Cowboys C Travis Frederick Has Guillain Barre Syndrome
Cowboys center Travis Frederick revealed on Twitter Wednesday night that he’s been diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare auto immune disease.
“In the last 48 hours, I have received two treatments that address my condition, and I am feeling much better from an overall strength perspective. I will continue these treatments over the next few days.
I am very optimistic about my condition and the immediate future, as I have been told that the illness was detected at a fairly early stage. My doctors have told me that it is not possible to determine a time table for a return to the field right now, but I am hopeful that I will be able to play as soon as possible.”
Frederick is dealing with neck stingers, and had been searching for more recovery options, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News recently reported. A “level of concern” reportedly existed with Dallas’ front office, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t exhibit any unease during a Tuesday interview with 105.3 The Fan. “[Frederick] had a good day yesterday,” Jones said, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “[The results] were positive for the future.”
Frederick is the second Cowboys offensive lineman to deal with injury this week, as All-Pro right guard Zack Martin went down during Saturday’s preseason game, but ultimately escaped with just a hyperextended left knee. Frederick’s ailment is clearly more serious nature, and it sounds as though he’ll be sidelined for the foreseeable future. For now, Dallas will turn to backup center Joe Looney, where he’ll be joined by Martin, Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, and Connor Williams on one of the league’s best front fives.
Frederick, 27, has started 80 consecutive games for the Cowboys. A four-time Pro Bowler, Frederick graded as the league’s No. 3 center in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. He inked a six-year, $56.4MM extension in 2016, a deal that now ranks fourth on an annual basis among centers behind Ryan Jensen, Brandon Linder, and Weston Richburg.
Cowboys Sign S Jeron Johnson
The Cowboys have reached a contract agreement with free agent safety Jeron Johnson, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dallas has waived quarterback Dalton Sturm in a corresponding roster move.
As Archer notes, Johnson is the second defensive back Dallas has signed in the past day, joining undrafted free agent Dominick Sanders. The Cowboys can use all the help they can get at safety, as Xavier Woods is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a hamstring injury, while Jameill Showers was recently placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL.
Johnson, 30, has spent the majority of his seven-year career with the Seahawks, so he has experience playing under new Cowboys defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Kris Richard. Primarily a special-teamer, Johnson has topped 20% playtime just once (in 2015, with the Redskins). In 2017, Johnson signed with the Jaguars in August but was placed on injured reserve the following month, and never saw action on the field.
Dallas, of course, has and could continue to pursue safeties with larger name value than Johnson. The Seahawks’ Earl Thomas has been on the Cowboys’ radar for some time, while the club is also reportedly interested in George Iloka, whom the Bengals released on Sunday.
Cowboys Notes: Workouts, Thomas
- The Cowboys added one safety today when they signed Dominick Sanders. However, it sounds like the team is still seeking some reinforcement at the position, as Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets that the team will audition Jeron Johnson tomorrow. The former undrafted free agent out of Boise State has managed to appear in 64 games since entering the league in 2011, but he’s only appeared in four games over the past two years. His best season came in 2015 with the Redskins, when he compiled 27 tackles.
- While the Cowboys continue to seek safety help, there apparently hasn’t been any progress with the Seahawks in regards to an Earl Thomas trade. Watkins tweets that “nothing new is happening” with Seattle, meaning there may not be an end in sight when it comes to the ongoing Thomas saga. The veteran Pro Bowler has sat out the first part of the preseason, and he’s requested a new contract or a trade.
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More Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/18
Some more minor moves from today:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Jacob Ohnesorge
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Warren Long
- Waived: S Mike Basile
Cowboys Sign DT Caraun Reid
It didn’t take long for Caraun Reid to find a new job. Jon Machota of the Dallas News reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys will be signing the defensive tackle. Dallas is expected to waive/injured Richard Ash in order to open a roster spot. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports that the Cowboys will also be signing safety Dominick Sanders, and the team is expected to place Jameill Showers on the IR.
The 26-year-old Reid had been battling a hamstring issue throughout training camp, but reports indicate that he’s now healthy. With the Colts rostering plenty of depth at the position, the organization decided to release Reid over the weekend so he could quickly find his next gig. The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Princeton contributed during his first two years in the league, including a 2015 campaign with the Lions where he compiled 29 tackles and two sacks in 14 games (12 starts). After playing in seven games with the Chargers in 2016, Reid tore his ACL, and he’s proceeded to play in only one game since that time.
In Dallas, Reid will be replacing Ash, who compiled 15 tackles in 10 games (two starts) for the Cowboys last season. The 26-year-old had suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s preseason game. Reid will presumably slide into the open spot on the depth chart, and he’ll compete with Jihad Ward, Datone Jones, and Lewis Neal to be the primary backup behind Brian Price and Maliek Collins.
Sanders worked out for the Cowboys last week. The Georgia product set a school-record with 16 interceptions, and he briefly caught on with the Eagles after going undrafted in this year’s draft. He’ll be replacing Showers, who tore his ACL this past weekend.
