Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys have become extremly thin at the safety position.
The current state of affairs of the injured safeties in Dallas and their respective prognosis:
- Alijah Clark (ribs) – 1-2 weeks
- Juanyeh Thomas (migraines) – Undetermined
- Malik Hooker (toe) – IR
- Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder) – Undetermined
Thomas’ migraines are new to him, a fact he disclosed to me ahead of the trip to Denver, and he’s working desperately with the medical staff to try and figure out what treatment works to make them subside and ultimately disappear; and that includes trying a specialized type of goggles in practice, but none of it has resulted in him returning just yet. He’s now missed two games, and a third absence could very well be on the way when the Arizona Cardinals arrive.
Hooker qualifies to return to practice under his 21-day window, having now been sidelined for four games, but head coach Brian Schottenheimer was definitive in declaring the veteran safety will not be permitted to touch the field again just yet, meaning he’ll need more time to rehab.
As for Wilson, it’s been a battle over the past couple of weeks or more to remain available as he deals with injuries, elbow and shoulder, that finally shut him down in Week 8, and threatens to do the same this coming weekend, ahead of the bye.
The situation is so dire that Reddy Steward, a nickel cornerback, was moved to safety alongside Bell against the Broncos, and it goes without saying that can’t be a long-term solution but, again, there are no other healthy safeties on the active roster other than Bell.
Solution? There are a few, but since I am disallowed to name players under contract with other teams for possible trade scenarios (see? I can behave — sometimes), I’ll focus on free agency to avoid a tampering charge that potentially costs the Cowboys a draft pick, because it’s not as if I’m eyeing a Pennsylvania resident with a will of steel or anything.
So, that said, on to free agency options but, be warned, they’re not plentiful; and that tracks, considering top-shelf safeties aren’t usually still available in free agency approaching the midpoint of the season.
Honorable mentions:
- Marcus Williams, 29
- Vonn Bell, 30
- George Odum, 31
- Tashaun Gipson, 35
I wouldn’t consider these as serious options, for reasons that vary from age (Gipson is 35 years old) to poor production, but they bear a mention here.
Brian Schottenheimer may look at the defensive end group as an area where they need to make changes.
Two weeks after searching...
