Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Strong first season with Dallas
Rotowire
Kendricks finished the 2024 regular season with 138 tackles (71 solo), including 3.0 sacks, three pass defenses (including two interceptions), three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery across 15 games.
After being released by the Chargers on March 5, Kendricks opted to sign a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys on March 13. His 138 combined tackles were his most since 2021 with the Vikings (143), and he led the Cowboys in that category while finishing tied with Ernest Jones for 13th most in the NFL. Kendricks played every single defensive snap in 10 of 15 games and tallied double-digit tackles in six contests. The 2015 second-round pick will enter the 2025 offseason as a free agent and should get interest from teams looking for veteran help in its linebacker corps. Dallas could be interested in a reunion with Kendricks, as second-year linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is expected to miss most of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee that he suffered in Week 14 against the Bengals.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Tallies nine tackles vs. Philly
Rotowire
Kendricks registered nine tackles (five solo) during Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Eagles.
Kendricks returned from a one-game absence due to a calf injury and co-led the Cowboys in tackling with Malik Hooker during Sunday's blowout loss. Kendricks has logged at least eight combined tackles in 13 of 14 regular-season games, and on the year he's up to 133 tackles (68 solo), including 3.0 sacks, three pass defenses (including two interceptions), three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The 2015 second-round pick will look to surpass his career-best tackling output from 2021 with the Vikings (143 combined tackles across 15 regular-season games) in Week 18 against the Commanders.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Could return in Week 17
Rotowire
Kendricks (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Kendricks opened the Cowboys' week of practice with a DNP after missing the Week 16 win over the Buccaneers due to a calf injury. However, the veteran linebacker upgraded to limited practice sessions Thursday and Friday, suggesting he could return for Sunday's divisional matchup. Kendricks would be a significant addition to an already hot Cowboys defense, having recorded 124 total tackles in 13 appearances this season. If the 32-year-old is able to suit up in Week 17, he's likely to serve as Dallas' top inside linebacker.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Gets in limited session Thursday
Rotowire
Kendricks (calf) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
The middle linebacker was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report after missing Dallas' 26-24 win over Tampa Bay last Sunday night with the same injury. Kendricks, who signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in the offseason and went on to record his ninth straight 100-plus-tackle campaign, appears to be trending toward returning, though Dallas is eliminated from playoff contention. If he can't go Sunday against the Eagles, Buddy Johnson is next in line to start.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Not playing Sunday night
Rotowire
Kendricks (calf) is inactive for Sunday night's matchup with the Buccaneers, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
The middle linebacker got in a limited practice Friday after missing the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Kendricks has 124 tackles (63 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2024. Damone Clark or Buddy Johnson should see more snaps in his absence.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Questionable for Week 16
Rotowire
Kendricks (calf) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bucs, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Kendricks was able to log a limited practice Friday after back-to-back DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday. The veteran linebacker previously dealt with a shoulder injury, so the calf is a new issue. Kendricks has started all 13 games he's appeared in this season, logging 124 tackles (63 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Damone Clark or Buddy Johnson would likely be next up for linebacker snaps if Kendricks can't play Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Nabs pick in win
Rotowire
Kendricks recorded five tackles (two solo) and an interception during Sunday's 30-14 win at Carolina.
Kendricks picked off a third-down pass intended for Adam Thielen in the second quarter, setting up a Cowboys field goal to go up 10-0. He also played all 50 of Dallas' defensive snaps Sunday, a big part of the reason he profiles as a plus IDP option for Week 16 versus the Buccaneers.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Active Sunday
Rotowire
Kendricks (personal/shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Kendricks missed all three of Dallas' practice sessions this week due to personal and shoulder issues. The middle linebacker has played on at least 88 percent of the team's defensive snaps in every game he's suited up for since Week 1. Kendricks has 119 tackles (61 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, including an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Leading tackler in loss
Rotowire
Kendricks logged 12 tackles (eight solo) during the Cowboys' loss to the Bengals on Monday.
Kendricks led the team in stops and has now recorded double-digit tackles three weeks in a row. The 2015 first-round pick has been productive in his first season in Dallas, racking up 119 tackles (61 solo), with 3.0 sacks, and an interception in 12 games played.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Suiting up in Week 13
Rotowire
Kendricks (groin/shoulder) is listed as active Thursday versus the Giants.
