The Landry Hat
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5 Cowboys players who may have played their last game with Dallas

By Lauren Barash

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 08: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after intercepting a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 08: Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after intercepting a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Keanu Neal, Cowboys
Keanu Neal, Dallas Cowboys (Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports) /

4. Keanu Neal, LB

Keanu Neal followed DC Dan Quinn to the Cowboys from the Atlanta Falcons. Sadly, both of them likely won’t be in Dallas next year.

For Neal, he just wasn’t the star Dallas needed him to be. He ranks 60th out of all linebackers in the NFL in total tackles and has a disturbingly low 36.0 PFF grade. Neal has had several issues against the run, which was a huge sore spot for the Cowboys’ defense as a whole this year. He had several missed tackles throughout the season that could have gotten the defense off the field.

It also doesn’t help Neal’s case that he seems to, according to Mike McCarthy, currently be “obviously struggling” with chest and elbow issues. So much so that Neal was inactive in the Cowboys’ Wild Card game.

The reality is that his stats and performance just weren’t good enough. His 2020 statistics with the Falcons were higher in every single category than his stats this year. Jerry Jones and company will likely look for someone younger and cheaper and let Neal go.

Keanu Neal final 2021-22 regular season stats:

  • 14 games played
  • One sack
  • 44 solo tackles
  • 0 forced fumbles
  • Four tackles for loss
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