Dak Prescott Endorses Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy
2024 has long seemed like a lame duck season for Mike McCarthy, but nothing is certain at this point with respect to how the Cowboys will proceed on the sidelines. McCarthy has received praise on more than one occasion from owner Jerry Jones, including recent remarks leaving the door open to a new contract. 
While Jones will obviously have the final say on whether or not McCarthy is retained for 2025, the former Packers Super Bowl winner also has the support of quarterback Dak Prescott. A hamstring injury has left Prescott on the mend since he underwent surgery last month, and his absence has further hindered on offense which was not performing well when he was healthy earlier in the year. Despite Dallas’ 2024 struggles, Prescott offered a public endorsement of McCarthy staying in place on a new contract.
[RELATED: Zack Martin To Miss Rest Of Season]
“I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott said (via Yahoo! Sports’ Jori Epstein). “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it.”
On the latter point, McCarthy himself said his level of influence with the Cowboys outweighs that of when he was with the Packers (h/t DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr.). That represents an interesting comment in the wake of Prescott’s remarks, but it is nevertheless notable Dallas’ franchise passer is on board with maintaining continuity on the sidelines. Prescott will be expected to rebound from his showings in 2024 when he his back on the field next season, regardless of what the Cowboys’ coaching staff looks like.
McCarthy guided the team to a 6-10 record during his first season at the helm, followed by three consecutive 12-5 campaigns. Over the stretch, Dallas failed to advance past the divisional round, and last year’s lopsided home defeat to the Packers resulted in a one-and-done playoff appearance. That game, Jones has publicly acknowledged, played a role in his decision not to work out an extension with McCarthy ahead of the 2024 campaign. Dallas now sits at 5-7 with a playoff berth not seen as a realistic possibility.
Prescott landed a $60MM-per-year extension just before the start of the season, and he is on the books through 2028 as a result. His future is not in question, whereas McCarthy’s status will be interesting to follow once the 2024 campaign comes to a close. It will be interesting to see how much weight Prescott’s endorsement carries when Jones decides what to do on the coaching side this winter.
Cowboys’ Zack Martin To Undergo Season-Ending Ankle Surgery
9:43pm: Martin is “dealing with a degenerative condition” in his ankle, per David Moore of The Dallas Morning News, fueling speculation that he has played his last snaps in the NFL.
Martin’s ankle had bothered him dating back to last season and flared up during training camp this year. The Cowboys tried to manage the injury, but it worsened in November. Martin originally planned to sit out two games and return in Week 14, but his ankle did not respond to his usual treatment regimen after Week 11. It became clear that Martin could not maintain his All-Pro level of play for the rest of the year. With Dallas all but eliminated from the playoffs, surgery became the best option, as it would give Martin a head-start on his recovery if he chooses to return in 2025.
Martin has previously hinted that the 2024 season would be his last, and his lasting ankle injury may provide additional reason to believe that he will retire after this year.
11:30am: Zack Martin suffered an ankle injury in Week 11, and it will keep him out of the Cowboys’ lineup for the rest of the year. The future Hall of Fame guard will undergo season-ending surgery, head coach Mike McCarthy announced on Thursday. 
Martin operated as a full-time starter during his 10 appearances in 2024, his 11th season with Dallas. The 2010s All-Decade team member has been a staple along the interior offensive line throughout his career, but there is a chance this news marks the end of his NFL playing tenure. Martin admitted this past summer he will give thought to retirement following the 2024 campaign.
The 34-year-old is a pending free agent, and in the event he were to hang up his cleats the Cowboys would face the challenging task of finding a replacement. In the immediate future, Dallas will continue with a shorthanded unit up front including former undrafted rookie T.J. Bass seeing time at guard. The team sits at 5-7 on the year, and news of Martin being gone the rest of the way adds further to the likelihood of the season ending without a postseason berth.
While Martin’s Cowboys tenure has not included a deep playoff run, his career features a long list of individual accolades. The former first-rounder has received nine Pro Bowl invitations and he has landed on nine total All-Pro lists (seven first-team, two second-team). Only in 2020 – when he was limited to just 10 games – did Martin not add to those figures. That will likely be the case again for 2024.
As the Cowboys prepare to make a number of key financial decisions this offseason, Martin’s future will be a central storyline for the franchise. The Notre Dame product has started all 162 of his appearances, operating as a consistent figure up front while other blockers have cycled through. Adding new options up front has been a draft priority in recent years, with Tyler Smith being selected in 2022 and fellow starters Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe being added this past April.
Finding a long-term right guard option would be a target this offseason if Martin were to retire. A decision on that front may not be made for several months, but it could take into account the lengthy rehab process which will await him once his operation takes place.
