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Updates: Third-Round Pick Signs Contract; More


Dallas Cowboys
11 Jun 2021

by Nick Eatman, Rob Phillips & David Helman

Don't miss any of the action with our daily updates: news, notes and more throughout the Cowboys' regular season. Presented by Sleep Number

June 11 Updates Osa Odighizuwa

#75 DT

Height: 6-2 Weight: 280 lbs College: UCLA

9:53 a.m. - The Cowboys have officially signed rookie defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.

Odighizuwa, the 99th overall pick in April's draft, is the first of three Cowboys third-round picks to sign. Only defensive lineman Chauncey Golston and cornerback Nahshon Wright have yet to finalize their rookie deals.

The Cowboys officially signed first-round pick Micah Parsons and second-round pick Kelvin Joseph earlier this week.

-------------------------------------------- June 9 Updates

9:30 p.m. - Dak Prescott's foot is in the news for a different reason.

Specifically, it's both feet - and what they'll be sporting in the near future. Word surfaced Wednesday night that Prescott, a longtime Adidas athlete, was signing a five-year deal with Jordan Brand.

According to the report, Prescott will be the only Cowboys player and the highest-paid NFL player to represent Jordan Brand.

There has been speculation about the situation since the Cowboys' began their offseason program. Prescott has been spotted wearing Jordan cleats during the team's OTAs, and Wednesday's news made it official.

Tony Pollard

#20 RB

Height: 6-0 Weight: 209 lbs College: Memphis

2:18 p.m. - The exact role for Tony Pollard this offseason seems to be evolving by the practice. While he is expected to back up Ezekiel Elliott at running back and be the featured kickoff returner, Pollard is also getting some looks at receiver in the slot.

"It's just a matter of some guys being banged up and some guys not being there," Pollard said of the current receivers. "But they want to see my versatility and being able to make plays all over the field - whether it's running back, in the slot or wherever."

But regardless where Pollard lines up, he is expecting the Cowboys to have one of, if not the best offense in the league.

"That's for us to see," Pollard told reporters during his interview Wednesday. "But II feel like nobody can stop us , but us. We just have to see that when we get on the field."

-------------------------------------------- June 8 Updates Tyron Smith

#77 T

Height: 6-5 Weight: 320 lbs College: USC

4:00 p.m. - It has long been known that Tyron Smith dealt with stingers. But until Tuesday, most people might not have realized just how long.

Smith had season-ending surgery on his neck last season as a result of those stinger issues, which have bothered him for multiple seasons. Asked about it Tuesday afternoon, he acknowledged it's been an issue for much of his football career.

"It's been an issue pretty much ever since I've been playing ball, since I got that first stinger way back when I first started," he said. "Ever since I've been there, it just started getting worse and worse as I got older."

The issue caused Smith to lose strength in his left arm - strength he has since started to recover. The hope is that finally having surgery will alleviate some of those issues. From the sounds of it, Smith is getting exactly the relief he needed.

"I started to feel a huge relief because I could move my neck around a lot more than I usually can," he said. "It was like right away it started feeling like a huge relief."

-------------------------------------------- June 6 Updates Dallas Cowboys

2:24 pm - In an instant, the Tennessee Titans seemed to get better when they landed Julio Jones in a trade from Atlanta. The Falcons might eventually win the trade depending on how they use the draft picks. But in the meantime, it's a trade that helps the Titans.

But anyone else? Let's not forget the teams that are playing the Falcons this year that no longer have to face one of the NFL's elite receivers.

The Cowboys will host Atlanta on Nov. 14, one week before heading to Kansas City. The game will be highly anticipated with the Cowboys having Dan Quinn, Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee on the roster.

Atlanta still has Calvin Ridley and newly-drafted rookie Kyle Pitts, along with veteran QB Matt Ryan.

But Jones' departure probably won't hurt the Cowboys' feelings. In five games vs Dallas, Jones is averaging 98.5 yards per game with three touchdowns.

The Cowboys are expected to play Tennessee at home in 2022.

-------------------------------------------- June 4 Updates Kellen Moore

Offensive Coordinator

College: Boise State Hometown: Prosser, WA

4:37 p.m. - The Cowboys just completed their second week of organized team activities, and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is impressed with the work Dak Prescott has done this offseason in his return from last year's ankle surgery.

"Dak has been working his tail off. He's done a great job," Moore said. "He's certainly done a lot out there during OTAs. We're in a really good place with him. I think he feels really good. Obviously, the process is what it is. It takes time. You trust (Cowboys athletic trainers) Jim (Maurer) and Britt (Brown) and Dak going through it together to decide what he does and doesn't do throughout this whole offseason.

