Seahawks, Others Inquire About Aldon Smith
The Seahawks made a deal to acquire Carlos Dunlap and will almost certainly have him in uniform in Week 9. However, the pass rush-deficient team looked into another edge defender recently.
Aldon Smith came up in a Seahawks-Cowboys conversation, with Mike Garafolo of NFL.com noting Seattle and other teams checked in on the re-emerging edge rusher’s availability (video link). The Cowboys’ decisions to trade Everson Griffen and cut Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley surely prompted teams to reach out to see if Dallas would be willing to part with its offseason find.
However, the Cowboys are not interested in dealing Smith, Garafolo adds. The Cowboys signed the former All-Pro this offseason, doing so despite Smith being out of football for nearly five years. Smith has been one of the few bright spots on Dallas’ embattled defense, registering a team-high four sacks. Griffen was the only other Cowboy with more than two this season.
Dallas signed Smith to a one-year deal worth $2MM, beating out Denver in the process. Another $2MM is available to Smith through sack incentives. The four sacks are the most the frequently suspended talent has registered in a season since 2013. With the Cowboys not interested in trading Smith, it stands to reason they will explore an extension with the oft-suspended defender.
Although the Seahawks rank slightly ahead of the Cowboys in defensive DVOA (27th to 30th), they have surrendered the most yards by any team through seven games in NFL history. Seattle’s nine sacks rank 27th as well.
Cowboys Activate Sean Lee, Joe Looney
Ben DiNucci will have more help up front than he did upon being thrust into action last week. In addition to Zack Martin returning from concussion protocol, Joe Looney is back on the Cowboys’ active roster.
The Cowboys activated Looney and Sean Lee from IR Saturday, though ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes rookie Tyler Biadasz is expected to make another start at center. Looney has missed the past three games because of an MCL injury.
Dallas used Looney as its full-time starter in 2018, when Travis Frederick missed the season, and re-signed him this offseason after Frederick retired. Looney started the team’s first four games before his knee injury. He went down on the first play of the Cowboys’ Week 4 loss to the Browns. Pro Football Focus grades his 2020 work better than Biadasz’s thus far, with the latter ranking near the bottom of the advanced metrics site’s center hierarchy.
Lee will make his 2020 debut. The Cowboys placed the veteran linebacker on IR prior to the season starting, carrying him onto their 53-man roster so they could activate him at some point. Lee underwent pelvis surgery, forcing his latest injury-induced absence. The Cowboys re-signed Lee on a one-year, $4.5MM deal this offseason. This will be as healthy as Dallas’ linebackers have been all season, with Leighton Vander Esch also now back after missing early-season games.
The Cowboys also promoted cornerback Saivion Smith from their practice squad. Smith will help a cornerback corps that will be without Chidobe Awuzie. The Cowboys enter Week 8 ranking 30th in defensive DVOA. They jettisoned three veterans — Everson Griffen, Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley — this week.
Cowboys Rule Out Andy Dalton For Week 8
The Cowboys will not have Andy Dalton available in their annual Sunday-night game against the Eagles. They downgraded the veteran passer to out due to the concussion he suffered in Week 7.
Third-stringer Ben DiNucci will start in Philadelphia. Dalton has yet to clear the protocol after taking an illegal hit from Washington linebacker Jon Bostic, and it will result in an unusual starting offense for the team many expected to win the NFC East this season.
Dallas is already down starting tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins for the season. Although Cameron Erving is back from IR at right tackle, DiNucci will represent an obvious change for a team that has not needed to deviate from its quarterback plan in many years. Dak Prescott started 64 straight games from 2016-19. DiNucci being summoned to start reminds of the 2015 season, when Tony Romo‘s injuries resulted in the Cowboys giving starts to Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden and current OC Kellen Moore.
DiNucci spent the past two seasons as the starter at Division I-FCS James Madison. The former Pitt recruit led the Dukes to the D-I-FCS national championship game, when they lost to North Dakota State and likely 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance. While DiNucci led the FCS level with a 71% completion rate last season and accounted for 35 TDs (six rushing), his forced ascent illustrates how far off course this Cowboys season has drifted. DiNucci completed 2 of 3 passes for 39 yards and took three sacks in Dallas’ 25-3 loss to Washington.
The Cowboys have Garrett Gilbert in place as DiNucci’s backup. Despite being drafted in the 2014 sixth round, Gilbert has only played in six games and thrown six passes as a pro.