Cardinals Extend RB James Conner
DECEMBER 5: Details of Conner’s contract have emerged via OverTheCap. The deal includes $10.39MM in total guarantees, including $8.25MM of fully-guaranteed money. Conner’s $6.75MM signing bonus and his $1.5MM guaranteed salary in 2025 are both fully guaranteed, with an additional $2.14MM of 2025 salary that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year.
The contract also includes $100k in workout bonuses and $510k in per-game roster bonuses in both 2025 and 2026, as well as a $1MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. Connor’s 2024 salary cap number rose to $11.24MM to account for the $2.25MM prorated portion of his new signing bonus. His cap hit will be $6.5MM in 2025 and $10.25MM in 2026.
Overall, the deal rewards Conner for his success this season with solid guarantees while the structure minimizes risk for the Cardinals if his effectiveness dips next year. Conner can be released after the 2025 season with just $2.25MM in dead money while saving $8MM against the cap.
NOVEMBER 30: James Conner is sticking in Arizona. The impending free agent running back has signed a two-year extension with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is worth $19MM. The extension will keep Conner in Glendale through the 2026 campaign.
The 2025 campaign will represent Conner’s age-30 season, a milestone that teams have generally been wary of investing in. While the RB missed time in each of his first three seasons with the organization, he’s still topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage each year. He’s collected 35 touchdowns over that span, including an 18-score campaign during his debut in Arizona.
Conner has avoided the injury bug for the first chunk of the 2024 campaign, and he’s continued to produce. In 11 games, the 29-year-old has collected 993 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. As Schefter notes, the Cardinals are 5-1 when Conner reaches 100 scrimmage yards…and 1-4 when he doesn’t. The team continues to be especially reliant on their RB1, and he should continue to be a focal point over the next few seasons.
The former third-round pick started his career as Le’Veon Bell‘s backup in Pittsburgh. When the starter sat out the 2018 campaign due to a contract dispute with the Steelers, Conner literally and figuratively ran with the job. Conner finished his sophomore campaign with 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Thanks in part to injuries and a drop in efficiency, Conner’ was barely able to match his 2018 numbers to his 2019 and 2020 outputs; between those two campaigns, the RB collected 1,651 scrimmage yards and 13 scores.
The Cardinals were somewhat taking a chance on Conner during the 2021 offseason, signing the RB to a one-year deal. His 18-touchdown performance earned him a new three-year pact with the organization, so today’s extension represents his third contract with the Cardinals.
The front office could have been preparing for a post-Conner backfield when they selected running back Trey Benson in the third round of this year’s draft. The Florida State product will move forward as high-end insurance behind the oft-injured starter.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/5/24
Here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Loren Strickland
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Laviska Shenault
- Released: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
The Seahawks waived Shenault on Monday after being a non-factor on offense all year. He played just 45 offensive snaps across 11 games, but carved out a role on special teams with 168 snaps between returns and coverage. Shenault was Seattle’s primary kick returner for much of the year with an average of 28.7 yards per return. His 97-yard touchdown in Week 6 was one of the league’s six kickoff return scores this season.
However, the Seahawks had to make room for Uchenna Nwosu‘s activation from injured reserve. He will get another chance in Los Angeles where he could quickly factor into the special teams picture.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/24
Here are the latest moves from around the league, including game day elevations for Thursday Night football:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated to return from injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: S Jamal Adams, OLB Mitchell Agude
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: CB Kalen King
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/suspended list: LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from injured reserve: CB Cory Trice
Seattle Seahawks
- Awarded via waivers: WR Jaelon Darden
- Waived: CB Dee Williams
The Lions signed Adams to their practice squad on Sunday after a slew of injuries on Thanksgiving. The onetime All-Pro played 20 snaps across three games for the Titans this year before he landed on the Non-Football injury list and requested his release. Though he’s still listed as a defensive back, Adams is likely to play in the box after Malcolm Rodriguez joined three other Lions linebacker on injured reserve.
NFL Relaxes Policies On Substance Abuse, Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The NFL has reached an agreement with the NFLPA to make several changes to the league’s policies regarding substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Modifications regarding banned non-performance-enhancing substances – termed substances of abuse – are more lenient and forgiving. For example, a positive THC test now requires 350ng/ml, more than double the previous amount of 150ng/ml.
When players test positive for a banned non-performance-enhancing substance, teams will no longer be notified which substance was detected. They will only be informed of the violation and the resulting punishment.
The scale of fines has also been reduced and restructured. Under the previous policy, fines were proportional to game paychecks, with half-game, whole-game, and two-game penalties for first, second, and third violations. Now, a first violation will result in a $15K fine, followed by $20k for a second violation and one game check for a third.
For performance-enhancing substances, new changes relate to testing time and reinstatement. Previously, players had to test within three hours of notification; now, if notified before team activities in the morning, they have to test before afternoon activities.
