If you follow anybody on Dallas Cowboys Twitter/X, you know by now the devastating news. DE Sam Williams suffered a torn ACL and MCL during practice early Sunday afternoon.
We have seen enough of these injuries to know that means his season is over, effective immediately. Williams, in obvious pain, was loaded onto the motorized cart and was visibly upset as he rode off of the field.
I wish all the best to Williams and a speedy recovery, but the nature of the business does not allow us to dwell for very long. The Cowboys must now look ahead and decide how they will fill the void Williams is leaving behind.
Many can state the obvious. Sam Williams was not the most reliable player on the defensive line. He’d been in trouble with the law off the field with an over-aggressive playing style on the field that resulted in a few too many offsides and roughing the passer penalties.
However, under the stricter hand of new DC Mike Zimmer, many expected Sam Williams to overcome those mental mistakes to let his talent shine through. He may have had a bonehead play here and there, but his talent was undeniable and shone through on a few occasions.
He will be missed, but it’s time to discuss the options the Cowboys can take to fill the void Williams is leaving behind.
Young, Unproven Talent
As mentioned above, the NFL is a business, and it doesn’t halt just because an important player suffers an injury. Dallas will first look to the rest of the depth chart for help.
DE Marshawn Kneeland
The first name to come to mind is the Cowboys’ 2nd-round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Marshawn Kneeland.
Kneeland was taken by the Cowboys as the 56th overall pick from Western Michigan University. He has drawn comparisons to a current Dallas defensive end in build and style of play: DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence.
We have all seen the effort that Tank brings to the defense. If Kneeland is able to bring even 80% of that talent and effort to the opposite defensive end position, the Cowboys will be in good hands.
DE/DT Chauncey Golston
Fourth-year player Chauncey Golston has been tossed back and forth between defensive end and defensive tackle more times than the footballs the quarterbacks warm up with.
Golston has proven to be a utility player, moderately successful but not overly talented at any spot he is placed along the defensive line. He has been more adept at stopping the run than rushing the passer.
He has just 3.5 sacks to his name as an NFL player, and in a pass-happy league, it is imperative to field as many pass rushers as possible. Golston might not be the answer to rush the quarterback, but he can be solid in run defense.
However, he has never been asked to take on a primary role anywhere he has played on the defensive line. His durability on a snap to snap basis has yet to be seen.
DE Viliami “Junior” Fehoko
Viliami Fehoko, or Junior, as he likes to be called, is entering his second season in the NFL after being inactive for every game of his rookie season.
Fehoko was taken in the 4th round of the 2023 NFL Draft from San Jose State University. He was never able to impress the coaches enough to earn a spot on the game day roster.
Fehoko was buried behind the likes of Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Sam Williams on the depth chart, but now all three of them are out of the way, giving him a chance to show what he can do.
DE Durrell Johnson
One of the least spoken names on the depth chart is Durrell Johnson. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, but we don’t know much else about him besides he played his college football at Liberty University.
Johnson stands at 6’3″ and weighs in at about 240 pounds. His leaner build might lend itself better to an off-the-ball linebacker position, but he has some raw pass rush talent that might suit the defense better.
DE Tyrus Wheat
The last remaining defensive end on the depth chart, Tyrus Wheat, is another unproven option the Cowboys have at their disposal.
Wheat was able to see the field for 12 of the Cowboys’ 17 regular season games, contributing only 31 total snaps on defense, but played 63% of the special teams snaps.
His 6’2″ 260 pound frame is sturdier than Durrell Johnson’s for run support, but we have yet to see his pass-rushing prowess.
Free Agency
The detailed analysis of free agents available for the Cowboys to sign is an article for another day, but here is a list of players available that should draw interest:
Carl Lawson
Yannick Ngakoue
Charles Harris
Shaw Lawson
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