2 min read • August 04, 2021
Posted in
Offense
QB Dak Prescott -
During the Week 5 Cowboys game in 2020, Prescott suffered a significant injury where his toes were pointed “east” and his kneecap pointed “north.” We broke down his injury in real time and expected it to end his season but not his career. No one can doubt his toughness as he tried to slam his ankle back in place before he calmly waved for help. The second surgery causes some pause, and it has been reported the second surgery was “not related” to the initial injury, which doesn’t make sense to me as we posted on the site. Although videos show Prescott is not 100% yet, he will start week one and should perform well. The recent shoulder compensation injury is the bigger worry. The team used words like "fatigue" and day to day but the reality is he had MRI evidence of a latissimus dorsi muscle strain which is part of the shoulder girdle. Expect him to miss a fair portion of training camp but we do not expect this to leak into the season. Not being able to fully step into throws could have contributed to the shoulder issue. It is something to watch but there is time before the regular season. Look for Prescott to build on his strong start in 2020 where he threw for almost 2,000 yards and 9 touchdowns in just four games. Prescott is an elite option at quarterback to start the 2021 season regardless of past injuries.
RB Ezekiel Elliot -
The star running back had a down statistical season and missed his first game of his career due to a calf injury he was playing with for over a week as he thought it was important to play through injury for teammates. The former Ohio State Buckeye returned for the final two games of the season finishing with 979 yards and six touchdowns but should build on having his franchise quarterback back in the fold.
WR Amari Cooper -
The former Raider turned Cowboy had a cleanup surgery on his ankle in January but has continued dealing with ankle problems as the offseason progressed. The ankle scope removed bone spurs and accommodates for improved motion. This should have been a reliable recovery but irritation combined with "bone inflammation" popped up in late May. Cooper has begun training camp on the active PUP list. He brought up a lack of Vitamin D but relayed confidence that he will be ready by week three of training camp although this does not make sense. If a simple ankle scope that typically carries a six-week timeline for recovery is still symptomatic at six months, what makes anyone think it will go away in another month? Although Cooper had a strong 2020 season scoring five touchdowns on 1,114 yards, one has to be concerned about Cooper and his availability/production going into the 2021 season.
TE Blake Jarwin -
The Cowboys tight end suffered an ACL tear Week 2 and missed the rest of season. The young pass catcher goes from bonafide starter to fighting for snaps due to emergence of Dalton Schultz. Jarwin should return to form but not until later in the 2021 season. Expect him to split snaps and fight for time, especially early on. Jarwin is poised to have a more productive second half of the season after scoring three touchdowns on 365 receiving yards in 2019.
Offensive Line -
OL Zack Martin -
The elite offensive lineman suffered a concussion in 2020 that caused him to miss a game but the major concern was the calf injury that forced him to miss the final five games including an IR stint. Martin is a key cog in the Cowboys O-line going into the 2021 season with his calf being a non-issue going forward.
OL Tyron Smith -
The hulking offensive lineman played in just two games in 2020 and had surgery on his neck causing him to miss the rest of the season. In the year before, Smith missed three games due to ankle and back issues. Throughout his career, Smith has dealt with nerve issues in his back but when healthy he is one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Hopefully the neck surgery puts his cervical issues behind him but let's hope the back holds as he is an essential part of the Cowboys vaunted offense.
OL La'el Collins -
The former LSU product suffered a hip injury during the summer leading up to the 2020 season that required surgery. Collins started training camp on the active PUP list before opting for surgery. He was placed on IR right before Week 1. Expect a full return from Collins this season and maybe some improvement with his hip issue now behind him.
Defense
DE Demarcus Lawrence -
The Cowboys star pass rusher was initially said to have a "clean up" back surgery that has now been cleared up to be a herniated disc. He started on the active PUP list and has just been cleared. We expect a strong return but the Cowboys need to take their time. Remember when J.J. Watt rushed back from a similar surgery and needed a second one? With a month before regular season play, easing him back in should be a priority. His pass rush production has dipped in recent years, with 5.0 sacks in 2019 and 6.5 sacks last year, but the Cowboys will hope for a rebound in 2021.
LB Leighton Vander Esch -
The stud linebacker has fallen off in recent years due to an assortment of injuries, and the Cowboys bolstered their LB room with Penn State product Micah Parsons in the first round of the 2021 draft. In 2020 Vander Esch fractured his collarbone Week 1 and was placed on IR, missing four weeks before returning. Vander Esch also missed the last two weeks with a high ankle sprain, and in 2019 he suffered a season ending neck injury that required surgery. The Boise State man came into the league with known neck issues and wears a collar. We expected a strong return from neck surgery but the worry is if he has another neck issue and needs surgery that might be the end of a promising young career. The linebacker burst onto the scene with 140 tackles in his rookie year, but that number dropped to 72, then 60 last year. His role defense has come into question as his 5th year option was declined in the offseason.
LB Jaylon Smith -
The heralded LB had a disastrous mult-iligament knee injury in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl and suffered nerve damage that led to him missing his first year. His second was subpar but he did rebound for a good third year and was rewarded early with a new contract. His story is great as he has overcome considerable adversity but is still limited with the nerve issue. It has improved but Smith has had trouble in space and moving side to side. In 2020, he rated poorly as offenses exposed this weakness. We are not positive he would be on the team if not for his contract and ownership not wanting to admit the mistake. The Notre Dame product had offseason wrist surgery but that should not hamper him this year. Unfortunately, the knee injury and peroneal nerve issue have turned this potential generational talent into just a guy. Kudos for overcoming but NFL offensive coordinators will take no mercy taking advantage of these limitations. Smith had great production last year statistically with 154 combined tackles, but the nerve issue has clearly limited his movement.
CB Trevon Diggs -
The rookie cornerback broke a bone in his foot Week 9 and was placed on IR, missing four games before returning to finish the season. Diggs played well before and after the injury meaning we expect him to be productive in his sophomore campaign.
S Malik Hooker -
The new free agent signing tore his Achilles in his final season with the Colts, and injuries have plagued him since being drafted. He tore his ACL/MCL in his rookie season, and dealt with hip and foot issues in his sophomore campaign before tearing his meniscus in 2019. When healthy, he has played quite well. The fact that he injured the Achilles in Week 2 last season gives him a longer recovery time and we expect him to round into form as the season progresses and make defensive contributions.
S Damontae Kazee -
The new free agent signing tore his Achilles in his final season with the Atlanta Falcons last year. This makes a pair of safeties signed by the Cowboys coming off the same injury, although Kazee hurt his about a month later than Hooker meaning he is likely a month behind. Expect a stronger second half of the season, but it could take time for him to work his way back.
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