Suspended players no longer have to test negative for the performance-enhancing substance before reinstatement. Now, they can be reinstated as long as “the presence of a substance(s) provides no performance enhancing effect,” per an NFLPA memo.
AFC West Notes: Moss, Raiders, Chargers
While the Broncos were able to contain Jerry Jeudy when they opted to use All-Pro Patrick Surtain on their former receiver, the first-year Browns contributor otherwise preyed on the team’s primary Riley Moss replacement during a dominant Monday-night showing. Free agency addition Levi Wallace struggled mightily, leading to a late-game benching and exposing an issue for a Broncos defense that had entered the game as one of the NFL’s best. The Broncos have seen Moss deliver quality play in his first season as a starter, but an MCL sprain sidelined him for Week 13. It is not certain Moss will be ready to return after Denver’s bye week.
The 2023 third-round pick is slated to need “a couple” weeks to return, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler pointing to a re-emergence against the Colts next week being in play but perhaps not a certainty. A two-week absence from an MCL sprain would be on the short end as far as recoveries go. A long-term lens reveals the Broncos nabbing an important contributor in Moss, given the looks the team’s non-Surtain corners see, but a woeful coverage effort Monday exposes a short-term issue for the wild-card contender. Denver used fifth-round rookie Kris Abrams-Draine, making his season debut, late in the game, playing him ahead of third-year cog Damarri Mathis.
Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- When Antonio Pierce fired OC Luke Getsy, the Raiders installed Scott Turner as the interim play-caller. They also brought veteran Norv Turner out of retirement, with Scott indicating (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) he spearheaded that effort. Norv, a three-time HC and Super Bowl-winning OC, had been out of the NFL since 2020. The 72-year-old coach is currently staying with his son in Las Vegas, as the Raiders attempt to find solutions on offense amid a rough season.
- Norv Turner makes three former HCs on Pierce’s Vegas staff, joining Joe Philbin and Marvin Lewis. The Raiders also kept DC Patrick Graham around from Josh McDaniels‘ brief HC run while adding Getsy — the team’s second choice for OC after Kliff Kingsbury backed out during negotiations — as the top voice on offense. Getsy’s quick firing and how Pierce pieced his first staff together has drawn some internal pessimism, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Not having much NFL coaching experience nor possessing any college HC seasoning made Pierce a historic outlier in terms of NFL HCs, and it limited his coaching tree’s reach. Pierce leaned on his former Giants HC, Tom Coughlin, for guidance in assembling his first staff. Thus far, the Raiders are 2-10, having lost eight straight. Regardless of players’ push to have Pierce move to HC, Mark Davis is likely considering making the former interim boss a one-and-done as the full-time leader.
- Ladd McConkey is battling two sprains presently. The blossoming Chargers rookie has been playing through an AC joint sprain, with Fowler adding he picked up a knee sprain against the Falcons. Jim Harbaugh was vague about the second-round wideout’s status for Sunday’s Chiefs rematch, but McConkey did log a limited practice Wednesday. McConkey, whom the team traded up for in April, has 401 more receiving yards (815) than the next-closest Charger.
- J.K. Dobbins will not be part of the Chargers-Chiefs rematch, being placed on IR due to a sprained knee. Prior to going down, however, the resurgent running back picked up a $150K bonus by clearing 600 rushing yards for the season, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The injury-prone RB signed a one-year, $1.61MM deal this offseason. The team has Gus Edwards, tied to a more lucrative deal, and sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal as its top backs on the 53-man roster.
Seahawks Activate Uchenna Nwosu From IR
As they vie for their first NFC West title since 2020, the Seahawks will have some more help in a crucial division matchup. They are activating Uchenna Nwosu ahead of Sunday’s Cardinals rematch, ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson notes.
Nwosu has missed almost all of this season, sustaining separate injuries that have required weeks-long rehab odysseys. This comes after the former Chargers draftee missed much of the 2023 season. Nevertheless, the Seahawks will have him back after an quadriceps injury.
Nwosu said (via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar) he sustained a torn quad that did not ultimately require surgery. While Seattle is in good shape for injury activations, still holding four after this move, it has continued to see roadblocks form for Nwosu.
The quad strain occurred 20 plays into Nwosu’s season debut — against the Giants in Week 5 — and it brought more rehab time. Nwosu had missed the Seahawks’ first four games due to an MCL injury sustained during the preseason. Nwosu entered the offseason after a pectoral injury shut him down in October 2023. He has missed 22 games since that point, effectively putting a promising career on pause.
This is Nwosu’s third season as a Seahawk. A productive 2022 slate (9.5 sacks, 26 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles) earned him a three-year, $45MM extension. The run of injuries has prevented Seattle from benefiting much from that deal. The former Joey Bosa Bolts sidekick has more to prove now, stepping into Mike Macdonald‘s defense. No guaranteed money remains on Nwosu’s deal for 2025. At the same time, the Seahawks are welcoming a productive edge defender back at a key juncture.
