News Updates: Dak explains mindset entering Wee……….

 Despite coming up short on a touchdown two weeks ago in Philly, and having a dropped pass last Sunday against the Giants, rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker said he hasn’t lost any bit of confidence this year.

More importantly, his quarterback hasn’t either. That was evident in Carolina when Dak Prescott fired a strike to his rookie tight end for an 18-yard touchdown, the first of the game.

“I think (Dak) does a great job to go around to everyone in their individual (meeting) rooms to break things down. He’s got a great relationship with everyone and the confidence is really there. I know he trusts his guys to go make plays for him and I’m glad I could do that on that play.”

This year, Schoonmaker has five catches for 37 yards with two touchdowns.

The Dallas Cowboys did not hold a practice on Monday, but had they took the field, CeeDee Lamb would have been limited with an ankle injury, according to the team’s practice estimation. Along with Lamb, Terence Steele was also listed as limited with an ankle injury.

Jayron Kearse (back) and Rico Dowdle (ankle) were listed as non-participants on the practice report, while KaVontae Turpin (ankle), Osa Odighizuwa (hamstring) and Peyton Hendershot (ankle) were all listed as full participants.

When asked about Thursday’s availability with Lamb and Kearse vs. Washington, head coach Mike McCarthy said there is not a “high level of concern

Lamb also became the third Cowboys player in franchise history to have at least five touchdown catches in each of his first four years in the league, joining Bob Hayes and Dez Bryant.

 After a full week of practice for Rico Dowdle, despite nursing an ankle injury, all signs pointed at the veteran running back being a full go against the Carolina Panthers, until he was downgraded to questionable following Saturday’s walkthrough.

One day later, he’s been cleared to play, and will take the field as the usual complement to Tony Pollard, and the decision once again pushes Deuce Vaughn to the inactives list.

The remaining inactives for Week 11 include Noah Igbinoghene, Eric Scott, Asim Richards and Trey Lance, who will serve his usual duties as emergency quarterback.

Dowdle is coming off of a career effort in the defeat of the New York Giants last week, and will now have a chance to equal or better his performance when he battles the Panthers.

 The Dallas Cowboys have activated LB Rashaan Evans to the active roster ahead of the game against the Carolina Panthers. This comes after Evans used the last of his three practice squad elevations against the Giants last week when he played 39 snaps on defense and special teams.

To make room for Evans’ activation, the Cowboys have moved rookie defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko Jr. to the reserve/injured list after he popped up on the practice report this week with a knee injury.

Running back Rico Dowdle has been downgraded to questionable with an ankle injury.

The Cowboys had a light practice on Saturday before taking off to Carolina.

Dowdle is coming off a career-high 79 rushing yards last week against the Giants with a touchdown.

Tony Pollard is expected to start again at running back.

The Cowboys chose not to elevate Malik Davis from the practice squad. So if Dowdle doesn’t play, Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke could also get more carries.

 It appears KaVontae Turpin is trending toward returning to the field when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the Pro Bowl returner having been sidelined against the New York Giants with a shoulder injury.

In Wednesday’s injury report, an estimate based upon a walkthrough, Turpin was listed as a full participant. On Thursday morning, head coach Mike McCarthy voiced solid optimism about his chances for this weekend — contingent upon no setbacks this week.

“We’ll see how he does today, but it’s padded and full practice and he’s scheduled to take all of his reps today,” McCarthy said. “I’m hopeful that he can have a great week and lines up on Sunday.”

It was rookie sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn taking on return duties in the absence of Turpin, along with running back Rico Dowdle opening the game as kickoff returner. Turpin’s absence also opened the door for undrafted rookie Jalen Brooks to grab his first four NFL receptions.

In the first injury report of the week leading up to the game in Carolina, the Dallas Cowboys opened the practice window for tight end Peyton Hendershot, who has been on the IR with an ankle injury since Oct. 12. He will have 21 days to be activated to the active roster and can play as soon as this Sunday against the Panthers.

Also listed on the injury report are WR KaVontae Turpin (shoulder), WR Jalen Tolbert (knee), DT Osa Odighizuwa (hamstring), RB Rico Dowdle (ankle), CB Jourdan Lewis (neck) and DL Viliami Fehoko (knee). All were listed as full participants in Wednesday’s practice estimation.

Leighton Vander Esch has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season, and his future as an NFL player is now undetermined.

In delivering the news on Tuesday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones lamented the loss, while also stating his level of comfort with the current LB corps — noting their is no current interest in waiver claims or signings.

“Not at all,” Jones told 105.3FM The Fan. “As a matter of fact, If I had to pick an area of strength, I would pick this area, because of how we play the linebackers. [LVE] can’t be replaced, but we’ve made the kinds of adjustments you’ll see in the future.

Markquese Bell has stepped in to wonderfully complement Damone Clark, and Rashaan Evans has now ramped up to full go. The team also has Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson on the practice squad.

 For the third straight week, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott needs your votes to claim the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week award.

Dak passed for 404 yards – a season-high – along with four touchdown passes and ran another TD into the end zone to help the Cowboys beat the Giants 49-17. Prescott had a 138.3 QB rating as he won his 13th straight game over the Giants.

Not at all,” Jones told 105.3FM The Fan. “As a matter of fact, If I had to pick an area of strength, I would pick this area, because of how we play the linebackers. [LVE] can’t be replaced, but we’ve made the kinds of adjustments you’ll see in the future.

Markquese Bell has stepped in to wonderfully complement Damone Clark, and Rashaan Evans has now ramped up to full go. The team also has Malik Jefferson and Buddy Johnson on the practice squad.

 For the third straight week, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott needs your votes to claim the FedEx Air NFL Player of the Week award.

Dak passed for 404 yards – a season-high – along with four touchdown passes and ran another TD into the end zone to help the Cowboys beat the Giants 49-17. Prescott had a 138.3 QB rating as he won his 13th straight game over the Giants.

“The way that I feel, the confidence I have in this group, myself, [being in] the zone, I guess you could call it,” he said on Tuesday. “Whatever it is — the coaches, the chemistry of this team, yeah, by far the best I’ve ever felt. It’s not just me, it’s a lot of the things around me.”