FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys (2-2) losing both three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons (high ankle sprain) and four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence (Lisfranc/mid-foot sprain) in their 20-15 rout victory at the New York Giants is nothing less than “tragic” in the words of Parsons himself.
Lawrence was placed on injured reserve this weekand Parsons was told by Vaker head athletic trainer Jim Maurer “‘yeah, you probably won’t be able to go [in Week 5].'”
“It’s definitely tragic because obviously I never want to see myself and Law out at the same time,” Parsons. said on Monday. “It’s just part of the test, man. It just gives more room for these guys that come in and play a lot more time to get ready. Honestly, it’s not like a terrible thing. You these guys be ready, so when we’re late in the season, those guys will be ready to see it through. They’ve gotten the experience and continue to improve.”
“Those are two dynamic guys,” Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said Monday. “Good leaders, good teams. “We’ll have to make some adjustments and see how it goes.”
Head coach Mike McCarthy did his best to spin their absences on the field as a “great opportunity” to show the depth and fight that Dallas has.
“It’s a great opportunity for the others. It’s very apparent,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “You go into your team meeting, and you have DLaw and Micah sitting in the front row because of the injuries they’re dealing with. It’s a great opportunity for others. We’re excited about it. We took a step in. New York, had a chance to catch our breath. Obviously, you never want to lose any of your guys. This is a great opportunity to show the quality of our football team. They’re still a lot of football ahead of us.”
“Yeah, definitely those guys are going to be missed this week,” Cowboys two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs said Wednesday. “The younger guys are going to have to step up, and we’re going to have to play [as] even more unity to do this work.”
One of the adjustments being made by Diggs is how he carries himself, both on and off the field, with Parsons and Lawrence out. The quiet, more introverted cornerback typically lets his game do the talking: his 16 interceptions since Dallas drafted Parsons and hired Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator in 2021 ranks as the most in the league. NFL. However, he is pushing himself to speak up in all areas to galvanize his teammates with a void in on-field leadership at the moment. That’s a big deal for Diggs.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Diggs said when asked if he felt any added pressure with Parsons and Lawrence out. “DeMarcus is our vocal leader on defense, so him not being there and Micah being pretty vocal as well. I’m not as vocal, so I feel like there’s pressure on me to get the guys going on Sunday. I’m going to. take responsibility and make sure I do that.”
That said, Diggs doesn’t expect the Cowboys’ defense to look any different on “Sunday Night Football” at the 3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. He doesn’t care if it’s 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland. , whom Parsons personally trained since training camp, and/or four-year veteran Chauncey Golston, who Parsons compared to Miami five times Professional champion edge rusher Cameron Wakeinstead of priests and Lawrence.
“It shouldn’t look any different,” Diggs said. “Everyone should play to be able to play the same because [you] should be able to do everything they could do as well. Like I said, young kids have to step up and play together.”
Returning the favor
When Diggs tore his ACL during a Week 3 practice last season, Parsons made a concerted effort to motivate Diggs during his recovery. Now, Diggs will do the same for his BFF as Parsons struggles the first soccer game is missing of not only his NFL career, but his entire football career due to injury. That dates back to his college years at Penn State, middle school, high school and Pop Warner/pipi.
“Just keeping him in a good mood,” Diggs said. “Being there for him. I was scared for him [when he was being carted off]. I’m glad he’s doing well. He’ll be back soon.”
Diggs plans to do some of the things Parsons did with him as he worked his way back from a torn ACL last year.
“Just doing things that he likes to do,” Diggs said. “Play [NBA] 2K. Things like that. Just keeping his mind off it and making sure he’s okay.”
Parsons’ work cheering on Diggs, plus the relentless, additional physical therapy work he did outside of the Cowboys facility has Diggs feeling close to being back to normal, a Pro Bowl himself four games into his return.
“I feel good,” Diggs said. “I can do the cuts and turns. I can run as fast as I can. I feel good.”
Going on the road to Pittsburgh, the team with the second-best scoring defense (13.3 points per game allowed) in 2024, in prime time without their two best players in Week 5 should reveal a lot about what kind of team the Cowboys will be. season Will they be more like the team that showed great determination by winning 12 games in each of the last three seasons? Or will they be like McCarthy’s first Cowboys team in 2020, which went 6-10 in a year in which quarterback Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury derailed all their hopes and dreams?
“You’re going to learn a lot,” Diggs said. “We’ll see what’s in store for this weekend, but I’ve got all the faith in my teammates. So, we’ll be fine.”
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