Ernie

Sims

Sims had been working behind Alex Lewis in Detroit’s first two preseason games. His promotion comes as no surprise.

It sounds like a sprained MCL, though that hasn’t been confirmed and probably won’t be. In Week 1, the Colts started Kavell Conner and Pat Angerer at the outside linebacker spots. Sims backs up Conner and plays on special teams.

Miami is transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme, and Sims and Gaither are both lightweight 4-3 outside ‘backers. Neither player has been signed yet.

This will be Wheeler’s second straight missed game, giving Ernie Sims another start. Wheeler had racked up 85 tackles in the first 13 games of the season.

The Cowboys just signed Sims a week ago, and they were pleased with his performance off the bench in last week’s loss to the Giants. Sims has quickly passed Orie Lemon and Alex Albright on the depth chart, and DC Rob Ryan trusts him to play in the nickel package already. He’s worth a desperation look in IDP leagues.

Sean Lee (turf toe) is done for the year, leaving the Cowboys thin at linebacker. Dan Connor and Bruce Carter will start on the inside, with Orie Lemon backing them up. Sims, who has been on the street since the end of last season, has spent most of his career as a 4-3 outside ‘backer. Rob Ryan runs a 3-4 scheme in Dallas.

Sims picked up the injury on special teams. He’s questionable to return.

It’s a bit of a relief for Dallas, which otherwise would have had to trot out Alex Albright alongside Dan Connor as starting inside linebackers. Either way, the seams and underneath portions of the Cowboys’ defense are vulnerable entering Sunday’s matchup with Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles.

It’s a hard-knock life for Cowboys inside ‘backers. Sims was elevated to the starting lineup after Sean Lee and Bruce Carter suffered season-ending injuries. The Cowboys are down to a trio of replacement-level talents opposite Dan Connor.

Sims will come cheap, and reporter David Moore believes he could compete for a starting job with the Cowboys’ switch to a 4-3 defense shifting DeMarcus Ware to end. Even if he doesn’t start, Sims represents highly-experienced veteran depth. It’s worth noting that Sims struggled filling in for an injured Sean Lee and Bruce Carter last season.