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3 questions coming out of Dallas’ Week 5 win over Pittsburgh

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3 questions coming out of Dallas’ Week 5 win over Pittsburgh


The Cowboys defied the odds with their upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday night. Or was it Monday morning? That’s not an important question from the game, but others are worth considering as they may impact the upcoming schedule and perhaps the rest of the 2024 season.

Should Tyler Smith stay at left tackle?

When rookie Tyler Guyton left the game with a knee injury, Tyler Smith slid over to left tackle and T.J. Bass came in at guard. The results were less costly penalties, fewer protection breakdowns, and a solid run game. It begs the question of whether or not the Cowboys would be better off leaving Smith on the outside.

There’s no question that Guyton’s struggled so far this season. While Smith is a better guard than tackle, his experience and talent still make him an upgrade over the rookie. It arguably gives Dallas its five current best linemen on the field with Bass in the starting lineup, at least until Guyton gets more experience and improves his technique.

Perhaps during the upcoming bye week, and assuming he’s healthy, Dallas will explore using Guyton on the right side over Terence Steele. It was his college position, and it could be a better place for him to work through some things. And they may still opt to put him back in at left tackle once he’s good to go, still willing to live through the growing pains. But after how the offensive line performed once Guyton left the game, the coaches must be considering their options.

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Should Brandin Cooks return with a lesser role?

There may not be a question in many minds that Jalen Tolbert should be the Cowboys’ other starting receiver going forward. He’s been more effective than Cooks all year and stepped up big in Sunday’s win. But even if that’s a foregone conclusion, just where should Cooks’ spot on the depth chart be once he gets back from injured reserve?

Less noticed in the game was that Kavontae Turpin also chipped in four catches for 50 yards on just five targets. It just feels like Dak Prescott is more comfortable and efficient targeting some of these younger receivers, and we’ve barely seen what Jalen Brooks could do with more opportunities.

Cooks was solid last year once he got healthy and found his groove with the offense, but it hasn’t been the same so far in 2024. Now that Cooks is 31 years old and has an expiring contract, Dallas may want to use him less and see if their other guys can be more effective targets. It could benefit the team now and down the road as they give future assets more experience.

What could the defense be once healthy?

Seeing what Mike Zimmer did last week without so many of his top players was impressive. Say what you want about the Steelers offense but they had more than enough talent to run the Cowboys over and Zimmer schemed up the right stuff, particularly on the defensive line, to not let that happen.

With Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Caelen Carson all potentially returning after the bye week, if not sooner for some, things are looking up for this side of the ball. There are still some concerns; Dallas was at mostly full strength when the Saints obliterated them in Week 2. But it seems like Zimmer has made the right adjustments and the team is getting more comfortable in his scheme. It’s exciting to think what things could be once he gets some star talent back in the mix.

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Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle

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Cowboys Team Doctor Played Role in Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Debacle


The Dallas Cowboys were initially in the mix for Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of NFL free agency, and were believed to be one of the finalists in trade talks. However, he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.

Now, the NFL world has been turned on its head with the Ravens deciding to pull out of the trade agreement with Las Vegas.

On Tuesday night, NFL insider Adam Schefter was among the experts discussing what went wrong between the Raiders and Ravens, revealing that Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper, one of the premier knee specialists, played a role in the Ravens’ evaluation of Crosby.

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Schefter discussed how Dr. Cooper was among the doctors who reviewed scans on Crosby’s knee, which ultimately spooked the Ravens and triggered the end of the deal.

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Dallas Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper on the sidelines before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

“The Baltimore Ravens essentially failed him on their physical, and my understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans,” Schefter said. “There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys doctor that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabers.

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“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”

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It’s hard not to connect the dots that Dr. Cooper’s involvement in the medical review of Crosby led to the team deciding against re-engaging in trade discussions. Though that could change, currently, the Cowboys are expected to move forward with Pro Bowl EDGE Rashan Gary, who the team agreed to acquire from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick on the first day of legal tampering.

It will be interesting to continue monitoring the situation and its fallout, which has left the Raiders in a terrible position.

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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But, with the Raiders now forced to re-examine the money they committed to free agents on Wednesday evening, they may have to pull out of one of their own agreements, which could open the door for the Cowboys to reopen their pursuit of a linebacker like Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker.

The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET, so get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.

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Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

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Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity


Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.

On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.

“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

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The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby leaves the field following a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.

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Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.

Dallas’ Original Trade Offer

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby reacts during the second half at SoFi Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

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According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.

“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.

Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

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Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing

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Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing


Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

Tuesday Forecast

Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.

The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.

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LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact

The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.

7-Day Forecast

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A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds. 

Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.

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