Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL preseason round-up: James Washington injury, Jayron Kearse, free agents…

James Washington suffers fractured foot, out 6-10 weeks

Wide receiver and veteran James Washington was carted off the field at training camp on Monday after he had an awkward landing on his foot. After his scans, it was revealed that he had fractured his metatarsal and is expected to be out for 6-10 weeks. He is scheduled for surgery later today. Bad news for Washington and bad news for the Cowboys, who already had more questions than answers surrounding their receiving corps. CeeDee Lamb is still expected to be the no. 1, and Michael Gallup has confirmed he’ll miss at least the opener against the Bucs. Noah Brown has been making his presence known at camp, looking to take advantage of the opportunity and making some notable grabs in practice. T.J. Vasher has made a few plays in camp, too. The Cowboys brought in Jalen Tolbert from South Alabama in the third round, and with Washington out now, Dennis Houston (undrafted free agent) saw some more playing time alongside Lamb.

Will Fuller, OBJ…WR free agents still available for the taking

Now the question is, will the Cowboys consider bringing in another veteran receiver? Odell Beckham Jr. is still a free agent, but he’s also still recovering from an ACL injury. The argument for OBJ though, is that he would be the clutch receiver they need later in the season while Lamb and company take care of things in the beginning. I find it unlikely this actually ends up happening, but anything is possible. A more likely occurrence, and perhaps more suiting as well, would be the Cowboys signing Will Fuller. He’s yet to be signed after playing for the Dolphins last season, and he would add a deep threat for the Cowboys that they need at the WR position now especially. Dak Prescott is one of the best QBs at throwing deep, and could be a great match with Fuller’s speed. Injuries could be a reason for hesitation, but he would still be an affordable, low-risk option for Dallas.

Other free agent WRs available:

Jayron Kearse scare at training camp

Just after James Washington was carted off the practice field, the Cowboys were given another scare when safety/linebacker Jayron Kearse stepped awkwardly and tweaked his knee. He walked off the field and went to the locker room, but shortly after, he ran back onto the field to a standing ovation from the crowd and was fine to continue the practice. He said he knew it wasn’t anything serious because he didn’t hear a noise. “Maybe (it would be scary) for everyone else. But for me, I knew what it was. I tried to plant but my foot was too wide,” Kearse said. Thankfully, Kearse is still good to go.

One more injury to report: Matt Waletzko

Matt Waletzko was the Cowboys’ fifth-round draft pick and they were hoping he’d help them out at tackle. Last week, before padded practices began, Waletzko left with a shoulder injury that kept him out all weekend and Monday. Head coach Mike McCarthy did not make the odds of him returning any time soon sound too good either.

“I think it’s going to be ‘when’, or can he get through,” McCarthy said. “He’s a rookie, so we don’t really know until we see him move around in the weight room - strength levels and all that. He’s in medical evaluation right now.”

It’s possible Waletzko will have to undergo surgery, which leaves a hole at the role of backup swing tackle. La’el Collins was released in the offseason, moving Terence Steele into the starting role opposite Tyron Smith and rookie first-round pick Tyler Smith will be mostly playing at guard. So it looks like it may be up to Josh Ball to take over at the backup tackle position now with Waletzko’s return questionable.

Jerry Jones: Jimmy Johnson’s “snivelling” won’t speed up Cowboys’ Ring of Honor induction

Last year, Jimmy Johnson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed that he would join the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor. Johnson took the Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories during his time as head coach in Dallas - he obviously played a big role in the Cowboys’ success back then. When he was inducted, Jones said on live TV that he would be in the Ring of Honour.

“While I’m alive?” Johnson asked.

We can’t blame him for asking. There is decades-old beef between the two that was thought to have been water under the bridge at this point, but alas. The induction is still pending.

A year later, and Johnson is wondering if that “while I’m alive question ever did get answered properly. Jones didn’t take being rushed very well, though. He’ll do it if and when he damn well pleases, y’all.

“It’s BS for anybody to be making anything,” Jones said. “I’ve said I’m gonna put him in. Now when I put him in and the circumstances and what I do with that — there’s a lot more than Jimmy to think about here. And so how I do that, what I do it with, I get to make that decision. And it isn’t at the end of the day all tailored around whether Jimmy is snivelling or not.”