Cowboys’ Jason Peters To Play In Week 3
In the wake of Tyron Smith‘s injury, the Cowboys added Jason Peters as a stop-gap. The veteran will make his Dallas debut tonight, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz (Twitter link). 
Peters will be not be manning the left tackle spot, however. The 40-year-old will move inside to left guard, something which the team has been experimenting with in the build-up to his debut. That news should ease his workload, something which will be further limited by keeping him on a pitch count (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News). It also signals confidence in first-round rookie Tyler Smith, who has played every snap on the blindside so far.
Gehlken also tweets that Peters is being signed to the Cowboys’ active roster from the practice squad. Dallas is elevating quarterback Will Grier and tight end Sean McKeon. If he sees the field, Peters will eat into Connor McGovern‘s playing time (if the latter is able to suit up after being sidelined last week), while resuming his efforts to transition inside – something which briefly took place in 2020 with the Eagles.
In other Cowboys news, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that wide receiver Michael Gallup will not play tonight (Twitter link). He has yet to play in 2022, as he continues to recover from knee surgery. Dallas could also be without tight end Dalton Schultz, who is dealing with a knee injury of his own; he will be a game-time decision. The absence of both would further hurt a Cowboys offense already missing Dak Prescott for at least one more week.
With Tyron Smith expected to be back before the end of the regular season, the Cowboys will have a decision to make regarding Tyler Smith, along with Peters and McGovern, down the road. For now, at least, the team will have options at both the tackle and guard spots, as Peters looks to begin the second chapter of his All-Pro career with his once-NFC East rival in a key divisional contest.
Jerry Jones: Amari Cooper’s Contract Became Issue
The Cowboys built an escape hatch in Amari Cooper‘s 2020 contract, and the team took its Year 3 out by trading its previous No. 1 wide receiver to the Browns in March. Only $6MM in dead money came from unloading Cooper, who remains attached to the five-year, $100MM deal he signed in March 2020.
Although Noah Brown stepped up to help Cooper Rush to a win in his latest relief outing, the Cowboys have missed Cooper to some degree. They deployed a heavily CeeDee Lamb-dependent wideout cadre in Week 1, with Michael Gallup and James Washington out and third-round pick Jalen Tolbert inactive. Tolbert has yet to suit up for a Cowboys game.
Cooper, 28, has been the Browns’ No. 1 target. After a down Week 1, the eighth-year receiver has come through over the past two weeks, producing back-to-back 100-yard games. The latter effort helped the Browns to a Thursday-night win over the Steelers. When asked about Cooper’s Dallas departure, Jerry Jones reiterated it was a financial sacrifice. Cooper, who carried the top wide receiver cap number in 2021, became a cut candidate in early March. But the Browns took on the deal after winning a modest sweepstakes for the four-time Pro Bowler.
“The issue with Amari Cooper was how much we were paying him and what we could do with that money, completely,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken, on Twitter). “Amari Cooper is a real good player. Top player. You can’t have it all.'”
One of several Cowboys to sign big-ticket contracts between 2019-21, Cooper only fetched fifth- and sixth-round picks in the trade. The Cowboys also sent a 2022 sixth-rounder to the Browns to complete the transaction. Cooper’s contract began to look a bit different as the receiver market boom transpired this offseason. Eight receivers passed Cooper in per-year salary via extensions between March and July, bumping Cooper’s AAV into a tie for 12th at the position. The other teams that traded their top receivers this offseason — the Packers, Chiefs, Titans and Ravens — also each fetched at least a first-round pick in those deals, making the Cowboys’ haul look minuscule by comparison.
The Browns soon restructured Cooper’s contract, dropping his 2022 cap number under $5MM. Cleveland may need to venture further into the void-years realm come 2023, when Cooper’s cap figure spikes beyond $23MM as Deshaun Watson‘s balloons to an unprecedented $54.9MM place.
The Cowboys, who also cut La’el Collins and saw Randy Gregory back out of an extension agreement, regrouped and did not dole out big money to an outside free agent this offseason. After passing on Von Miller‘s offer to take a hometown discount, the Cowboys re-signed Dorance Armstrong and added Dante Fowler on a low-cost deal. The team did not devote much in the way of funds to its offensive line. Dallas re-signed safety Jayron Kearse and gave Gallup a five-year, $57.5MM contract; that became the team’s top offseason expense. Gallup’s contract could age remarkably well, considering where the receiver market has gone. But for now, the Cowboys have him coming off a major injury. They will count on Gallup being a quality Lamb complementary piece this season, as Cooper strives for his fifth Pro Bowl.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Dennis Houston, DE Mika Tafua
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Travis Fulgham
- Released: S Mike Brown
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Wyatt Ray
Cowboys Trying Jason Peters At Guard
Viewed as an emergency Tyron Smith replacement, Jason Peters has been working at multiple positions during his ramp-up period. The Cowboys’ usage of Tyler Smith at left tackle in Weeks 1 and 2 could lead to the rookie staying there.