In terms of resources allocated, the Seahawks have a deep OLB corps. Homegrown second-rounders Boye Mafe and Derick Hall are on rookie deals, while Dre’Mont Jones — primarily an interior defensive lineman in Denver, before shifting to more of an EDGE role under Macdonald — is attached to a three-year, $51MM deal. Hall (six sacks) has elevated his play this season, doing so after Maye thrived during Nwosu’s 2023 absence. Mafe has five sacks this year. How the Seahawks use Nwosu after his batch of injuries will be interesting, but this activation certainly gives Macdonald more options as he attempts to secure the team its first division crown since the Russell Wilson years.
Nwosu, 28, is also a former second-round pick. He spent much of his Los Angeles stay as a rotational player behind Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The Bolts traded for Khalil Mack in 2022 and let Nwosu walk in free agency. Nwosu’s second Seahawks contract runs through the 2026 season, and while the team has not seen much from the seventh-year veteran since authorizing it, a return to form would give the Seahawks a bargain. Whether Nwosu can return to form will be a key storyline in a tightly bunched NFC West — a division that may well send only one team to the playoffs this season.
Eric Bieniemy Seeking 2025 NFL Return
Eric Bieniemy spent this past season in the college ranks, but he has his eyes on a new opportunity at the pro level. The veteran coach will not return to UCLA in 2025, and he instead hopes to land an NFL gig. 
Bieniemy took a job with the Bruins in February, but he will not remain in place. The sides are moving on, as first reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Ross Dellenger. UCLA ranked 117th in total offense this year, as Dellenger notes, something which could hinder Bieniemy’s stock in the 2025 coaching cycle.
“Eric and UCLA mutually parted ways today as previously planned,” a statement from Bieniemy’s agent reads in part (h/t Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). “He’s still getting paid by the Commanders. After interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, he wanted to stay active and busy… The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025, and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”
The 55-year-old had a stint at UCLA before his first NFL opportunity came in 2006 with the Vikings. That tenure (as the team’s running backs coach) was followed by two years as Colorado’s offensive coordinator. Bieniemy returned to the NFL ranks in 2013 with the Chiefs, spending time at first as the team’s RBs coach and – from 2018-22 – as OC. Head coach Andy Reid repeatedly campaigned for Bieniemy to receive a head coaching gig, but his interviews with a number of interested parties did not yield a hire.
In 2023, Bieniemy took the Commanders’ offensive coordinator gig, giving him the opportunity to call plays (unlike his Chiefs tenure). Washington ranked near the bottom of the league in many categories that year, and sweeping changes were made on the sidelines. Head coach Ron Rivera was fired as expected, and Bieniemy was among the candidates who interviewed for the chance to replace him. In the end, the Commanders went with Dan Quinn as head coach and Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, leaving Bieniemy in need of a different opportunity for the 2024 season.
Now that his one-and-done second stint at UCLA is over, attention will once again turn to Bieniemy’s NFL coaching stock. Two OC changes have been made this season, with the Raiders firing Luke Getsy and the Bears moving on from Shane Waldron (and shortly thereafter tapping his replacement, Thomas Brown, as interim head coach). A full-time hire could come from outside the organization in one or both cases, and a number of other vacancies will no doubt open up in the near future (to say nothing of the HC openings which will be in place this winter). Bieniemy will once again be a name to watch as the 2025 hiring cycle unfolds.
Texans, TE Brevin Jordan Agree To Extension
Brevin Jordan was on track for free agency, but that will no longer be the case. The fourth-year tight end worked out a Texans extension on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
This will be a one-year deal, meaning Jordan will remain in Houston for the 2025 campaign. His season was brought to an early and abrupt end by a Week 2 ACL tear, something which threatened to hinder his value on the open market. Instead, Jordan’s immediate future is now secure.
Selected in the fifth-round of the 2021 draft, Jordan has served as a key rotational figure on offense throughout his time in Houston. The 24-year-old’s role in the passing game remained consistent through his first three seasons, averaging just over 25 targets, 17 catches and 175 yards per year. That production includes five total touchdowns along with a career-best 12.9 yards per reception from 2023, so expectations were high for a step forward this season.
The ACL tear has left Jordan on the sidelines for the rest of the year, but the Texans do of course still have Dalton Schultz in place as a pass-catching option at the TE spot. The former Cowboy inked a new deal this offseason, and as a result he is on the books through 2026. Today’s move will give Houston added continuity with not only Schultz but also Jordan in place for next year.
Given the timing of the latter’s injury, he will have a strong chance of being available for the start of the 2025 campaign; Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes that is indeed expected to be the case. If Jordan can manage to remain healthy next year, he will have the opportunity to boost his free agent stock while remaining in a familiar environment.