Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Useful cog in Dallas defense
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Kearse recorded 72 tackles (48 solo) including 1.5 sacks while adding one interception on four passes defended over 16 regular-season games in 2023.
The 29-year-old has become a dependable option on the back end in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme, with the three highest tackle totals of his career coming during his three seasons with Dallas. Kearse hasn't seen enough snaps the last couple campaigns to be a true IDP asset, though, and the potential departure of Quinn could leave his role in limbo heading into 2024.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Double-digit tackles in win
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Kearse recorded 10 tackles (seven solo) and added a pass defended in a Week 17 win over the Lions.
It's the first time this season the veteran safety has produced double-digit tackles, and Kearse had only nine total over his prior three games. After seeing a career-high 953 defensive snaps and turning them into 101 tackles during his first season in Dan Quinn's defense in 2021, Kearse has seen his role scaled back the last two campaigns, but he's still delivered 69 tackles with 1.5 sacks, plus one interception on four passes defended, over 15 games for the Cowboys in 2023.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Gets first sack
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Kearse recorded four solo tackles and one sack in the 42-10 loss to the 49ers in Week 5.
Kearse's sack marked his first of the season. He is also now up to 21 tackles (15 solo) through five games. After playing every snap in the previous two games, he saw the field on 55 defensive plays (77 percent). The safety will now look ahead to Monday's matchup with the Chargers.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Snags interception in win
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Kearse recorded two solo tackles, an interception and a pass deflection in Sunday's 30-10 win over the Jets.
Kearse was able to snatch his first interception of the season in Week 2, picking off Zach Wilson early in the fourth quarter, matching his interception total from 2022. Through two contests, the safety has registered nine tackles, a pass deflection and an interception.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Takes step back in 2022
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Kearse recorded 77 tackles (55 solo), including two sacks, while adding five passes defended with an interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games in 2022.
The veteran safety posted strong numbers, but they paled in comparison to his 101-tackle campaign from the year before. Instead, it was Donovan Wilson who took a lead role in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme among Cowboys safeties, with Kearse and Malik Hooker delivering more modest IDP production. Wilson is a free agent this offseason, however, and if he heads elsewhere, Kearse again could be in a position to take a run at triple-digit tackles in 2023.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Officially questionable
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Kearse (knee) is questionable for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Kearse sprained his MCL during the Cowboys' wild-card win over Tampa Bay and was limited at practice Wednesday through Friday. He doesn't sound concerned about his availability for Sunday's playoff matchup, but it appears the team will wait until game day to make an official decision.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Limited at Wednesday's walkthrough
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Kearse (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's walkthrough, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse was diagnosed with an MCL sprain following Dallas' wild-card win over Tampa Bay on Monday Night. A similar issue caused him to miss three games during the regular season, but it appears the veteran safety isn't concerned about missing Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers. Kearse was limited during the Cowboy's walk-through practice to start prep, but he'll have two more chances to log a full session before the team needs to make a decision on his status.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Diagnosed with MCL sprain
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Kearse was diagnosed with an MCL sprain following Monday's wild-card win over Tampa Bay, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse said after the win that he would be fine, but he suffered a similar injury in Week 1 and was sidelined for three games. However, the playoffs are in full swing now, so the veteran safety may be able to clear the issue faster than he did at the beginning of the season. Kearse's participation at practice this week should provide further clarity on his status for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Officially cleared
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Kearse doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against Jacksonville, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Kearse was limited Wednesday and Thursday due to shoulder and back injuries, but he logged a full practice Friday and is cleared for Sunday. Across 10 appearances, the seventh-year safety has totaled 57 tackles, three pass defenses, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Looks poised to play Sunday
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Kearse, who appeared to suffer a left leg injury in pregame warmups, was announced as a starter in the Dallas secondary ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
After requiring assistance to the locker room less than an hour earlier, Kearse was back on the sideline ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff in full uniform and was seen walking under his own power. Per Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Kearse is okay and appears set to play Sunday, though Dallas will have Israel Mukuamu ready to go at safety if Kearse is unable to finish the contest.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Suiting up in Week 13
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Kearse (shoulder) is active for Sunday's contest versus the Colts.
A shoulder injury didn't allow Kearse to log a full session during Week 13 prep, with all three practice reports listing him as a limited participant. Still, the issue won't stop him from suiting up Sunday, when he'll be aiming to add to his 47 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery in eight previous appearances on the campaign.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Out Week 2
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Kearse (knee) will be sidelined for the Cowboys' Week 2 matchup with the Bengals, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse is still recovering from an MCL sprain in his left knee that occurred in the team's Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. He was originally given a 2-to-4 week recovery timetable, so it's no surprise he has been ruled out this week. Israel Mukuamu is the prime candidate to replace him at strong safety.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Ruled out for Week 2
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Kearse (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Bengals, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
As expected, Kearse will be sidelined for at least one game after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain. In his absence, expect Israel Mukuamu or Malik Hooker to step into a starting role next to Donovan Wilson.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Doesn't practice Friday
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Kearse (neck) is questionable for Sunday's season opener against the Buccaneers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kearse didn't practice Friday due to a neck injury, putting his status for Sunday in question. The severity of the issue is unclear, but if he can't suit up, Israel Mukuamu, Donovan Wilson and Markquese Bell are candidates for increased roles next to Malik Hooker.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Activated by Dallas
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The Cowboys activated Kearse (hamstring/undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Kearse was ruled out for Saturday's Week 18 win over the Eagles due to a hamstring injury before landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. While he'll now be able to rejoin the team, it's unclear whether his hamstring injury will impact his availability for Sunday's wild-card matchup against San Francisco.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Another productive outing
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Kearse notched six tackles (five solo) during Sunday's win over the Panthers.
Kearse hasn't reached double-digit stops since Week 1, but he has combined for a total of 17 tackles in the Cowboys' last three games. As long as Donovan Wilson (groin) remains sidelined, Kearse will be in the mix as a potential IDP starter.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Pops for 11 tackles in Week 1
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Kearse recorded 11 tackles (five solo) in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.
Donovan Wilson was expected to be the impact IDP option among the Cowboys' safeties, but instead it was Kearse who stepped up in his Dallas debut and tied for the team lead in tackles. The 27-year-old set a career high with 59 tackles in only 11 games for Detroit last year, so this performance may not as surprising as it seems, but it also came against a Tampa Bay offense that threw the ball 50 times. Kearse may not face another team again this season that gives him as many opportunities to make stops.
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Jayron Kearse: Joins Ravens' practice squad
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The Ravens signed Kearse (hip) to the practice squad Thursday, Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Kearse was a starter with the Lions through 11 appearances this season, making him a tentative candidate to bump to Baltimore's active roster in the event of postseason action. The hip injury he dealt with toward the end of his tenure in Detroit isn't expected to be serious.
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Vikings' Jayron Kearse: Still nursing injury
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Kearse (knee/toe) was listed as a non-participant for Tuesday's walkthrough practice.
Kearse has been nursing the toe injury since Week 15 of the regular season, but luckily for him, Tuesday's practice report was only an estimation. The 25-year-old played through the injury the past three weeks, so expect his practice availability throughout the week shed light on his chances to play Saturday. If Kearse sits out, however, the team would be down to just three healthy safeties.
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Vikings' Jayron Kearse: Ready for Week 17
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Kearse (toe) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Kearse was considered questionable despite working as a full practice participant all week, so it's not a real surprise he's okay to suit up Sunday. The 25-year-old could see increased defensive reps versus Chicago since Minnesota is locked into its playoff position and is expected to rest some key players.
