During a press conference on Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy touched base after the 32 roster cuts that shaped the final 53-man roster.
Mike McCarthy Delves Into Final Cowboys Moves Heading Into Regular Season
McCarthy spoke on the team’s trade that sent CB Kelvin Joseph to the Miami Dolphins for CB Noah Igbinoghene.
He said that they are thankful for what Joseph gave them.
One of the biggest things McCarthy said about the trade was that Joseph could play on the inside with the Dolphins. Although McCarthy said he wasn’t on the phone making the deal, the Dolphins showed interest in Joseph’s ability to play in the slot.
“He was a little further down the line there for us,” said McCarthy, explaining that as the final roster starts to come together, things will work themselves out at cornerback.
“Just the way we’re looking at our defensive backfield, we thought this was a move we’re interested in,” said McCarthy. “I think Kelvin went inside in the preseason, and, you know, people noticed.”
As for what McCarthy likes about Igbinoghene, he recalls his return ability and vertical speed from the 2020 NFL Draft.
“He’s more outside than inside, and that was part of the reason we had the interest,” McCarthy explained. He also added that he was impressed with Igbinoghene’s video on lining up against top receivers, and he feels that the former Dolphins CB will be a good addition to the team.
Jourdan Lewis Injury Update
It was reported that cornerback Jourdan Lewis would be removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
McCarthy said Lewis has kept pushing ahead of schedule, and it “looks like he’s going to make it.”
“I can’t give you when he is going to be on the field, but he is further ahead than we would anticipate at this time,” said McCarthy.
As for depth within the slot position, McCarthy said that Israel Mukuamu has also been getting work there. Overall, he said a big part of that is how they distribute the safeties, but he says there will be clarity on the depth chart after Wednesday.
Why the Cowboys Released TE Sean McKeon
McCarthy discussed the team’s decision to release Sean McKeon and only keep three tight ends on the roster, adding a spot for fullback Hunter Luepke.
He said he has believed in the “draft and develop” mindset since 2006, saying the goal was always to keep 69-70 of the players from the 90.
“It’s a chess match. These are conversations you don’t look forward to having. Because when you look a young man in the eye, and you know he’s done everything you asked him to do, and he definitely has earned an opportunity to be on the 53, and you don’t have enough spots based on how you think this whole thing is going to evolve,” said McCarthy.
How Hunter Luepke Made the Team
As for what McCarthy said about Luepke making the final roster, he mentioned that they had to take notice of his performance against the Las Vegas Raiders in the team’s last preseason game.
He said they were high on him and saw him improving in the last couple of weeks of training camp in the competitive periods.
McCarthy stated things were moving fast for Luepke initially, but he has done something every day at practice that kept him being noticed.
Dallas Keeping a Fourth Quarterback?
When McCarthy was asked if there was a scenario where the team kept a fourth quarterback or if that would only be for an extreme situation, he said, “I hope so. I’d be all for it.”
He said they have to look at other positions that aren’t at normal numbers. But he thinks having four quarterbacks makes sense in the NFL, although it is challenging to get that done sometimes.
“If Will Grier gets picked up on the 53, he definitely deserves it, but I’d love to have him back as a fourth quarterback,” said McCarthy.
What Led the Cowboys to Keep T.J. Bass and Waive Jabril Cox?
As for what landed T.J. Bass a spot on the roster, McCarthy said he’s a guy who kept getting better.
“His lower leg strength and his ability to stick and stay on inside people. But just kept improving. I like his mindset. He plays the right way. So definitely a young man that earned a spot,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy also talked about the team’s decision to waive Jabril Cox.
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When asked if Cox’s ACL injury had anything to do with the decision, McCarthy said he talked with Cox and praised him for overcoming the injury.
“I think major joint injuries, you look at the history, it’s usually a year before you go through everything for the first time, and you get past it. But I thought he did an outstanding job of overcoming it,” said McCarthy, who explained he felt like he was “back to being the original Jabril.”
But overall, McCarthy said it was a competitive situation, and they have a dynamic defense with good numbers.