Blogging The Boys
With injuries mounting for the Dallas Cowboys, it was time to dig into their depth chart to get players on the field, that meant seeing some rookies get extra playing time. How did the rookie class help in the massive win at MetLife on Sunday? Let’s dive in and find out.
Currently out with a high ankle sprain.
(Game stats- Snaps: 46, Total Tackles: 3, Pressures: 5, Sacks: 0, TFL: 0)
The rookie rushed like he had someplace to be. Ezeiruaku came out with the same energy he’s showed all season long so far. He kept Justin Fields uncomfortable without losing rush-lane integrity, something we mentioned on the Reading Between the Line series, squeezing the pocket from the outside so the escape hatches stayed closed.
About that first NFL sack, he was this close, twice. Early, he sold speed, stabbed the chest, and flattened at six yards, forcing Fields into a hurried throw that died in the flat. Late, he won again off the edge on a twist, arriving a blink after the ball left. That’s the difference between “almost” and “got him,” and you can feel the bridge getting shorter.
What popped all afternoon was his motor. In the fourth quarter, Ezeiruaku brought the same heat as he did at the start of the game. He chased a boot all the way to the sideline, retraced on a screen, and still had enough to collapse the edge on the very next snap. The pressures showed up because of the Jets’ play-calling with more quick game passes and fewer leisurely shots downfield like Fields had at the start of the game.
This was a great outing for Ezeiruaku that says to coaches to trust him more. The film says the first NFL sack is imminent, the motor says he’ll keep knocking until the door opens, and the Cowboys just found a few more snaps for a rookie who’s learning how to turn speed into finishes.
Non-Football Injury list
(Game stats- Snaps: 11, Rush Attempts: 4, Rush Yards: 7, Avg: 1.8, Kick Returns: 1, Return Yards: 32)
For a first NFL snap, Blue didn’t tiptoe, instead he made himself useful in a hurry. The rookie’s debut doubled as a special-teams spark, and the Jets felt it on contact. The headline flash came early in a 32-yard kickoff return that looked like fast-forward with a clean track, one cut, and suddenly Dallas was playing on the front foot. That’s how you earn a second touch before the coaches even catch their breath.
Blue’s best play might’ve been the one without a stat. A square, tidy pass-pro pickup that gave Dak the extra half-beat to finish his read. With his shoulders down, hands inside, and showing no-panic textbook stuff for a rookie back willing to put his body on the line. Overall, Blue looked ready, but his turn running the ball didn’t come to much in...
