2013-2014 GAMEDAY PRIMER: Cowboys vs. Lions | Reggie Bush misses practice with leg injury
The Detroit Lions aren’t the same team without running back Reggie Bush on the field. We learned that in Week 3, when Detroit’s ground game withered up in a tight win over the Washington Redskins as Bush watched from the sideline with a left knee injury.
On Friday, an injury to Bush’s right leg kept him out of practice ahead of Sunday’s tilt with the Dallas Cowboys, the team announced.
The Detroit News described it as an upper leg tweak, and Bush was seen with the leg wrapped after not being listed on Thursday’s injury report. Also missing the session were offensive tackle Corey Hilliard (knee), safety Louis Delmas (knees) and wide receiver Nate Burleson (arm), but Bush’s absence comes out of nowhere.
We don’t expect him to miss Sunday’s game — not until we hear something more dire — but if he can’t handle a full workload, Joique Bell will be in for a busy day. Bell has shown well in limited snaps, but no one can replace Bush’s playmaking ability in Detroit. We’ll keep an eye on this one.
Editors update: The story above, as reported by the drama queens at NFL.com, implies that Reggie Bush might miss the matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Here’s an update from the Detroit Free Press …
Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush sat out practice today with a right leg injury, but Bush said his absence was “precautionary” and he’ll be fine for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“Feel good,” Bush said. “Just taking a day off, getting ready for the game on Sunday.”
Lions coach Jim Schwartz has said several times this year that it’s important for players to practice midweek and that some guys will get maintenance days on Fridays.
Safety Louis Delmas (knee), tackle Corey Hilliard (knee) and receiver Nate Burleson (arm) also missed practice for the Lions today. Hilliard and Burleson are out, while Delmas will play against the Cowboys.
Detroit Lions injury report (10-24-2013)
| Name | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| Louis Delmas | S | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Theo Riddick | RB | — | Full Participation in Practice | — |
| Brandon Pettigrew | TE | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Corey Hilliard | T | — | Did Not Participate In Practice | — |
| Rashean Mathis | CB | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Andre Fluellen | DT | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Nate Burleson | WR | — | Out (Definitely Will Not Play) | — |
| Jason Fox | T | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Ashlee Palmer | LB | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Calvin Johnson | WR | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Riley Reiff | T | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
Dallas Cowboys injury report (10-24-2013)
| Name | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Game Status |
| Lance Dunbar | RB | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| DeMarco Murray | RB | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| DeMarcus Ware | DE | — | Did Not Participate In Practice | — |
| Miles Austin | WR | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Nick Hayden | DT | — | Did Not Participate In Practice | — |
| Ronald Leary | G | — | Full Participation in Practice | — |
| DeVonte Holloman | LB | — | Did Not Participate In Practice | — |
| George Selvie | DE | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Dez Bryant | WR | — | Full Participation in Practice | — |
| Morris Claiborne | CB | — | Did Not Participate In Practice | — |
| J.J. Wilcox | S | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Jason Hatcher | DT | — | Limited Participation in Practice | — |
| Dwayne Harris | WR | — | Full Participation in Practice | — |
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE: Dallas Cowboys acquire DE Caesar Rayford from Colts
The Dallas Cowboys have filled their roster with the 53rd player on Tuesday, acquiring rookie linebacker/defensive end Caesar Rayford from the Colts.
The Cowboys have sent a late round (undisclosed) draft pick to Indy in exchange for the undrafted rookie, who started out with the Redskins before joining the Colts in May. Rayford made their roster, only to be sent to the Cowboys three days later.
Rayford had five sacks for the Colts, not only leading the team, but all NFL players in the preseason.
He’s considered a rangy player with long arms. Rayford ran a 4.56 in the 40 coming out of college at the Univ. of Washington. He’s also shown the ability to block kicks.
Rayford went undrafted out of Washington in 2008 and spent the last four years in the Arena Football League, where he had 28.5 sacks with the Utah Blaze. The 6-foot-7, 245-pound defensive end signed with the Colts in May and had a team-high five sacks, four tackle for loss and five quarterback hits in preseason. He also had two forced fumbles.
Rayford also played for the British Columbia Lions of the CFL and Spokane Shock of the Arena League.
Rayford came out of nowhere this summer, piling up a league-leading five sacks in the preseason. The undrafted defender — who projects as a 4-3 end in Dallas — earned high praise from Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who called Rayford a “football junkie.”
