Blogging The Boys
The Cowboys get a major boost to their roster ahead of Week 1.
PHILADELPHIA — After trending in the right direction during the week of practice, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton carry no injury designation into Thursday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and will be available to play.
The question is how much. On Friday, coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged it is easier to mix and match how much Diggs plays compared with Guyton because of their positions.
During training camp in Oxnard, California, it was unclear when either would be able to play this season.
Dallas locks up the former undrafted free agent.
FRISCO, Texas — All signs point to the Dallas Cowboys being open for business as it relates to contract extensions this week. They followed up the blockbuster decision to trade All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers by awarding All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland a four-year renewal, and the next in line is none other than Hunter Luepke.
The young fullback has agreed to terms on a two-year extension worth upwards of $7.5 million, a reasonable deal for a promising talent.
An undrafted free agent of the Cowboys in 2023, Luepke initially signed a three-year rookie deal out of North Dakota State that meant he was only a day away from beginning a contract year when he takes the field against the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday Night Football.
His initial salary cap hit for 2025 was merely $1.03 million and, depending upon how the contract is structured, there’s a good chance that, now, he won’t cost a dollar toward the cap until 2026, at the earliest, because of the extension occurring proactively.
Pickens and the Cowboys have been a match made in heaven so far.
In his three years in Pittsburgh, Pickens had one 1,000-yard season, averaging 947 yards and four touchdowns per year. Good production, but there were maturity and behavior concerns. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in December that Pickens needed to “grow up.”
Since joining the Cowboys, there have been no issues. A close previous relationship with Lamb has had a positive impact. The two are often together during practice, while working off to the side or in the locker room.
“A really unique individual, No. 1,” McClay said, “from the standpoint that he loves football, loves his teammates, and a rare talent from a standpoint of being able to track a football and have the body control to make those contested catches. In the NFL, you got to win one-on-ones, you got to make those catches. He can make catches when he’s covered.”
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