NFL Expected to Hand Down Punishment on Cowboys Troubled Linebacker
One week after scoring 44 points while allowing just 22 against the Washington Commanders, the Dallas Cowboys saw any momentum they may have gained from that inspiring win evaporate on Sunday when they walked away with almost the exact opposite result.
The Cowboys fell to the Denver Broncos, allowing 44 points this time while scoring just 24.
“The blame starts at the top in the front office and trickles down to the coaching staff,” wrote commentator Maitland Rutledge of the Cowboys site
Cowboys Player No Stranger to NFL Discipline
One of the three players who should be held most accountable, according to Rutledge, may also be expecting to face accountability not only from the Cowboys’ coaches and, of course, fans — but from the league itself.
That player is fourth-year edge rusher Sam Williams, who is no stranger to discipline handed down by the NFL.
“Williams also once again could not control himself after plays. He was seen mouthing off at opposing players after plays, and it came to a boiling point in the second quarter,” Rutledge recounted. “After the Broncos scored another touchdown to go up 20-10, Williams was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty. Due to the ball being moved closer to the goal line, Denver went for two.”
The penalty came after a one-yard touchdown carry by Broncos running back RJ Harvey with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter.
After the scoring play, Williams somehow got into a brief altercation with Denver offensive tackle Garrett Bolles and in the course of the skirmish, the 2022 second-round draft pick out of Ole Miss took a swing at the face mask of the Broncos lineman.
Penalty May be Seen as Repeat Offense
Williams was quickly flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty, which was applied on the extra point — which brought the Broncos close enough to the end zone to attempt a two-point conversion.
The two-point try failed, but Williams now appears likely to face a fine. The question remains, however, of whether league officials will consider the penalty a face mask call.
If so, it would count as a second offense because on October 4, Williams was slapped with an $11,002 fine for a face mask on what would have been his first sack of the season when he took down Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love in Week Four.
If the NFL hits Williams with another face mask fine, as a second offense the punishment would set him back, according to the table of fines posted by the NFL Operations Office, another $17,389 against his salary this year of $1.6 million.
Last season, despite the fact that he spent the entire year on injured reserve, Williams was suspended three games for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Though he obviously was not going to play those three games anyway, Williams still saw his salary docked for those games — costing him $211,807, according to
The unnecessary roughness penalty against the Broncos was Williams’ fourth flag of the season, and 16th of the three seasons he has played.
In 2023, his last full season, Williams was called for eight penalties including another face mask call, a roughing the kicker penalty, another for running into the kicker and one for interfering with a fair catch.
Should Fantasy Owners Panic About Jacory Croskey-Merritt?
Amid a flurry of injuries, the Washington Commanders have endured a tough start to the season, suffering losses in each of their last three games following a 3-2 stretch through their first five games. The Commanders sit at third in the NFC East standings and have faced inconsistency offensively with Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel each missing time this season.
In the backfield, rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt entered the season with high expectations given the group’s lack of high-end talent. Following a 27.0-PPR point outing in Week 5, the Commanders rookie has struggled mightily in fantasy, mustering under 6.0 points in each of their last three games.
Washington has been forced to abandon its ground game at times due to large deficits, raising concern over Croskey-Merritt’s fantasy stock going forward. With Jayden Daniels sidelined in Week 8, Croskey-Merritt posted just 2.5 PPR points on the ground, his lowest mark of the season thus far.
Without the remainder of its stars, teams have keyed in on the efficient production of Croskey-Merritt, who is looking to snap a skid of lackluster output. Entering a crucial Week 9 matchup, let’s determine if now is the time for fantasy owners to panic about the Commanders running back.
Oct 13, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (22) runs with the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. / Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Despite his fantasy woes, Washington’s rookie back has recorded 82 carries for 402 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Croskey-Merritt is one of the top rushing rookies in the NFL this season and is on pace for nearly 900 yards in his rookie campaign.
Still, that doesn’t mean his fantasy production hasn’t emerged concerning. Amid yet another injury to Daniels, Croskey-Merritt and Washington’s offense could continue to endure its share of struggles as they gear up for a matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.
In Week 8, Croskey-Merritt managed just 25 yards over nine carries without catching a pass during the loss. Without consistent volume, the running back endured a limited ceiling for production, lowering his fantasy stock entering the new week.
The Commanders will hope for Daniels back in time for Sunday’s game versus Seattle, coming off a lowly seven-point effort versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Should Daniels manage a return, Croskey-Merritt’s fantasy stock should trend in the correct direction with his running mate in the backfield.