Rayford, 27, fills out the roster after the Cowboys had an empty spot after trading veteran tight end Dante Rosario. This is the fourth trade the Cowboys have made since Saturday. They’ve acquired Edgar Jones from the Chiefs, traded Sean Lissemore to the Chargers and Rosario to Chicago.
The trade might suggest the Cowboys are not that confident in Anthony Spencer’s return from a knee injury. Spencer has yet to practice since the first few days of training camp, before he underwent a scope on his knee.
Currently, the Cowboys are prepared to play George Selvie and Kyle Wilber at the end positions if Spencer doesn’t play.
OFFICIAL NFL WEBSITE: NFC East Preview – Dallas Cowboys the favorites?
Dallas Cowboys the most popular pick in wide-open division
Around the League predicts NFC East
| Chris Wesseling | Marc Sessler | Dan Hanzus | Gregg Rosenthal |
| Cowboys (10-6) | Cowboys (9-7) | Redskins (10-6) | Eagles (10-6) |
| Redskins (10-6) | Redskins (9-7) | Giants (9-7) | Giants (9-7) |
| Giants (9-7) | Eagles (8-8) | Cowboys (8-8) | Redskins (8-8) |
| Eagles (7-9) | Giants (6-10) | Eagles (5-11) | Cowboys (6-10) |
The NFC East is the “SEC of the NFL,” but it is the most wide-open division in football. Two Around the League writers picked the Cowboys to win the division, and our podcast special guest Henry Hodgson also took Dallas for the top spot.
I (Gregg Rosenthal) have the Cowboys in dead last at 6-10 because the changes on their defense make no sense. Monte Kiffin hasn’t had a lot of success in college or the NFL for a long time, and some of Dallas’ aging talent might not fight in a 4-3 scheme. Kiffin may need time to implement his changes, but this is a win-now year for coach Jason Garrett. Chris Wesseling believes the Cowboys have the best offense and defense in the division.
Big disagreements on Eagles
I (Gregg Rosenthal) have Philadelphia winning the division. Everyone else has them in last place. The case for the Eagles: Coach Chip Kelly and plenty of latent offensive talent. Philadelphia’s offensive line should be a weapon; there isn’t a more imposing tackle duo than Jason Peters and Lane Johnson. Kelly’s offensive concepts will be difficult for defenses to handle in year one, and he has two quarterbacks that can run his system.
All the last-place votes for Philadelphia were primarily because of the defense. The secondary is a collection of castoffs and disappointments. It’s not clear where their pass rush is going to come from.
Will Robert Griffin III take a step back?
Only one of us — Dan Hanzus — took the Redskins to repeat as division champions. There is great reason to doubt their defense, especially the secondary. (This is a trend throughout the division.) But we also wondered if RGIII is going to take a step back.
It’s not just about Griffin’s mobility or lack of practice time heading into his second season. It’s his accuracy. Tom Brady wasn’t the same right away after his ACL surgery. He wasn’t as comfortable in the pocket or as accurate. It took Brady half a season to look like himself. This Redskins team just isn’t that deep unless Griffin is all the way back sooner than later, and that’s a lot to ask.
Little love for Big Blue
No one took the Giants to win the division, although three of us had them at 9-7. (Just like the last two years, including their last Super Bowl title.) It’s hard to imagine the Giants’ defense playing worse this year, but it’s also hard to imagine it being a difference maker again.
Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger and Keith Rivers are a shaky starting linebacker trio. The secondary had big questions even before injuries were suffered on Saturday night. The offensive line is similarly banged up with trouble spots. Eli Manning has elevated his play overall the last two years, but he’s not the type of quarterback that consistently puts a team on his back month-after-month.
Listen to our entire NFC East podcast preview right here. (Note: 40 minute show, half of it dedicated to NON-NFC East related teams)
Gregg Rosenthal | NFL Around The League Editor
The Boys Are Back blog editors comment: Gregg Rosenthal is a dipshit. This staff is largely clueless and out-of-touch with the inner workings, philosophy, and capabilities of the 2013-2014 Dallas Cowboys organization. If this article (or Gregg Rosenthal, in general) pisses you off … check out their idiotic NFC East podcast preview for even more insight into their bias. The official NFL website is the absolute LAST place a true fan should go for reliable information, or objectivity, regarding the Dallas Cowboys. Every (Dallas Cowboy) article has a negative cheap shot or slam in one regard or another. Ridiculous.
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