Kendrick missed both walkthroughs and Wednesday's practice this week due to groin and shoulder injuries, but neither of them will stop him from being available for the 11th time in 12 games this season. Overall, he has four double-digit tackle tallies en route to 97 stops, including 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception on the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Questionable vs. Giants
Rotowire
Kendricks (groin/shoulder) missed Wednesday's practice and is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Giants, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The Cowboys may have taken the cautious route in keeping Kendricks out of two walkthroughs and Wednesday's session given that Dallas is operating on a short week. Despite the DNPs, Kendricks still has a chance to play Thursday, though whether he'll suit up may not be known until the Cowboys' inactive list is announced approximately 90 minutes before the 4:30 p.m. kickoff. If Kendricks ends up being sidelined, Marist Liufau would be the top candidate to start at linebacker alongside DeMarvion Overshown.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Dealing with groin issue
Rotowire
Kendricks (groin/shoulder) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimation, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kendricks played through a shoulder issue in the Cowboys' Week 12 win over the Commanders, recording 10 total tackles across 61 defensive snaps. However, it now appears he also picked up a groin injury in the process. The veteran linebacker likely needs to practice in a limited capacity Tuesday or Wednesday in order to play in Thursday's Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Logs full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday's injury report, Joe Hoyt of AllDLLS.com reports.
A shoulder injury limited Kendrick's practice participation Wednesday, but he had no such issues during Thursday's session and should be good to go against the Commanders on Sunday. Kendricks has played 100 percent of the Cowboys' defensive snaps in three of Dallas' four regular-season games since the Week 7 bye, and over that span he has accumulated 35 tackles (18 solo) and one forced fumble.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Nursing shoulder injury
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) was listed as a limited practice participant for Wednesday's walkthrough, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Kendricks led the Cowboys with nine tackles in Monday's loss to the Texans, but it appears the 2015 second-round pick injured his shoulder in the process. His practice participation over the next two days will provide a sense of his availability for Sunday's NFC East clash against the Commanders.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Dallas' leading tackler in loss
Rotowire
Kendricks recorded nine tackles (five solo) during Monday's 34-10 loss versus the Texans.
Kendricks now has at least eight tackles in all nine of his appearances so far this year, putting him safely on pace for his ninth consecutive season with at least 100 tackles. He projects as a strong IDP play in most formats for the Cowboys' game in Week 12 at Washington.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Upgrades to limited Thursday
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice, Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official team website reports.
Kendricks was listed as DNP on Wednesday, so he's tracking to play Sunday against the Eagles. He's been playing through the injury of late and recorded a team-best nine tackles (five solo) in last Sunday's loss to the Falcons.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Doesn't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday, Joe Hoyt of AllDLLS.com reports.
Kendricks did not play in Week 6 against the Lions due to a shoulder injury, but he has played in the Cowboys' last two games since their Week 7 bye. It's unclear if this shoulder injury is the same as the previous one, but it was serious enough for him to miss Wednesday's practice. Kendricks will have two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's NFC East clash against the Eagles.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Leading tackler in loss
Rotowire
Kendricks recorded a team-high nine tackles (five solo) in Sunday's loss to the Falcons.
After missing one game due to a shoulder injury and then using the Cowboys' Week 7 bye to heal up, Kendricks has delivered back-to-back nine-tackle performances, and he has 70 stops through seven contests on the season. He hasn't produced a sack or interception since the season opener, however. The veteran linebacker figures to be busy again in Week 10 against Saquon Barkley and the Eagles.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Likely to play Sunday
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though he was a limited participant in practice throughout the week while managing the shoulder issue, Kendricks' snap count shouldn't be dramatically affected Sunday, assuming he does in fact gain clearance to play. The Cowboys' leading tackler this season with 61 through six appearances, Kendricks has also recorded an interception and a forced fumble and chipped in 2.0 sacks in Dallas' Week 1 win over Cleveland.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Eric Kendricks: Questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
Kendricks (shoulder) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Falcons.
Kendricks played through his shoulder injury in the Cowboys' Week 8 loss to the Steelers, recording nine total tackles on 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He's expected to play through injury again in Week 9; however, if his condition worsened throughout the week, Buddy Johnson could step in and serve as the Cowboys' top middle linebacker.
