Dallas Cowboys latest injuries will return veteran presence

Dallas Cowboys latest injuries spark the return of veteran presence

The loss last Sunday against Pittsburgh cost the Dallas Cowboys two more starting players. Rookie center Tyler Biadasz will miss 2-3 weeks with a strained hamstring. Rookie corner Trevon Diggs will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.

Both rookies were forced into action early in their maiden season. Diggs began the year as a starter in a trial by fire scenario. Biadasz replaced an injured Joe Looney in Week Three and continued to play over 50 snaps per game until last weekend.

The Cowboys had few good options but to start Diggs right away. In every game this season at least one of Dallas’ three returning veteran corners was out with injury. Below are the games missed by each veteran player.

Week 1:  Jourdan Lewis

Week 2:  Anthony Brown

Week 3-4: Brown, Chidobe Awuzie

Week 5-9: Awuzie

Now let’s flashback to 2017. Byron Jones was playing free safety. Orlando Scandrick was starting at one corner for Week 2-12. Dallas (6-6) was on life support with four games remaining as Scandrick fell to injury.

Dallas Cowboys’ Three Amigos Reunite

What corner trio finished the 2017 season helping Dallas to three wins in four games and barely missing the playoffs? Awuzie, Brown, and Lewis.

During their four starts together the defense allowed 10, 17, 21, and 0 points. There is no weak link at corner when a defense allows only an average of 12 points and 152 yards passing per game.

This is the exact trio the Cowboys will once again field with Diggs on extended injury absence and Awuzie returning from his own. Diggs has shown well for a rookie, but also makes occasional big rookie mistakes that quickly dent the scoreboard.

If Dallas is going to forge a playoff run these final seven games, this veteran trio covering savvy veteran receivers is the best shot. They’ve seen it before and done it before, together. Veteran presence is big when the season is do or die.

Veteran Anchor Returns

Biadasz has also played admirably and has a bright future as the starting center in Dallas. However, the return of Looney once again adds a veteran presence to the lineup at a position that calls the blocking schemes.

Looney was starting at center when the 2018 team was 3-5 and dead and buried. He continued to start as Dallas furiously won seven of their final eight games, claimed the NFC East, and beat Seattle in the first round.

Looney has started on a dismal team desperately needing a valiant stretch run. And just as the veteran trio corners did in 2017, he helped a poor record team finish strong and lose only one remaining game.

Dallas lost two important, promising rookies temporarily to injury. However, the experienced veterans that will replace them are more battle worn and better suited to make a winning run at the playoffs. They’ve all done it here before.