The Dallas Cowboys hold an 8-4 record, leading the NFC East, and will have a high-caliber divisional duel on Sunday. Since the Washington team comes with four consecutive victories and will seek to get closer to the numbers of Dallas since they manage an own record of 6-6. Therefore, the team will do everything possible to make the necessary moves to win the FedExField.
Among them is ensuring that in any emergency, the team has the necessary elements to overcome adversity. A clear example of this has been the problems in the rushing game, with a Zeke Elliott who has lowered his numbers from the first months, and a Tony Pollard who this week had a sore foot during practice. In Elliott’s particular case, the same star running back for the Cowboys has also had to deal with knee discomfort for several weeks.
Now, in this situation, the Cowboys have decided to sign running back Ito Smith to their practice squad. Who is already a player who knows the league very well and has been working with various organizations.
The first of these are the Atlanta Falcons. The franchise selected Smith in the fourth round of the 2018 Draft. For three years, the running back remained as a backup running back, until the last weeks of the 2020 campaign where he played some games as a starter. Either way, they ended up releasing him on April 15 of this year for three years in the NFC South organization. Leaving a team-record 35 games, 689 yards on 175 carries and six touchdowns.
Cowboys signed RB Ito Smith to the practice squad, they announced. Smith spent the past three seasons with DC Dan Quinn in Atlanta, totaling 175 carries for 689 yards and six touchdowns.
– Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 8, 2021
The player as such had not seen action since August 29 of this year. Since he first went through the Arizona Cardinals in early August, having some involvement in the preseason game against the Cowboys, achieving six yards on two carries.
By August 16 of the same month, Ito was released from the Arizona team and then signed for the Vikings. Who also released him a few days later.
Adding this runner to the practice squad is all about the emergency factor mentioned above. While Zeke Elliott told the media that they will have to drag him off the field by force, Tony Pollard himself does not yet know if he will be present for Sunday’s game. In fact, his injury came after the 58-yard touchdown he made against the Saints. The runner affirmed that his departure or not to the Washington field will be a decision in the minutes close to the meeting.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (foot) says he tore his left plantar fascia during 58-yard TD run vs. Saints. Resulted in less fourth-quarter work. “It’s really going to be a game-time decision” Sunday at Washington. pic.twitter.com/kkvF7gGRK5
– Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 9, 2021
Either way, the franchise already has a third running back on the roster, who is Corey Clement. The player signed in early September with the Cowboys and already has nine carries for 20 yards. And on the same practice squad is JaQuan Hardy, an unselected agent from this year’s Draft who left great impressions during preseason games. Getting to get 26 carries for a total of 77 yards.
We will see what happens with the situation of the runners this Sunday. But what is certain is that the organization is taking cautious measures in this regard. In any case, two more players can be raised from the practice squad. And it wouldn’t be a surprise if Smith was one of them in any emergency. After all, the Lone Star team is going to need all the help possible on offense and it’s not something that can be ruled out. Especially because of what this divisional game against Washington represents and his postseason aspirations.