Texans Trade Eli Ankou To Cowboys
The Texans have traded defensive tackle Eli Ankou to the Cowboys, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The deal will be finalized on Monday, pending the results of Ankou’s COVID-19 test. In exchange, the Texans will receive a seventh-round pick.
[RELATED: Jerry Jones On Mike McCarthy’s Job Security]
Ankou will help Dallas fill the gap following the release of defensive tackle Dontari Poe. This marks the 26-year-old’s third stop of the season — he started out with the Colts before being claimed by the Texans earlier this month. He did not suit up for Houston this season, but he does have 20 career appearances to his credit with the Colts, Browns, and Jaguars.
Ankou, a former undrafted free agent out of UCLA, will be watching from a distance as the Cowboys face the Eagles on Sunday night. Instead, he’ll have his first chance to debut the following week against the Steelers. The Cowboys still have time for additional moves before the Tuesday deadline, but they’re not expected to make a huge splash. Meanwhile, other would-be contenders like the Vikings may be gearing up for a weekend fire sale.
Jones: McCarthy On Safe Ground
The Cowboys have spent this week clearing out some 2020 acquisitions, trading Everson Griffen and cutting Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley. Mike McCarthy does not currently have to worry about being a one-and-done coach. Jerry Jones expressed support for his 2020 HC hire, despite the team’s disappointing start.
McCarthy has kept Kellen Moore as his play-caller and hired Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator. While the Cowboys’ offense was surging with Dak Prescott, it has cratered without him. Dallas’ defense ranks 30th in DVOA. Jones retained Jason Garrett for nearly 10 full seasons and has given all but one coach (Chan Gailey) at least three full seasons. Considering McCarthy’s Super Bowl-winning pedigree, it would be shocking if Jones ousts him after one season.
Cowboys To Bring Back QB Cooper Rush
After cutting Cooper Rush in May, the Cowboys have seen their quarterback situation change considerably. As a result, they are bringing back Dak Prescott‘s previous backup.
Rush is on tap to join the Cowboys’ practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). COVID-19 testing protocols will prevent Rush from practicing with the Cowboys ahead of their Week 8 game against the Eagles.
The Cowboys tendered Rush as a restricted free agent in March but waived him after signing Andy Dalton. With Dalton having suffered a concussion, the Cowboys would be down to third-stringer Ben DiNucci if the veteran passer cannot clear concussion protocol this week. Garrett Gilbert would reside as DiNucci’s backup were that to be the case.
Previously, the Cowboys were thought to not be on the lookout for an outside quarterback, per Rapoport (on Twitter). But Rush is not exactly an outsider, even though he has yet to play in Mike McCarthy‘s system. With Kellen Moore still in place as offensive coordinator, Rush’s acclimation process will not take nearly as long as it would had he signed elsewhere.
A former UDFA out of Central Michigan, Rush spent three seasons with the Cowboys. He landed with the Giants via waiver claim but was cut in late September. Rush played in five games for the Cowboys, exclusively in a mop-up role, but will be back to help the franchise out in a dire time for its quarterback depth chart.
Cowboys To Cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley
The Cowboys continue to cut bait on veteran defenders. After failing in efforts to trade Dontari Poe and Daryl Worley, the Cowboys will release both, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Owner Jerry Jones said that Poe’s release was due to his weight and lack of performance, and he declined to say whether Poe’s decision to kneel during the playing of the national anthem before games was a consideration (via Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com).
These moves come a day after the team shipped Everson Griffen to the Lions for a conditional draft pick. While the Cowboys are a half-game out of first place in the woeful NFC East, they are coming off one of their worst performances in many years. And Dallas’ defense will feature less experience because of it.
Poe and Worley signed with the Cowboys this offseason. A former Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Poe signed a two-year deal worth $4.5MM. This release will tag the Cowboys with more than $1MM in dead money. The Cowboys added Worley on a one-year, $3MM pact and will be hit with over $1MM in dead money from this transaction as well.
A former Chiefs first-round pick, Poe has started all seven of the Cowboys’ games this season. Worley has been a first-unit player in four contests, with the Cowboys dealing with injuries at cornerback. Dallas’ defense ranks 30th in DVOA, setting the stage for one of the most disappointing seasons in modern NFL history.
