would be willing to buy an interest in the team.
The franchise is not acting as if a deal is around the corner, though. Stephen Jones said the Cowboys would not rule out selling a stake, but stressed that any potential partner would be considered carefully and made clear that no sale is imminent. For a team whose ownership structure has long been one of the defining parts of its identity, even a loose opening like this is enough to get attention. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Ezeiruaku Just Crossed A Line At Cowboys Camp
Training camp has a way of sharpening edges, and Donovan Ezeiruaku found that out during the Cowboys fifth practice. The rookie pass rusher had already been part of some verbal back-and-forth earlier in camp, but things escalated when he went at right tackle Terence Steele, turning a routine practice rep into something the staff had to step in on.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the incident and removed Ezeiruaku from the field after the confrontation. For a player trying to carve out a role on a veteran-laced roster, the focus now shifts from what he can bring off the edge to how quickly he can reset after crossing a line the Cowboys clearly do not want crossed at camp. [Read more 🡒]