The Dallas Cowboys are planning to start Matt Cassel in Week 7 against the Giants over Brandon Weeden after coming out of their bye week and the team is hoping that Dez Bryant can return. Head coach Jason Garrett also said that La'el Collins will be inserted as a starter on the offensive line, while Rod Smith was added to the backfield with Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Christine Michael.
The Cowboys have been dealing with injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant this season and heading into the bye week the team has lost three straight games. Romo is on IR with designation to return and heading out of the bye week the Cowboys will reportedly make a quarterback change. Brandon Weeden has been starting with Romo out, but following the loss to the Patriots on Sunday, head coach Jason Garrett said that Matt Cassel will start against the Giants.
The Cowboys are "hopeful" that Dez Bryant can return for Week 7 against the Giants from his foot injury. According to Todd Archer at ESPN Dallas, the team "remains hopeful" that Bryant can return to action after the bye week, as he was able to start participating in some football activities. Garrett said he wants Bryant to practice before he gets back out into regular season action and last week he was able to work with on-field rehab, but did not practice with the team.
According to ESPN.com, Garrett said that Cassel will get the chance to start after the bye and it comes after the offense did not score a touchdown against the Patriots. Weeden has done a solid job taking over for Romo, completing 72 percent of his passes and passing for 739 yards in four games overall. But Weeden has just two touchdowns and he also has thrown two interceptions in that time. The Cowboys defense has given up nearly 100 points over the last three games and that has not helped Weeden get things going.
Garrett isn't just making a change at quarterback on offense, as Pro Football Talk reports that La'el Collins will start for the team in Week 7. Collins was signed as an undrafted free agent after being considered a first round draft prospect and now he will replace Ronald Leary at left guard. Collins previously started for Leary when the guard dealt with a back injury and he also got time with the first team offense in the preseason.
The Cowboys have also made some other offensive personnel moves with Vince Mayle getting waived and Rod Smith claimed. According to Pro Football Talk, the Cowboys waived Mayle at wide receiver on Tuesday and that came after he was previously promoted from the practice squad. PFT also reported that the team claimed running back Rod Smith from the Seattle Seahawks and he could be a depth/emergency option behind Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden.
The Cowboys previously added Michael in a trade from the Seahawks and now the team has claimed Smith, who previously played at Ohio State. Pro Football Talk reported that the Cowboys worked out LaMichael James this week at running back, but opted to go for Smith instead. Dez Bryant may not be too far off from returning from foot surgery, as the Dallas Morning News reports that Bryant had a "therapeutic injection" to help speed up his rehab. Bryant could return Week 7 for the game against the Giants.
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