While Worley has allowed 10 receptions on 12 targets, he has graded as the Cowboys’ second-best corner — in the view of Pro Football Focus. Though, that assessment still places the journeyman outside the top 80 at the position. Worley spent two seasons with the Panthers and two with the Raiders prior to his Cowboys agreement.
Poe has been on four teams now, and his two Pro Bowl appearances came early during his Chiefs tenure. The Panthers declined his 2020 option, sending the 30-year-old back to free agency. The Cowboys signed Poe and Gerald McCoy this offseason. Prior to the midway point, they will be without both and Trysten Hill from their defensive tackle rotation.
Cowboys To Trade Or Cut Dontari Poe, Daryl Worley
The Cowboys told defensive tackle Dontari Poe and cornerback Daryl Worley they’ll be released if a trade cannot be completed today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Poe, a 346-pound force, spent 2018 and 2019 with the Panthers before his 2020 option was declined. That led him to Dallas, where he scored a two-year deal worth up to $10.5MM. Since then, Poe has started seven games with just seven total stops. According to Pro Football Focus, he has just one hurry to his credit this year. It’s a far cry from what Dallas expected of Poe, who made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and 2014 while he was with the Chiefs. And, last year, he managed four sacks from the interior, despite being limited to just eleven regular season games.
Worley, meanwhile, has allowed ten catches on 12 targets. Prior to his one-year deal with the Cowboys, Worley started in most of his 25 games across two seasons. Last year, in 15 contests, he notched 58 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
The trade deadline won’t come until Nov. 3, but the Cowboys are looking to get an early jump on things by moving — or dropping — the duo. So far this year, the Cowboys have averaged 34.7 points allowed per game, positioning them as the worst defense in the league.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/20
We’ll keep track of the practice squad moves from the past day here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: S Marcus Gilchrist
Carolina Panthers
- Released: CB Josh Hawkins
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Dwayne Harris
- Released: DT Terry Beckner
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: CB Jalen Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OT Alex Taylor
- Released: DE Jalen Jelks
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: P Hunter Niswander
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: T Jared Hilbers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: QB Jordan Ta’amu
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DB Kemah Siverand
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Austin MacGinnis
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Marcus Sayles
- Released: LB Cale Garrett
New England Patriots
- Signed: T Jordan Steckler
- Released: G Jordan Roos
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Corey Coleman, DB Montre Hartage, TE Rysen John
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Anthony Johnson
- Released: WR Amara Darboh
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Tony Bergstrom, DL Willie Henry
- Released: CB Brian Allen, OL Cody Conway, DL Adam Shuler
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Paul Adams, LB Will Compton
Washington Football Team
- Released: DE Gerri Green, DB Manny Patterson, LB Donald Payne
Cowboys Trade Everson Griffen To Lions
Shortly after Everson Griffen trade rumors emerged, the veteran defensive end is on the move. He will return to the NFC North.
The Cowboys are trading Griffen to the Lions for a draft choice, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Griffen spent 10 seasons with the Vikings and will now be headed to Detroit to help the 3-3 team’s pass rush. The Lions will send the Cowboys a conditional sixth-rounder for Griffen, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). The pick would top out as a 2021 fifth, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer.
Griffen signed a one-year, $6MM deal with the Cowboys during training camp. But Dallas’ defense, despite featuring several veterans, has experienced consistent struggles this season. One of the 2010s’ best pass rushers, Griffen will head to a Lions team that just placed the younger of its two pass-rushing Okwaras, Julian, on IR. The Lions will be responsible for nearly $2MM of Griffen’s base salary.
With the Vikings from 2010-19, Griffen accumulated 77 sacks. He did so after spending the 2010-13 seasons as a backup. The ex-Viking cog registered 2.5 sacks in seven games as a Cowboy this season.
Griffen, 32, will need to pass six days’ worth of coronavirus tests before practicing with his new team. This will stand in the way of a 17-game season for the acclaimed edge defender. The Lions have already had their bye week, meaning Griffen’s first game with the team would be against the Vikings next week.
Although the Lions gave Trey Flowers a lucrative deal last year, they rank 28th with only eight sacks this season. Flowers and veteran Romeo Okwara have combined for six of those. Griffen finished with eight sacks and 24 QB hits for the Vikings last season and took his time choosing his next team in free agency. The Cowboys, however, will deal away one of their veteran defenders after a 2-5 start. The team recently redeployed Randy Gregory after his latest suspension ended, and Aldon Smith has produced for the Cowboys despite being out of the NFL for nearly five years.