Team news: Dallas Cowboys | Page 70

On a day when the New Orleans Saints offense rolled, one player was noticeably absent in the box score Sunday during the Saints' 49-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Nine different players recorded a target from quarterback Drew Brees, and of those nine players, eight recorded a catch against the Rams.

Brandin Cooks, however, didn't record a target or a catch, and it's not like he wasn't on the field. The third-year pro recorded 45 offensive snaps, which ranked as the second-most among wide receivers behind rookie Michael Thomas' 50.

According to the story, Cooks is apparently just fine and the Saints had plays designed to get him involved. The story went on to say while the Saints could have devised a specific scheme to get Cooks the ball if the coaching staff chose to force the issue, the offense didn't need its top downfield threat against the Rams.

No running back in the NFL has more carries or yards than rookie Ezekiel Elliott.

Now, the Dallas Cowboys are starting to incorporate him more into their passing game.

That has to be troubling for defensive coordinators, because Elliott is starting to make the same big plays in the passing game that he's been making all season in the Cowboys’ running game.

And that makes the offense even better, impressive considering the Cowboys average 407.6 yards (fourth in the league) and 28.7 points (third in the league) per game.

Elliott has caught 24 passes for 303 yards, a 12.6 average. Only four of the NFL's top 10 rushers have more than 300 yards receiving, and Arizona’s David Johnson is the only one of those runners averaging more than 10 yards a catch. The Cowboys don't need Elliott as much as the Cards seem to need Johnson in the passing game, but Elliott has at least one 15-yard reception in eight of the past nine games.

Tony Romo acknowledged today that he is now the Cowboys’ second-string quarterback, and that Dak Prescott has earned the position ahead of Romo on the depth chart.

“Dak Prescott, and what he’s done, he’s earned the right to be our quarterback,” Romo said in a prepared statement. “As hard as that is for me to say, he’s earned that right. He’s guided our team to an 8-1 record, and that’s hard to do. If you think for a second I don’t want to be out there, then you probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning. That hasn’t left me. In fact, it may burn now more than ever.”

Dak Prescott owners can breathe a little easier, but the Cowboys may still turn to Romo if the rookie hits a rough patch.

Sources: When Tony Romo dresses in uniform and available to play for Cowboys has moved from medical decision to coaching decision.

Related players: Dak Prescott

It appears that the Cowboys plan to continue with Prescott as the starter as long as the team is winning and he's playing well. He's 3rd in QBR behind Tom Brady and Matt Ryan.