When Sam Williams went down, the Dallas Cowboys feared the worst. When the ACL injury diagnosis came through, the Cowboys had to look for help outside of the organization. And they signed a former Colts’ defensive end to a one-year deal.
ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported Thursday the Cowboys found their man in Al-Quadin Muhammad.
According to si.com, the Cowboys worked out a group of veteran defensive ends that included Carl Lawson, Justin Hollins, and Muhammad. The 29-year-old journeyman started his NFL career with the Saints after being drafted in the sixth round in 2017. The Saints sent him packing, but the Colts picked him up and he lasted four years.
Cowboys DE Al-Quadin Muhammad doesn't have loaded track record
Muhammad started only eight games in his first three seasons, but started all 17 games in 2021 and recorded six sacks and a career-high 48 tackles. The Bears liked what they saw and brought him on board for 16 games and nine starts in 2022, but he totaled only one sack and 29 tackles. Muhammad didn’t play last season, and received a suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy.
Dallas enters the 2024 season ranked No. 6 in the NFL along the defensive line. But the vast majority of that status is the play of Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence. Parsons pushed the issue for 103 quarterback pressures last season while Lawrence had a 91.3 PFF grade thanks in a big way to his excellence against the run.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told cowboyswire.com he expects his defense to raise the team to a championship level in 2024. The offense has plenty of weapons and point capability, so consistent play from the other side of the ball makes the team tough overall.
“The defense is the thermostat of your football team,” McCarthy explained. “And the offense and the defense need to complement one another because the defense always should have the ability to keep you in the game. The offense needs to go win the game. When we win the championship, it’ll be because of our complementary football. That’s what wins championships.”
What role will Muhammad play?
How Muhammad fits into the equation will have to be seen. Other players in the rotation mix in the preseason as Marshawn Kneeland, Villami Fehoko Jr., Tyrus Wheat, Durrell Johnson, and Byron Vaughns. None of those are household names.
And that means injury avoidance is an absolute must if the team is going to win postseason games. If Parsons or Lawrence goes down, the Cowboys will be hard-pressed to produce the kind of quarterback pressure needed to hold opposing offenses down.
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