Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Sends Bold Message on Makeshift Offensive Line
The Cowboys’ offensive line has undergone considerable changes since the start of the season. Yet, it was barely noticeable in Sunday’s 37-22 beatdown of the Jets.
Dallas ran for 180 yards, quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked only once, and a front five that was without four starters compiled two scoring drives of 90 or more yards in the second quarter as the Cowboys compiled their first win since Week 2.
The Cowboys went 6-of-13 on third down and outgained the Jets 416-378. Through four games, Dallas (2-2-1) leads the NFL in yards per game (406.6) and ranks fourth in points per game (30.2).
“It’s credit to these coaches, it’s credit to the players, it’s credit to the organization and I mean, everybody,” Prescott said, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “There’s not many teams in the league that can put four guys who don’t start into the game and feel confident about going and winning a game, especially on the road against one of the most premier interior defensive linemen (Quinnen Williams) and some good rushers as well.”
Who Started on the Cowboys’ Offensive Line?
The Cowboys’ offensive line featured almost entirely backups. Rookie first rounder Tyler Booker and Tyler Guyton were both late inactives because of injuries, joining Cooper Beebe and Tyler Smith among the unavailable starters.
Beebe (high-ankle sprain) was already on injured reserve, while Smith (knee) was technically active but available only in case of emergency.
The only healthy starter was right tackle Terence Steele, who has not missed a game since 2022. Opposite him at left tackle was Nate Thomas, who was making his first career start in place of Guyton (concussion). T.J. Bass was the next man up at right guard with Booker (ankle) out.
Hakeem Adeniji started at left guard, and Brock Hoffman was back at center in place of Beebe.
Even with all those changes, the Cowboys topped 30 points for the third time in four weeks to keep pace with the Eagles and Commanders atop the NFC East. Prescott threw for 237 yards and four touchdowns on 18-of-29 passing, and Javonte Williams ran for a season-high 135 yards and scored two touchdowns. Ryan Flournoy had a team-high 114 yards receiving on six catches with All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) out.
What Did Dak Prescott Say About the Offensive Line?
Prescott complimented the Cowboys’ backup linemen for making the most of their opportunity, saying they’d prepared for such situations all offseason.
“It goes back to April and OTAs, all the way through minicamp of guys taking advantage of each rep that they’ve gotten and knowing that their time’s going to come,” Prescott said. “Our (offensive coordinator) Klayton (Adams) says it all the time, if you don’t like your position or if you’re a little upset, you know that you’re not the guy, wait 10, 15 minutes, you never know. That’s the way that this league goes. And those four guys and (Flourney) and other guys showed that tonight that you just keep your head down, you keep working, you control what you can control, and when your opportunities come, you don’t have to look around, you can take advantage of them.”
The Cowboys visit the Panthers in Week 6.
49ers could be one-and-done with both Robert Saleh and Mac Jones
The San Francisco 49ers are off to a solid 2-0 start in the 2025 regular season, and one could argue it is largely thanks to two people: defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and quarterback Mac Jones.
Both may be departing the Niners after this season.
With Saleh back as the team's defensive coordinator after a sojourn with the New York Jets, and briefly, the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco's defense has looked solid in the first two weeks of the season and has saved the team at key junctures.
While quarterback Brock Purdy started in Week 1 against Seattle and delivered a shaky but ultimately clutch performance to clinch the victory, he injured his toe, which is why Jones had to start in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.
Jones looked great as he threw for 279 passing yards and had three touchdowns compared to no interceptions. He looked very comfortable in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense and has even started some chatter, largely baseless, about a quarterback controversy.
While the QB controversy talk may be bogus, it is not bogus to start thinking about how both Saleh and Jones could potentially be gone after this season.
Robert Saleh, Mac Jones could depart 49ers in 2026
With Jones, he did sign a two-year contract with the 49ers, and the hope was they could have a little bit of continuity in the quarterback room behind Purdy, which is something they did not have the last few seasons.
Still, with how solid Jones looked in Week 2 and if he is able to continue playing well, it seems obvious the Niners will field some calls from other teams on Jones' availability. He is proving his value to the 49ers right now with his performance while Purdy is out, but if they get a strong offer either this season or at some point in the offseason, they may not be able to refuse it.
With Saleh, there is a chance he could try to become a head coach somewhere else after 2025. He had a rough go of things with the Jets, but he also had some bad luck there, too, so other teams may want to give him a fresh start.
If San Francisco's defense looks solid this year, especially given the fact it has a lot of young, inexperienced players starting, then expect teams to inquire about Saleh in the offseason.
The 49ers would love to retain Saleh as well because, like a backup QB, they've have had a lot of turnover at defensive coordinator in recent years. Shanahan does not want to have yet another defensive coordinator search.
Saleh may want to stay with San Francisco unless he finds a perfect coaching opportunity. After his experience with the Jets, he may want to wait until the right team and right situation comes along so he is better set up for success in his second try as a head coach in the NFL.
We will see how the rest of this year plays out, but with how the defense has looked and how Jones has looked, it would not come as a huge shock if the Niners are looking for a new defensive coordinator and new backup quarterback in the offseason.
