Jerry Jones might not need to wear his sunglasses at night, on multiple upcoming evenings over the balance of the season.
As noted by Eric Fisher of FrontOfficeSports.com, two or three big-platform Cowboys games could be in danger of being relegated for better teams.
There’s a December 9 Monday night game against the Bengals and a December 22 Sunday nighter against the Buccaneers that could be replaced with something more compelling. Also, the Week 17 rematch with the Eagles currently is set for 4:25 p.m. ET, the key late-afternoon Sunday window. The Fox game could be flipped with Packers-Vikings, which is currently set for 1:00 p.m. ET that day.
The Cincinnati game likely won’t move, for two reasons. One, the Bengals (unlike the Cowboys) will still be postseason contenders. Two, ESPN is already preparing for an alternate broadcast featuring the Simpsons; presumably, the technological wheels are already in motion — and likely can’t be reconfigured to different teams only four weeks from date of the game.
No matter what happens with those games, everyone will be stuck with Giants-Cowboys in the middle window of the traditional Thanksgiving tripleheader. (There’s no flex option yet for Thanksgiving, even if there perhaps should be.)
In 2020, a Cowboys-49ers game was flexed out of Sunday night, due to the mutual struggles of both teams. Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin called it a “new low” for the franchise. The night game was regarded as such a given that former Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith didn’t know the time had changed until just a few days before kickoff.
At this point, everyone knows the Cowboys are cooked. Dak Prescott is reportedly done for the season, and the Cowboys have been horrendous at home. While plenty of folks might tune in just to enjoy watching the Cowboys further implode, the NFL traditionally has not been interested in the schadenfreude demographic.
Regardless, the way things are going for the Cowboys, most of America will happily forfeit the privilege of watching America’s Team by the time December rolls around.
At least for now, Xavien Howard will not be joining the Bengals.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, Cincinnati made Howard an offer after the free-agent defensive back worked out for the club on Monday. But the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, so Howard will continue to train at home and await his next opportunity.
Howard, 31, was released by the Dolphins in March and has not been with a team since. He missed time late last season with a foot injury, but sent a letter to NFL teams in April notifying them he’d been fully cleared for football activities.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Howard has recorded 29 career interceptions with 95 passes defensed. He’s played all 100 of his career games with the Dolphins, who selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft.
The Bengals also reportedly had a workout scheduled with running back Leonard Forunette on Monday.
The Bengals brought in some help at running back last week at the trading deadline and are looking at some more.
Per NFL Media, Cincinnati is working out Leonard Fournette on Monday.
Fournette, 29, has not been with a team this year. He spent time with the Bills last season, appearing in two games. He took 12 carries for 40 yards.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Fournette played his first three seasons with the Jaguars before spending three seasons with Tampa Bay. He rushed for 300 yards with there touchdowns in the 2020 postseason, helping the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV.
Cincinnati traded for Khalil Herbert last week after running back Zack Moss went down with a neck injury. Chase Brown leads the team with 521 rushing yards with five touchdowns.
At 4-6, the Bengals will play the Chargers on Sunday night in Week 11.
It’s been more than six months since veteran cornerback Xavien Howard told teams he had been cleared to return from a foot injury, but there’s been no news of any teams showing interest. Until today.
Howard will be in Cincinnati visiting the Bengals today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
The 31-year-old Howard was a second-round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2016 and has played his entire NFL career in Miami. He’s been a first-team All-Pro once, a Pro Bowler four times and led the NFL in interceptions in both 2018 and 2020.
Howard missed the end of last season because of the foot injury but started every game he was healthy enough to play last year. If he’s able to return to his previous level, he could be a significant addition to the Bengals or some other team hoping to bolster its secondary down the stretch.
The NFL fined Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby $11,255 for unnecessary roughness in a Nov. 3 game against the Bengals.
With two minutes left in the first half, Crosby left before the snap and was unimpeded to the quarterback. The whistle blew, and Crosby continued with his hit on Joe Burrow.
The Bengals quarterback took a hard hit, with Crosby’s helmet glancing Burrow’s before Burrow hit the ground hard.
Crosby was penalized for offsides, which was declined, and for unnecessary roughness.
Crosby had three tackles and three quarterback hits in the 41-24 Raiders loss, and Burrow threw five touchdowns.
