Dallas Cowboys 2022 daily round-up: Kelvin Joseph update, Ezekiel Elliott, impact players…

The Cowboys have arrived in Oxnard, California for the start of training camp on Wednesday, and there are a few tasty position battles going on, with Dallas still looking to find key figures in both offensive and defensive squads, plus a receiver to play opposite Cee Dee Lamb.

Sam Williams, Dante Fowler, Dorance Armstrong are all in the battle to get into the defensive rotation in the lineback spot vacated by Randy Gregory when he decamped for Denver amidst a contract-wording dispute in the off season. The favorite to fill the spot is Williams, who has the pass rushing abilities that the Cowboys defense need on the end of that line. Holding the single season sack record at Ole Miss, he could step up and become a strong playmaker opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.

The Cowboys offensive line has been rock solid for generations, going beck to the days when Coach Landry instituted the famous Landry Shift, and in seasons when this line falters, the team falters. So shoring it up is the top priority for any coaching staff. Eight time Pro-Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith has been an outstanding member of this wall and nagging ankle injuries have left the Cowboys looking for an O line that is deep as well as wide. They picked up Tyler Smith with the idea that he could be a suitable successor to Tyron when needed, and meanwhile gaining NFL experience at the right guard role, but now have been trying out Connor McGovern for the role as well.

The player with the most to prove is Dak Prescott, mainly because as the guy in the top spot, the success or failure of the passing game will fall entirely on his shoulders. Ultimately, the loss of Amari Cooper without a solid replacement will be converted into anger that the $40 million quarterback couldn’t produce, whether that is a fair criticism or not.

Offensively, Zeke may be in his last season with the Cowboys, and his playing injured last season did him no favors in the long run. His production fell so sharply that the decision to lay the burden on Tony Pollard was easy for the staff to make and one that the public did not fret about either.

Seen as an “albatross” by Cowboys insiders, they may be happy to cut the strings with Elliott after this season, no matter what his production turns out to be.

In off the field news, the Dallas county police have cleared Kelvin Joseph of any criminal charges in connection to the drive-by shooting that occurred back in March. This doesn’t clear him of any retribution by the league or the team, but the reports by the police that he has been truthful, helpful, and forthcoming throughout the investigation will certainly stand in his stead.