The Cowboys placed Williams (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Williams tore the ACL in his left knee July 28, and the 2022 second-round pick will shift his focus to recovering from his surgical procedure. With Williams out for the 2023 season, the Cowboys signed Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney to compete with Tyrus Wheat, Marshawn Kneeland, Durrell Johnson and Viliami Fehoko for backup spots at defensive end behind starters Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Dealing with typical ACL injury
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Williams (knee) sustained a straightforward ACL tear Sunday, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
Williams is "very disappointed" after suffering the injury, having high hopes for the 2024 campaign. The defensive lineman will undergo surgery performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, and NFL players typically recover from the procedure within nine to 12 months. Williams will now focus on being ready for training camp next summer.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Suffers season-ending injury
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Williams (knee) suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Sunday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Williams has his 2024 campaign end before it even began, as he suffered the season-ending injury prior to his third year in the NFL. The 25-year-old was set to step into a primary role on the Cowboys' defensive line, but he'll now be forced to shift his focus to recovering from the ACL injury in anticipation of training camp next season. With Williams done for the year, rookie Marshawn Kneeland may be thrust into a substantial role in his place.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Feared to have torn ACL
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Williams, who was carted off the field during practice Sunday, is feared to have torn his ACL and will have an MRI to confirm, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
It's a brutal blow for Williams, who was expected to see an increased role at edge rusher behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons after Dorance Armstrong signed with the Commanders in free agency. If the MRI confirms a torn ACL, Williams will shift his focus on recovery and returning healthy for the beginning of the 2025 season. The 2024 second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland figures to be the next man up to take over Williams' backup role at edge rusher, while Tyrus Wheat and Viliami Fehoko will compete for a depth spot at that position.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Carted off field Sunday
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Williams was carted off the field after injuring his left knee during practice Sunday, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports.
Williams went down in a lot of pain after coming off a block during a drill, and after staying on the ground for several minutes, he was eventually helped onto a cart by teammates and medical staff. It looks to be a brutal blow for Williams, who showed improvement in his second year in the NFL, as he finished 2023 with 26 tackles (15 solo), including 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble while playing all 17 regular-season games. The 2022 second-round pick out of Ole Miss was set to provide crucial depth at edge rusher behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons after Dorance Armstrong signed with the Commanders in free agency.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Teases upside in 2023
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Williams recorded 26 tackles (15 solo) including 4.5 sacks while adding a forced fumble over 17 regular-season games in 2023.
A second-round pick in 2022, Williams split his time between the pass rush and punt-blocking duties, seeing 287 snaps on defense and 295 on special teams, and he made an impact in each area. The Ole Miss product hasn't had a chance to really shine as an edge rusher yet in the NFL, but his time could be coming in 2024. Dorance Armstrong, who piled up 16.0 sacks over the last two seasons, will likely depart in free agency, leaving a vacancy as the primary pass-rushing complement to Micah Parsons.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Tallies sack in loss to Eagles
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Williams recorded three tackles (two solo), one sack and one forced fumble during Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Eagles.
Williams played just 19 percent of defensive snaps during Sunday's narrow divisional loss, his second-lowest snap share of the season, but he nonetheless made an impact with a sack of Jalen Hurts in the first quarter. Though Hurts managed to recover his own fumble, Williams was able to showcase a spark and could begin pushing for an increased rotational role. The 2022 second-round pick's next chance to make an impact will come Week 10 versus the Giants.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Full participant in practice
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Williams (foot) was a full participant in practice Friday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Williams appears to be trending in the right direction to play Sunday night after missing practice Wednesday due to turf toe. The 2022 second-round pick will still carry a questionable designation for now despite practicing fully, and if he's not good to go Viliami Fehoko will likely see increased playing time.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Progressing in recovery
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Williams (foot) was a limited participant at practice Thursday ahead of Sunday's game at the Giants, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
It's a step in the right direction for Williams after he missed practice entirely Wednesday. It's still unclear whether he'll be healthy enough to play in Week 1, however, and if he misses time, it could mean an increase in edge reps for fourth-round rookie Viliami Fehoko.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Participates at practice
Rotowire
Williams (shoulder) appears to be back to full health after fully participating at the Cowboys' Monday practice.
Williams missed the last few practices due to a shoulder strain. His return saw him create pressure on a few occasions during combo drills and full team work. The 24-year-old is again expected to provide depth at defensive end for Dallas in the upcoming season.
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Cowboys' Sam Williams: Ruled out after car accident
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Williams won't be available for Saturday's game against the Eagles due to a concussion and a strained neck, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Williams suffered the pair of injuries when he was involved in a vehicle collision Thursday. Considering the fact that the Cowboys play the Titans on Thursday night in Week 17, Williams looks like he could be in line to miss two games due to the injuries. In Williams' absence, Dante Fowler and Takkarist McKinley could see added opportunities in the Cowboys' defensive-end rotation.