The team used Peters at a few positions in practice Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic tweets. While the Peters-at-LT plan may still be in play, Machota notes the veteran may be an option at left guard or right tackle going forward. Peters signed with the Cowboys days before Week 1 but has been ramping up to full activity since. It would seem the 40-year-old blocker is close to being activated.
A 19th-year veteran, Peters has been one of the best tackles of his era. His nine Pro Bowls and six first- or second-team All-Pro honors will probably lead to a spot in Canton. But the Eagles were prepared to play Peters at guard two years ago. Brandon Brooks‘ season-ending injury led to Peters re-signing to play between then-heir apparent left tackle Andre Dillard and center Jason Kelce. But Dillard’s subsequent injury scuttled that experiment, moving Peters back to the blindside spot.
That short 2020 stretch of offseason guard work could be relevant again. Tyler Smith has held his own at left tackle thus far. He matched up with the likes of Shaq Barrett and Trey Hendrickson, and Pro Football Focus, charging the first-round pick with just three pressures allowed thus far, has him ranked 27th among tackles. It is still early on that front, but right tackle Terence Steele ranks 15th. Peters kicking Tyler Smith back inside would create an interesting yo-yo pattern for the team’s left tackle of the future, but then again, Tyron Smith recovering from his avulsion fracture late this season would presumably do that.
Peters at left guard would mean either filling in for or replacing Connor McGovern. The contract-year guard missed Week 2 with a high ankle sprain. It would also represent new in-game frontier for Peters, whose role now becomes more interesting. He has started 218 career games, having not worked as a primary backup since 2005. While Peters broke into the Bills’ lineup as a right tackle that year, he has not worked as a regular on that side since the mid-2000s.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Devon Kennard
- Released: WR Andre Baccellia
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: WR Dennis Houston
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR: K Aldrick Rosas
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: K Gabe Brkic
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived from IR: DB Daniel Isom
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR: S Jared Mayden
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: RB Marlon Mack
Cowboys WR Michael Gallup Out For Week 2
- Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that receiver Michael Gallup will sit out once again tomorrow, as noted by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Gallup continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered in January, and was expected to miss a few weeks to begin the 2022 campaign. “There is still a process of return to play that he has to finish,” McCarthy added. The news will once again make CeeDee Lamb the undisputed focal point of Dallas’ WR room as they look to bounce back from last week’s league-worst offensive output.
[SOURCE LINK]
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/22
Today’s minor moves around the league, including practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s action:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devon Kennard, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Caleb Huntley, DL Abdullah Anderson
- Placed on IR: RB Damien Williams (story)
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Daryl Worley, WR Raleigh Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Arron Mosby
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: C Dieter Eiselen
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DT Roderick Perry
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: QB Cooper Rush, K Brett Maher (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Will Grier, C Alec Lindstrom
- Placed on IR: DE Tarell Basham
- Waived: DT John Ridgeway
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kendall Hinton, G Netane Muti
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Jeff Driskel, WR Chris Conley
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, K Chase McLaughlin (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: G Alex Bars, S Matthias Farley
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jacob Harris
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: T Larnel Coleman, WR River Cracraft
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tony Jefferson, CB Fabian Moreau
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Grant Hermanns, TE Kenny Yeboah
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Christian Ringo
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Delontae Scott
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Xavier Crawford
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kaylon Geiger, LB Kenny Young
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: G Wes Martin, DT Benning Potoa’e
Cowboys Sign QB Cooper Rush, K Brett Maher To Active Roster
In anticipation of only his second career start, Cooper Rush is set to officially join the Cowboys’ 53-man roster. He is being signed from the practice squad, along with kicker Brett Maher, per a team announcement. 
Both players suited up last week, of course, but in that instance they were designated as the two taxi squad elevations each team is permitted every week. For Rush, the move confirms the fact that he will take over for Dak Prescott as the team’s starting signal-caller. The duration of Prescott’s absence could be shorter than initially expected, but for the time being, Rush is tasked with keeping the Cowboys afloat and improving on the team’s underwhelming offensive performance in Week 1.
The 28-year-old’s only other start resulted in a victory last season, but with just 63 career pass attempts, little will be known or expected of him. Dallas also has a weakened offensive line in front of him, and a less accomplished assortment of pass-catchers compared to 2021, so the challenge facing him will be significant. Not surprisingly, the Cowboys are elevating Will Grier from the practice squad to operate as Rush’s backup. With Prescott expected to be back relatively soon, that pair will be leaned on, instead of a stop-gap veteran addition.
Maher wasn’t initially in the Cowboys’ kicking plans this offseason. Not long after the team began looking for outside options, however, the 32-year-old returned to Dallas. The Cowboys’ kicker in 2018 and 2019, Maher was responsible for the team’s only points in Week 1, making his only attempt. For his career, he has converted 77.6% of his field goals, a figure which, coupled with his familiarity with the organization, allowed him to make a late push to operate as Greg Zuerlein‘s successor.
