Cowboys to get key reinforcements on defense Sunday vs WFT
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the Dallas Cowboys have been plagued with injuries and COVID-19 issues this entire season. But, help is on the way!
According to several reports, defensive end Randy Gregory and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore will return to practice as soon as Thursday, and hopefully play in Week 14’s matchup vs. the Washington Football Team. This will give the Cowboys’ defense a much-needed boost. The defensive line is inching closer to full strength each week. America’s Team will also get defensive tackle Trysten Hill back after serving his suspension for throwing a punch in the Thanksgiving game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
After being a projected starter during Training Camp, Gallimore has missed all 12 games this season after dislocating his elbow during the preseason. The tackle started his 21-day practice window on IR last week and has already been designated for return. The only thing left is for him to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Despite missing the last three games with a calf strain, Gregory is having his best NFL season so far. Before he went on the IR just days before the Week 10 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Gregory had two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three tackles for loss, and five sacks in seven games, ranking him second on the defense.
"Barring a surprise" Cowboys expect Randy Gregory, Neville Gallimore back this week. https://t.co/ZdtkXGSxsm
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 7, 2021
Cowboys’ Randy Gregory and Neville Gallimore are set to return to the team as early as Thursday.
If you’re worried about how they’ll perform after so much time off, take DeMarcus Lawrence as an example. After missing 10 games, Lawrence returned in Week 13’s Thursday Night Football matchup against the New Orleans Saints and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. Lawrence had two tackles, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hit in just 37 snaps played.
Gregory has only been on the field with Lawrence once this season (in Week 1) and neither man has played with Gallimore this season. The Cowboys need some major help against the run, so here is hoping that these returns will give the defensive line some integral helping hands.
Cowboys’ defense could look like this at times Sunday at Washington
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 6, 2021
DE: DeMarcus Lawrence
DT: Neville Gallimore
DT: Osa Odighizuwa
DE: Randy Gregory
LB: Micah Parsons
LB: Leighton Vander Esch
CB: Trevon Diggs
CB: Anthony Brown
CB: Jourdan Lewis
S: Jayron Kearse
S: Damontae Kazee
Getting a long list of both offensive and defensive players back from the COVID-19 list (hopefully including head coach Mike McCarthy as well) and IR is a huge win for the Cowboys as they hope to make a serious playoff run.
Opponents have yet to see a fully healthy team on either side of the ball. A revamped and injury-less squad could be exactly what the Cowboys need moving forward.
