Dallas Cowboys: Could Xavier Woods injury prompt Earl Thomas movement?

Will the recent injury to Xavier Woods push the Dallas Cowboys to sign Earl Thomas?

During the Dallas Cowboys‘ scrimmage on Sunday, projected starting safety Xavier Woods suffered a groin injury. And while Woods would later rejoin his teammates on the sidelines, the lingering effects of such an injury is cause for concern. But is it enough to prompt some movement when it comes to potentially signing free agent safety Earl Thomas?

The Cowboys are optimistic that Woods won’t be sidelined for long due to his groin injury with executive vice president Stephen Jones noting the fourth-year safety never felt a pop or lost strength in it. Yet, the position was an area of concern before the injury on Sunday.

Woods figured to be slated as the Week One starter against the Los Angeles Rams, with the newly signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix possibly sliding into the role left vacant by Jeff Heath. But during training camp, reports indicated that reserve safety Darian Thompson has been outplaying Clinton-Dix and has now put his name in the hat as a potential starter.

While it’s unclear if Thompson’s rise is a result of the fifth-year safety coming into his own or simply the byproduct of a poor training camp by former first-rounder Clinton-Dix, the injury suffered by Woods could make it a moot point.

Without Woods, the Cowboys only have Thompson, Clinton-Dix, and 2019 sixth-rounder Donovan Wilson on the depth chart. Dallas has also toyed with the idea of shifting cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie, Daryl Worley, and rookie Reggie Robinson II to safety as well.

It was reported that both Worley and Robinson took reps at safety during training camp. But, at this point, with less than two weeks until the Cowboys’ Week One matchup against the Rams, making such a move would seem more like an act of desperation.

Dallas Cowboys keeping the door open for a possible Earl Thomas union

As for Earl Thomas, the former Ravens’ safety appears to be radioactive following the circumstances of his dismal from Baltimore. With little to no movement publicly, the seven-time Pro Bowler may have to wait until a team is desperate enough to risk the possible locker room distraction Thomas brings with him.

Still, Dallas Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones refuses to close the door on a possible union with Earl Thomas. And while it might be something to watch for during final cuts this weekend, there should also be plenty of talented players on the waiver wire to choose from.