Cowboys news: Injury updates, game previews and final score predictions for the Cowboys season finale

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Dallas vs. Washington final injury report: Dak Prescott will play, Tyron Smith, Byron Jones questionable - Dave Halprin, Blogging The Boys

We got you covered for all the latest and greatest on the injury front...

Tyron Smith is questionable as he is dealing with a back injury that has plagued him off and on. Cornerback Byron Jones is also questionable as is defensive tackle Antwaun Woods. Those are three pretty important starters for Dallas that could either sit out or be limited in their abilities if they do play. Jones’ injury just happened this week.

Updates: Cornerback Signed From Practice Squad - Staff, Dallas Cowboys

With Jones’ status in question, the team made a move by promoting a training camp pet cat to the active roster.

One day before the regular season finale against Washington, the team released veteran safety Josh Jones and signed cornerback Donovan Olumba from the practice squad.

Olumba’s name should sound familiar. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and has hung around the practice squad ever since. As a second-year player, he made a legitimate push to make the 53-man roster this past summer, though he was eventually released at the end of training camp.

This will be Olumba’s first stint on the active roster, and he stands a chance to earn some playing time. Jones injured his ankle on Wednesday, and he is listed as questionable for Sunday.

David Helman provides the latest practice report/injury update:

Final injury report is out.

Dak Prescott will play Sunday, but it’s fair to wonder if Tyron Smith & Byron Jones will be available for the season finale. pic.twitter.com/uruRSphr0N

— David Helman (@HelmanDC) December 27, 2019

Effort, fan reaction, parting moments: 10 things to watch for in Cowboys’ season finale - Jon Machota, The Athletic

The Athletic’s Jon Machota offers up his ten things to watch for in the season finale, including how the Cowboys owner will react should the season finally end.

4.) How will Jerry Jones handle his usual postgame interview if the Cowboys are officially eliminated from the playoffs?

Since Jason Garrett’s contract is technically up at the end of the season, Jones won’t be firing the team’s head coach. It will likely be worded as the Cowboys aren’t renewing his contract and they are parting ways. But how will Jones handle questions about the future at the head coaching position? Will he say they are moving in another direction or allow Garrett to have an end-of-season news conference? Will Jones answer questions about what he’s looking for in his next head coach or will he decline out of respect for Garrett?

2019 Redskins Game Preview: Redskins/Cowboys, Week 17 - Staff, Redskins

Over at base camp for the enemy, the Redskins writing staff providing a game preview, including some intriguing matchups in this game.

RB Ezekiel Elliott vs. Redskins’ front seven -- When Dallas’ offense is at their best, Elliott, one of the NFL’s premier running backs, is heavily featured in the power run game. That’s what happened in the first matchup between the two teams in Week 2, when the three-time Pro Bowler ran for 111 yards and a touchdown. The Redskins defense, which has allowed a 100-yard rusher in three consecutive games, will look to limit those numbers this time around.

Expert predictions for Cowboys-Redskins: One final victory would deliver poetic ending to the Jason Garrett era - Staff, Dallas Morning News

The writing staff over at DMN offer up their weekly predictions with everyone picking the Cowboys in this one.

David Moore

The Cowboys have had worse seasons than this one. More disappointing? Not recently. Sure, the Cowboys can still take the division with a win over Washington and a Philadelphia loss to the New York Giants. But at this stage, that would be viewed as a cruel extension of the franchise’s misery more than a rousing accomplishment. Please, make it stop.

Cowboys 27, Washington 20

Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys Prediction and Preview - Clint Lamb, Athlon Sports

Athlon Sports provides three things to watch and gives their final analysis/game prediction for today’s matchup.

Final Analysis

The game between the Cowboys and the Redskins is normally a good watch because the two teams don’t really like each other. But Sunday marks a chance for Washington to play spoiler for Dallas’ playoff hopes. There are a lot of people predicting this to be a closer game – with a potential chance for an upset – but the only thing standing in the Cowboys’ way is the team and head coach Jason Garrett. As long as Dallas keeps its top playmakers on the field in crucial situations on Sunday, the home team should be able to walk away with a victory against Washington to secure a .500 finish.

Prediction: Cowboys 30, Redskins 17

Redskins vs. Cowboys preview: Matchups to watch, score prediction - Jacob Camenker, Riggos Rag

Riggo’s Rag lays out their game preview and a few different matchups to watch.

Score prediction

It doesn’t seem that the Redskins are going to be able to win this game. It may be a lot closer than people expect though. While the Cowboys are desperate to win, they haven’t played well in recent weeks, save for a blowout win over the overrated Los Angeles Rams. Jason Garrett isn’t a very good head coach and while Bill Callahan doesn’t seem likely to stay on as the coach in Washington, the team has played hard for him in recent weeks. The big question for Washington in this contest comes on defense. If their secondary overperforms, they’ll have a chance to win. If not, they’ll likely lose. But if Case Keenum and the offense can play well, they’ll be able to keep it close. Overall, I’m expecting the ‘Skins will lose this game and lock up the No. 2 seed. But don’t be surprised if they’re able to give the Cowboys a run for their money.

Final Score: Cowboys 20, Redskins 16

Know Your Opponent: An Inside Look At The Dallas Cowboys - Zach Selby, Redskins

Cowboys beat writer David Helman took a moment to answer a couple questions from Redskins base camp.

Q: This offense certainly has weapons everywhere and is the best in the league. How is it possible that a team who has the No. 1 offense is 7-8?

Helman: Like I said, it’s baffling. They’ve got Pro Bowlers everywhere. At times they’ve looked like one of the best offenses in the league, and other times they’ve struggled when they’ve gone up against stout defenses like New Orleans, New England and like Philly last week. They’ve been unable to score points. They’ve been held at 10 or fewer points three times this year. It goes back to the consistency. This is a team that will score 44 points one week against the [Los Angeles] Rams, who were a playoff contender at the time, and then turn around and be unable to score a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. On the other side of the ball, the defense is as big a part of that as any. This was a unit that was top 10 in the league throughout the year last season. The stats will tell you they’re pretty good this year, but they really haven’t held up their end of the bargain. We’ve played 15 games to this point. This is a team that’s probably put together three all-around complete efforts in 15 games. And that’s not going to cut it if you want to make the playoffs.

Cowboys stars could finish 2019 ranked high on offensive leaderboards - Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire

As the regular season comes down to an end, a few statistical milestones are within reach.

Prescott is also within reach of the team’s single-season passing record. With 305 additional air yards, his 2019 would supplant Tony Romo’s 2012 as the best regular season by a Cowboys quarterback in passing yardage. Say what you will about the Cowboys’ occasional ineptitude and reversion to bad habits at times this season, but the exponential impact that Kellen Moore’s offense and Jon Kitna’s tutelage have had on Prescott is obvious.

This game was flexed to the afternoon as most of the country will have the Cowboys game on television. If you’re in the red, you’re in good shape. (TV coverage map courtesy of 506 Sports)

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