Rush, Maher and the Cowboys will look to get into the win column on Sunday against the defending AFC champion Bengals.
Jones Addresses Cowboys Passing On Von Miller's Hometown Discount
Being Von Miller‘s hometown team, the Cowboys had a recruiting advantage this offseason. Miller expressed interest in returning to the Broncos, but when that did not happen, he opened the door to a hometown discount with the Cowboys. Dallas’ offer was believed to be the same one it proposed now-Denver-stationed Randy Gregory — five years, $70MM. Miller moved on, choosing the Bills’ three guaranteed years ahead of Rams proposal that would have paid him more in the short term. After Gregory spurned the Cowboys, they opted for a thriftier trip through the pass-rushing market.
“Von Miller is a great football player,” Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams. “I mean, you see them play at that level and especially this early there is a lot of school of thought on older guys like that that when you really get those guys are for more so for the playoffs than it is for the first part, middle of the season. Now, granted, I’m sure there was a little bit of motivation for Von playing for the Rams and winning a Super Bowl to go out there and showcase what he’s all about.
The Cowboys turned to a committee approach to replace Gregory, re-signing Dorance Armstrong, adding Dante Fowler as a UFA and drafting Sam Williams in Round 2. Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- The Cowboys will be without one of their starting safeties for a while. Jayron Kearse sustained an MCL sprain in Week 1, per Jerry Jones (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, on Twitter). Kearse, who impressed as a Cowboys starter last year, re-signed with the team for two years and $10MM this offseason. He is expected to be out between two and four weeks. The Cowboys had a rough Week 1 on the injury front, losing Dak Prescott and Connor McGovern as well. Malik Hooker figures to step into the starting lineup alongside Donovan Wilson.
Latest On Cowboys’ Offensive Line
The Cowboys are set to revisit their unfortunate lineup adjustment of 2020, when Dak Prescott missed much of the season. That year also involved both Dallas’ top tackles being out of the mix. With Prescott expected to be sidelined for several weeks and Tyron Smith out for months, the Cowboys’ 2022 situation is starting to look eerily similar to their 2020 setup — on offense, anyway.
But the team has higher-ceiling options up front this time around. First-round pick Tyler Smith made his debut at left tackle, and Pro Football Focus rated him just outside the top 40 at the position during his 69-snap debut. Smith still figures to move back to the guard spot at which he was initially pegged to begin the season. Jason Peters‘ ramp-up period might not last much longer.
[RELATED: Cowboys Won’t Place Prescott On IR]
“It depends on his evolving with his conditioning. He didn’t have camp, but, boy, am I glad we got him,” Jerry Jones said of Peters, during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan’s Shan and RJ Show (via the Dallas Morning News). “We’ll have a spot for him. There’s no question that we’re going to be using him, before we’re out and maybe sooner rather than later.”
This puts to rest any concerns about Peters’ age (40) shutting down his viability as a Cowboys O-line option, and with Connor McGovern having suffered an injury in Week 1, the Cowboys need Peters ready ASAP. Peters remains on the team’s practice squad. That said, the Cowboys look to remain patient with Peters. His acclimation period is likely to continue into next week, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Peters has yet to go through team drills since joining the Cowboys.
As for McGovern, he suffered a high ankle sprain, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). The Cowboys have declared McGovern, who played just seven snaps in Week 1, out for their Week 2 game against the Bengals.
Dallas added Peters not long after Tyron Smith‘s avulsion fracture. The longtime Eagles blocker is expected to replace Smith at left tackle, but Jones said Peters would also be an option on the right side. Terence Steele is viewed as a potential long-term starter at right tackle, where he has taken over for La’el Collins, who is now with Cincinnati. An O-line featuring Peters, Tyler Smith, center Tyler Biadasz, All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and Steele appears to be Dallas’ best bet for now, though it will be interesting how the team plays it when McGovern returns.
“There’s a compatibility in play in staying at one spot, no matter how good a player you are. It lends itself to a better offensive line. But still I think we’ve done pretty good by having Peters come in there,” Jones said. “McGovern shouldn’t be long. He shouldn’t be out long, and we had a good job done by Smith, young Smith, and we got help on the way.”
This is McGovern’s contract year. He has bounced in and out of the Cowboys’ lineup since 2020, making 15 starts after missing his rookie year due to injury. The Cowboys could use McGovern as a swing player behind a Martin-Biadasz-Tyler Smith interior trio. Although the Penn State product was competing with Smith at left guard during training camp, it would be difficult to envision the Cowboys benching their first-round pick after already starting him. Peters’ form might dictate how the Cowboys proceed here as well. For now, the 19th-year veteran is tracking toward becoming a starter on a fourth NFL team.