NFL Rumors: Injury update hurts Cowboys chances of drafting top prospect

The Dallas Cowboys’ pre-draft activity suggests they’re targeting a receiver early in the event. They’ve met with multiple of the top WRs, including Quentin Johnston, Zay Flowers, Jalin Hyatt, Josh Downs, and Jonathan Mingo.

The latest mock drafts, however, would suggest Dallas is without question targeting a tight end in the first round. Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid have been the players most prominently linked with the team.

Just in the last week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay and Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner each mocked Mayer to the Cowboys.

That said, Kincaid is another popular Cowboys target in mocks. It feels like Dallas could select whichever prospect is available at No. 26 overall. If Mayer is off the board, then Kincaid would be the pick, and vice versa.

Whatever happens — they could still go WR or DL in round one – the latest injury news on Kincaid might hurt Dallas’ chances to take him.

Cowboys draft target Dalton Kincaid gets positive injury update

The only knock on Kincaid is the back injury he suffered in November. He played through the ailment in the Pac-12 Championship Game, but was forced to sit out the Rose Bowl. Even more noteworthy was the fact Kincaid didn’t participate in Combine drills and didn’t work out at his pro day in late-March.

The sparked some concern, but Kincaid recently passed a physical and seemingly is fully recovered from the injury, as Dr. Robert Watkins sent a letter to NFL teams informing them on the player’s progress.

In short, Kincaid is cleared to play.

“Dalton Kincaid sustained a back injury while playing football on 11/26/2022,” the letter said, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “Subsequent MRIs have shown appropriating healing and he has been asymptomatic with no pain and no limitation of function for at least 3 months. He is cleared to play football with no restrictions.”

Schefter added Kincaid visited the Bengals Thursday, and has already visited/spent significant time with other teams, including Dallas.

This is a bit of a double-edged sword for the Cowboys.

While it’s encouraging Kincaid’s over the injury, you have to assume this update increases the likelihood he’s gone before pick No. 26, no? Luckily, the demand for tight ends isn’t substantial and Mayer could be the first TE off the board when all is said and done.

In Kiper’s new mock, Kincaid went No. 15 overall to the Packers, while McShay has Kincaid to the Jaguars at No. 24 overall.

Maybe we’re being dramatic. Or maybe teams ahead of Dallas in the draft view this update as the final green light to take Kincaid.

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