Rico Gathers On Cowboys' Bubble?
The Cowboys typically keep two quarterbacks on the roster, but Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News believes that fifth-round pick Mike White will force them to keep three. In theory, the Cowboys could cut White and try to sneak him on to the practice squad, but he believes there’s a good chance that another team would pounce on the Western Kentucky product.
Xavier Woods Out 3-4 Weeks
- Projected to be one of the Cowboys‘ starting safeties, Xavier Woods will be out between three and four weeks because of a hamstring injury, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets. Dallas has been linked to Earl Thomas throughout 2018 and is now examining recently released George Iloka. The Cowboys selected Woods in the sixth round last year and deployed him in four games as a starter.
Cowboys Considering George Iloka
The Bengals’ surprising decision to part ways with longtime safety starter George Iloka may end up helping an NFC team that’s thin at this position.
Iloka’s on the Cowboys’ radar, with Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweeting internal discussions are taking place about Dallas bringing in the 28-year-old defender. The Cowboys are discussing the position as a whole and aren’t too far along on a possible Iloka pursuit, but the now-ex-Bengal’s name has surfaced, per Watkins.
Dallas may not have starter Xavier Woods for its Week 1 game, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Woods strained a hamstring against the Bengals on Saturday, and the team received a firsthand look at Iloka’s most recent work. The Cowboys also lost fellow safety Jameill Showers to a torn ACL, further limiting the Cowboys at a position at which most believe they were already understaffed.
The Cowboys view Iloka as a strong safety, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. They’ve been connected to one of this generation’s best free safeties for months, but nothing’s transpired on the Earl Thomas-to-Dallas front recently. Former UDFA Jeff Heath is stationed at the strong safety spot for now. No known discussions have taken place about moving Byron Jones back to safety.
Iloka started throughout the three most recent Bengals playoff seasons, re-signed with the team in 2016 and started the past two seasons. The former fifth-round pick is entering his seventh NFL season and figures to land somewhere soon, this offseason’s odd safety free agency developments notwithstanding.
Cowboys Notes: Martin, Showers, WRs
- Zack Martin went down on Saturday night during the Cowboys‘ second preseason game, but the news is expected to be positive for the All-Pro guard. Martin likely suffered a hyper-extended left knee, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com, who adds Martin is expected to undergo an MRI on Sunday. Speaking to reporters last night, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Martin’s knee issue was not expected to be “problematic,” according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. However, given his injury, Dallas could hold out Martin from game action until the regular season begins.
- While Martin is likely to escape a serious injury, Cowboys safety Jameill Showers wasn’t so lucky. Showers is believed to have suffered a torn ACL, tweets Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News, and will have an MRI on Sunday to confirm. After entering the league as a quarterback in 2015, Showers transferred to defensive back, and has spent much of the past three seasons on Dallas’ practice squad. While he was far from a roster lock, Showers’ injury will further deplete the Cowboys’ defensive depth.
- The Cowboys need to add another receiver, opines Calvin Watkins of The Athletic (Twitter link). Dallas added free agent Allen Hurns and draft pick Michael Gallup to its receiving corps this offseason, but the position group as a whole hasn’t been overly impressive through two preseason games. While Watkins points to back-of-the-roster pass-catchers such as Noah Brown and Deonte Thompson as candidates for increased playing time, the Cowboys could conceivably look at free agents including Jeremy Maclin, Dontrelle Inman, or Brandon Coleman.
Brent Celek Leaning Towards Retirement
Eagles free agent tight end Brent Celek tells 97.5 The Fanatic that he’s leaning towards retirement (audio link). Celek didn’t quite say that it’s Eagles-or-bust if he were to play, but it was heavily suggested. 
“I think I’m leaning more toward retirement,” Celek said. “I’ve had a few offers, but none of them are worth leaving a city that I have been in for eleven years where I won the Super Bowl in my final year. It wouldn’t feel right to put another uniform on.”
Celek was overshadowed a bit in Philadelphia last year with Zach Ertz and Trey Burton ahead of him on the depth chart, but he appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles. He has been remarkably durable over the course of his career, missing just one game since entering the league in 2007.
Once upon a time, Celek was a major part of the Eagles’ passing attack. He nearly hit 1,000 receiving yards in 2009 and he averaged 59 catches for 744 yards and 4+ TDs between 2009 and 2012. In recent years, he’s been used more for blocking purposes. He has just 27 grabs for 285 yards over the last two seasons. In theory, the Eagles could circle back to him now that Burton is out of the picture, but they could just as easily forge ahead with their current group, which includes second-round pick Dallas Goedert and free agent pickup Richard Rodgers.
If Celek does return, it sounds like it will be with the Eagles. But, no matter what, he says there’s one team he’d never play for.
“Hell no,” Celek said when asked about the possibility of heading to Dallas. “Do you think I would play for the Cowboys? Philly is my home. If they offered me 10MM, I still wouldn’t go.”