FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys are playing out the string, to some degree maybe treating this final season-ending game against the Washington Commanders as if it’s “Preseason in January.”
But they are playing. … some of their guys, anyway.
A headliner, according to a team source: QB Trey Lance is (finally) “in the game plan,” as it was put to us.
And elsewhere? The Cowboys on Friday have signed former Steelerscornerback Luq Barcoo to their practice squad. … a possible response to the injury report that has Kemon Hall (hamstring) listed as out for the game.
Barcoo has not been with an NFL team since June when the Steelers but him after an injury.
An undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in 2020, the 6-1, 175-pound Barcoo has had cups of coffee with the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs.
He found his way back into the NFL after a stint with the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
In addition to Hall being out, Chuma Edoga (toe), Mazi Smith (pelvis), Nick Vigil (foot), and Donovan Wilson (knee) are all questionable.
Micah Parsons (wrist) had been on the injury list he was a full participant and is good to go for Sunday.
While the Cowboys will be making vacation plans for the offseason – and assembling a bunch of futures contract guys, with Barcoo maybe among them – Commanders coach Dan Quinn has eyes on a deep playoff run. Dallas’ three-year postseason stretch ended thanks to a season derailed by poor play and a rash of injuries.
Quinn was part of that playoff streak with the Cowboys before bolting for the DMV to take over the reins in Washington.
“I’ve honestly had a blast coaching this team because we’ve been working hard on our identity,” Quinn said. “For me to get a front-row seat at that journey and be along on that ride with them, I’ve got a lot of gratitude for it.”
It could be Mike McCarthy’s final game as head coach of the Cowboys. His contract expires after the season ends, and his future in Dallas is in question.
McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl as coach of the Green Bay Packers inside AT&T Stadium after the 2010 season, reflected on the possibility of Sunday being his final game with the Cowboys.
“I’ll be honest with you, I go to the stadium much earlier this time in my career than I used to,” the 61-year-old said. “I won a Super Bowl in that home locker room at AT&T Stadium. So I have a very strong emotional attachment that it hits me every time I walk in there and every time I walk out. I’m not thinking about it right now, but, yeah, I’m definitely in tune with that.”
