The Cowboys are likely to see a lot more of Jalen Carter in Week 12 than they did in their season-opening loss to the Eagles.
Carter didn’t play a snap in that game because he was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott while the two engaged in some banter before Dallas’ first offensive play. During a session with the media on Thursday, Carter said he is “not even thinking” about anything having to do with that matchup as he prepares for what he hopes will be an extended matchup with the Cowboys.
“We’re not worried about that,” Carter said. “We’re here where we at right now. And, at the end of the day, everyone is playing so that’s all we’re worried about.”
Given how well the Eagles defense played in wins over the Packers and Lions, the Cowboys probably wouldn’t mind seeing Carter or one of his teammates rule themselves out of Sunday’s game but it seems unlikely that lightning will strike twice in the matchup of NFC East rivals.
Dak Prescott owns three team passing records. He should add another on Sunday against the Eagles.
The Cowboys quarterback is 160 passing yards from the team’s career record. He has not had fewer than 188 passing yards this season.
Tony Romo, Prescott’s predecessor, had 34,183 passing yards in his career. Prescott went over 34,000 career passing yards in the victory over the Raiders on Monday night.
“I’m humbled,” Prescott said Thursday, via Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. “Thankful to be healthy and to be in this position to do it. I was on the production call, and they asked me the same thing: Would I have thought this 10 years ago? And I said, ‘Yeah, I was very arrogant as a rookie.’
“When you’ve played in this game long enough, and you can stay healthy, with my expectations of what my play is, that’s supposed to happen. So just thankful, humbled, super grateful to be playing a game I love at this high of a level. To still be doing it and look forward to keep going any of those that will happen.”
Prescott already holds the team records for career completion percentage (67.1), career completions (3,033) and career passer rating (98.5). He ranks second in passing yards, attempts (4,521) and passing touchdowns (234) and is third in total wins (80).
Troy Aikman is the all-time leader in attempts (4,715) and wins (94), and Romo ranks first in passing touchdowns (247).
But Prescott, of course, does not have what Roger Staubach and Aikman have. He is only 2-5 in the postseason and has never played in an NFC Championship Game, while Staubach and Aikman combined for five Super Bowl titles.
Dak Prescott returned to a full practice on Thursday.
The Cowboys quarterback injured his hip in Monday night’s win over the Raiders and was limited in Wednesday’s session.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Prescott said, via Schulyer Dixon of the Associated Press. “Got hit in the game, fell on it. Happened early in the game, played the whole game throughout it. It’s a physical game, [and I’m] sore. I was a full participant today, and I’ll be completely fine. Played with much more soreness.”
The Cowboys also saw left guard Tyler Smith (knee) and safety Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder) back to full participation.
Safety Malik Hooker (toe/personal) did not practice after limited work on Wednesday.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder/neck), defensive end Dante Fowler (shoulder) and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (calf) remained limited a second consecutive day.
The drama surrounding the Eagles offense continues.
On Thursday, receiver A.J. Brown met with reporters. And one of them asked him a fairly loaded question.
“There’s been speculation out there that you are not the player you once were,” the reporter said. “What would you say to those people?”
Smiling, Brown respond with this: “I guess Saquon [Barkley] ain’t the same player either then.”
Brown then shook his head and muttered a few things, including (we think) “I don’t care about that.”
No one has credibly questioned Brown’s abilities. Nor can they. When he gets the ball, he does what he has always done. He continues to be virtually uncoverable, when facing single coverage.
The issues run far deeper than whether Brown has lost something. The only thing he’s lost is patience, for whatever is causing the Eagles’ offense to stagnate. And he has dared to speak out, in an effort to improve the offense.
Recently, quarterback Jalen Hurts has become the focal point of the external scrutiny, based on reporting from Derrick Gunn that Hurts is essentially ignoring the requirements of the play that has been called and instead playing “his game.” Is it a coincidence that, with the attention finally turning to Hurts, someone is speculating that maybe Brown isn’t as good as he used to be?
It feels like this slowly-simmering pot is getting closer to a boil. Mmaybe the situation finally needs to bubble over before anyone will truly know what has caused the apparent rift between Brown and Hurts, and whether it can ever be repaired.
The Eagles got one of their starting offensive linemen back at practice on Thursday.
Center Cam Jurgens was listed as a limited participant after sitting out on Wednesday. Jurgens has a concussion, so will need to take the final steps in the protocol by Sunday in order to play against the Cowboys.
Right tackle Lane Johnson remained out with a foot injury. He is expected to miss multiple weeks after getting hurt in last Sunday’s win over the Lions.
Tackle Myles Hinton (back), offensive lineman Willie Lampkin (knee, ankle), and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (shoulder) were full participants for the second straight day. The Eagles will issue their injury designations for the weekend on Friday.