"Really, we're playing ball now. You can ask Dak. He's ready to just go play football. Obviously, if they need to limit him in any regard, they do. But we're playing football. We're playing football like Dak has always played football."

Prescott is participating in most of practice. One exception for now, as a precaution, is team drills that feature a defensive line pass rush.

-------------------------------------------- Dan Quinn

Defensive Coordinator

College: Salisbury University Hometown: Morristown, NJ

4:36 p.m. - It's early - just six voluntary OTA practices over the last two weeks - but new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn likes what he sees from the rookie class on defense.

"I have been impressed by this crew, the eight draft picks and three free agents that we signed," Quinn said. "The thing that jumped out to me was the speed of the group, whether it be the secondary or linebacker, you can really feel that speed from perimeter guys.

"From the inside guys, it's a mature group we added to the defensive line. Obviously you feel the size of (defensive tackle Quinton) Bohanna and his strength, maybe not as much because it's more of a passing camp. But I have been impressed by (defensive linemen Chauncey) Golston and (Osa) Odighizuwa. Those are guys we're trying to feature into some pass-rushing roles.

"I would say of the group of 11, speed jumped out to me. And then for the big guys, let's continue to develop and see what we have with Odighizuwa and Golston. But those two inside have certainly jumped to me as pass rushers."

-------------------------------------------- June 3 Updates Tarell Basham

#93 DE

Height: 6-4 Weight: 266 lbs College: Ohio

2:34 p.m. - In his first interview since signing with the Cowboys, pass-rusher Tarell Basham had some interesting quotes during his virtual call with the media.

Basham, who came from the Jets, said he signed with the Cowboys because he was "tired of losing" and sees Dallas as a contender for the playoffs every season. He also said of his position, "you put me there and I'll play it" regarding being a defensive end or outside linebacker.

And while he admitted that he's been a bad "angle-taker" in the past and credits coaches such as Dan Quinn for pointing out his bad habits, Basham's most memorable quote came near the end would he was asked about Dallas being a fresh start to his career.

"It's definitely going to be a new chapter," "Basham said. "But it's a Book of Bash. We're still on the same book. I like to tell people, it's still the same 'ish' just a different toilet. I'm moving up."

-------------------------------------------- Dak Prescott

#4 QB

Height: 6-2 Weight: 238 lbs College: Mississippi State

4:26 p.m. - As the Cowboys move through voluntary workouts, they're watching the workload of several key veterans who dealt with injuries last year.

Dak Prescott is the obvious example. For now, the star quarterback is being held out of team drills featuring a pass rush in OTAs as he works his way back from last year's ankle surgery.

In last week's practice open to the media, wide receiver Amari Cooper, guard Zack Martin, running back Ezekiel Elliott and Blake Jarwin did not participate. Elliott dealt with nagging injuries throughout much of last season, Martin missed the final month of the season with a calf injury, Jarwin is working back from last year's ACL surgery and Cooper had minor ankle surgery in the offseason.

Linebacker Jaylon Smith (offseason wrist surgery) and offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La'el Collins (returning from 2020 surgery) had limited work in the practice.

"These guys have all been here pretty much every day, but some of the field work was limited," head coach Mike McCarthy said last week. "We're just being smart with the guys, particularly the ones coming off of surgery and have some things that are hanging on from last year."

The Cowboys have one more week of OTAs, followed by next week's mandatory minicamp.

-------------------------------------------- May 31 Updates Michael Gallup

#13 WR

Height: 6-1 Weight: 198 lbs College: Colorado State

1:01 p.m. - Physically, let's not even try and compare Michael Gallup to D.K. Metcalf. In fact, only linebackers and defensive ends have the body-types of Metcalf, the Seattle Pro Bowl receiver who has become an internet sensation, not to mention one of the league's top young superstars.

Looking at Metcalf's stats, the 17 touchdowns in two seasons undoubtedly stand out.

But he's averaging 15.6 yards per catch and his longest play from scrimmage is 62 yards - somewhat surprising considering his blazing speed.

In three seasons, Gallup has a few more catches and yards since he's played three seasons, but he also has an identical 15.6 yard per catch average and also has a 62-yard reception - the longest of his career.

But the most identifying stat in looking for "big-play" receivers is average per catch. Metcalf has established himself as that, but the stats also suggest Gallup isn't too far behind.

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