Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams is believed to have torn his ACL, via Tom Pelissero of NFL media. Williams will undergo an MRI to confirm.
This is a significant blow for a Cowboys defense that was expecting a big step forward from Williams in 2024, especially after losing edge rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. to free agency.
Williams, who played his collegiate football at the University of Mississippi, was selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He played in 15 games during his rookie campaign and showed some promise, registering 22 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Then, last season, Williams appeared in every contest and totaled 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Many believed that 2024 could represent a breakout year for the 25-year-old, but now it looks like the Cowboys will unfortunately have to wait until 2025 to see that happen.
The Cowboys may need some help with their pass rush
Williams may not be a household name, but his loss is kind of a big deal.
The Cowboys rattled off 46 sacks as a team in 2023, but Armstrong—who signed with the Washington Commanders—was responsible for 7.5 of them. Dallas didn’t replace him in free agency.
The Cowboys did select edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland in the NFL Draft, and he has generated considerable buzz in the early stages of training camp.
However, it’s always tough to rely on a rookie, even if Kneeland was one of the more impressive physical specimens at his position in his draft class.
Of course, Dallas has Micah Parsons, who is one of the best pass rushers in football, but DeMarcus Lawrence is no longer the sack threat he once was.
It was entirely possible that Williams could have elevated his game with more playing time this year, which could have resulted in the youngster nearing double-digit sacks with the right progression.
Now, the Cowboys will have to look for answers elsewhere, which could mean signing a free agent like Yannick Ngakoue or perhaps swinging a trade (maybe Matthew Judon could be available?).
The Cowboys certainly hasn’t had a lot of good news this offseason, and the Williams injury is just the latest blow.
