Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL preseason round-up: Micah Parsons, Jabril Cox, Romo’s jersey number…
Despite making roster moves over the last week, the Cowboys’ offensive line is still a disaster. Will they pull off a Jason Peters signing?
The Cowboys’ next moves
The Cowboys made some moves to get the roster down to 53, and then they made some more. But looking at the team right now, it’s clear they’re not done yet. The plethora of defensive talent on the team is in stark contrast to the lack of depth on offense. The o-line is a mess. Tyler Smith is inexperienced at left tackle and yet is set to start there Week 1. That leaves Connor McGovern to start at left guard - a player who couldn’t maintain the position last year. Terrence Steele, Josh Ball, and Matt Waletzko are the options at right tackle, and oh boy, that is not a positive outlook for the ‘Boys. Zack Martin may be the only beacon of light, but that’s simply not going to be enough. It’s time for the Cowboys to stop ignoring the issues and fill the holes at tackle.
If this signing goes through, that would be an excellent start for the Cowboys.
Micah Parsons wants to be the “best player in the NFL”
“I don’t want to be anything short of the No. 1 (player in the NFL). That’s the type of confidence I have. I want to be the best. … I want to be feared.” That’s Cowboys’ defensive star player Micah Parson’s goal going into the 2022 season. It’s a lofty one, but he is not an ordinary player. In his rookie season last year, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was second Defensive Player of the Year.
“Obviously Micah had a lot of great moments last year, but our desire – and it needs to be his desire – is for him to be an elite player, not just a great player,” said head coach Mike McCarthy. “The elite ones bring everybody with them. How they work, how they compete in practice, how they compete in the weight room, how they compete at garbage-can basketball in the locker room.”
Well, lucky for McCarthy, Parsons is the kind of guy to set that goal and make it happen to the best of his abilities.
Jabril Cox coming back for Week 1
Linebacker Jabril Cox will return for the Cowboys season opener against Tampa Bay on September 11. Cox was out for most of his rookie season last year with a torn ACL. He was not placed on the PUP list going into training camp and has been able to get practice in heading into the regular season. He’ll play alongside Parsons, newly-signed Anthony Barr, and Leighton Vander Esch.
“I’m feeling great. I think I’m there,” said Cox. “Game reps will definitely help because there’s no better way to get ready for a game than to play in a game - getting in game shape will be one of the main things - but right now I’m prepared for Week 1.”
Tony Romo’s No. 9 jersey number given to new player
The Cowboys’ old quarterback Tony Romo wore No. 9 throughout his career, and no other Cowboys offensive player has worn it since he retired in 2016. That may now be changing. Wide receiver KaVontae Turpin is expected to be the first since Romo to sport No. 9 and the first receiver to wear it in franchise history.
Turpin wore No. 2 in the preseason. The only other player to wear No. 9 before Turpin is linebacker Jaylon Smith last season. Before last year, the NFL only allowed quarterback, kickers, and punters to wear single-digit jersey numbers. Now that the rule has changed, and No. 9 was up for grabs. Though the Cowboys do not officially retire jersey numbers, they are reluctant to give out these to any players: QB Roger Staubach’s No. 12, QB Troy Aikman’s No. 8, and Emmitt Smith’s No. 22.