With the Dallas Cowboys now settled into training camp and full-padded practices on the way, the intensity is expected to crack up a notch as the preseason approaches. While this next step toward Week 1 is exciting, it also opens up more dangerous scenarios to play out as players fight for roster spots or starting roles.
And unfortunately for Dallas, the team has its first major injury of camp to worry about.
On Sunday, EDGE Sam Williams went down with an apparent knee injury on his left side in practice. Reporters on the scene saw the third-year pro in a ton of pain, and it was so much the young defender required a cart to leave the field. Williams appeared downtrodden as he hitched a ride, as captured by The Athletic's Jon Machota.
One person who was on hand descrobedthe injury to Cowboys.com's Nick Harris as "not good." Williams also failed to put any weight on his injured leg as he boarded the cart, which is another concerning sign.
If Williams is dealing with anything of the season-jeopardizing variety, that would be a massive blow to a Dallas defense that's already dealing with depth issues.
Williams has been a consistently solid presence off of the edge for the Cowboys over his first two years in the league, first recording 4.0 sacks and a fifth-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022; he then followed that up with 4.5 sacks and even recorded a safety this past season.
Dallas' defense line already suffered major losses in free agency this spring, seeing valued contributors in pass-rushers Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler both depart. Should Williams be sidelined, the Cowboys would suddenly need an impact addition to shore up this unit.
