Cowboys taking cautious approach with Dez Bryant

Ameer Abdullah (injured reserve) and Rashad Jennings (thumb) did not play at all, while Adrian Peterson left early with what turned out to be a torn meniscus. That disappointed me. But I’m going to reiterate what I said yesterday: in 2014, you could not have found a bigger Dez Bryant fan than this guy sitting in this chair. “It will be a good challenge”.

Zeke on if expectations are as high w/ Cowboys as Ohio State: “Way higher”.

The only other running back on the team is Don Jackson, an undrafted rookie who’s on the practice squad. “I don’t think we did that the first game or the last game”. He leads the league in rushing yards and he has been a force to be reckoned with. Fourteen quarterbacks have thrown for more yards than Prescott, and he’s tied for 21st in passes of at least 20 yards. There are 25 carries between Elliott and the 10th-busiest tailback. There is no sense in rushing anyone back and risking further injury. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan protects him with a strong running game and some read option, but when it comes time to pass Prescott still has to make the decisions and throws. In the receiving end, Randall Cobb posted 108 yards in nine receptions while Davante Adams added 85 yards and a touchdown in five catches.

“The (Cowboys’) run game obviously helps, the line obviously helps”, said a high-ranking personnel executive for an NFC team.

The most traditional linebackers on the Packers roster are 2015 fourth-round pick Jake Ryan and 2015 undrafted free agent Joe Thomas. He can catch the ball well. It was a spectacular play because Jones was all by himself and had to play the ball right not to get a pass interference call.

But not for his quarterback. Prescott has attempted 155 passes without interception, second only behind New England’s Tom Brady (162) for QB starting National Football League career, and most by rookie. The Cowboys offensive line is really the challenge here. The Cowboys are coming off a game in which they absolutely manhandled their opponent up front.

“The amount of rushing yards they’ve given up in four games is incredible”, said Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, praising the defense as a whole and, in particular, the defensive line. “They run well, they tackle well”.

“It’s usually one or two or three plays that can define your overall performance – or the perception of the performance”, McCarthy said on Wednesday. “We’ve got to contain him, keep him in the pocket and make sure we hit him”.