The Dallas Cowboys may no longer have the services of Micah Parsons, but his replacement isn’t worried.
Sam Williams, who Dallas expects to replace Parsons as the primary game-wrecking EDGE, detailed why he thinks the Cowboys are going to still be great even after they traded Parsons last week.
Of course, the Cowboys shocked the sports world by dealing Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for Kenny Clark and two first-round picks Thursday.
In the trade’s aftermath, the football world — including members of the Cowboys alumni — have been piling on football czar Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, who have not won the Super Bowl or even been to the NFC Championship Game since 1995.
What Did Sam Williams Say About Replacing Micah Parsons?
Football players are a famously confident, so Williams’ words aren’t surprising. But given Dallas defense’s struggles in 2024 — and the fact Jones just traded arguably its most disruptive player — Williams’ belief in himself, his teammates and his coaches may inspire cynicism.
“Every day they bring the energy,” Williams said of the defensive coaches, led by defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. “The positions they put us in, I feel like we’re just going to be great. It’s like a blind trust. We can’t see the results until we play.
“I just want us to be ourselves because only we can beat ourselves.”
This is a crucial year for Williams, since the fourth-year EDGE from Ole Miss is on the final year of his rookie contract. He has 8.5 sacks in 32 career games — he’s never made an NFL start — but is coming off a lost 2024 season where he did not play due to a torn ACL and MCL sustained during training camp last July.
But with Parsons gone to Green Bay, Williams is in line to start his first game on national TV against the reigning world-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Between that, and the nearly two-year layoff between regular-season game reps, Williams is chomping at the bit.
“I’m very hungry, but at the same time I’m patient,” Williams said. “I don’t want to get too excited, because that’s where Sam starts making penalties and stuff.
“I just want to be great. I just want to go out there and showcase all the hard work I’ve put in.”
What Did Sam Williams Say About Kenny Clark?
Lost amid all the drama between Parsons and Jones is the fact the Cowboys got a pretty-good roster player from the Packers.
Clark, who will turn 30 on Oct. 4, is a three-time Pro Bowler who has started every game over the past four years.
Though he’s older and less agile than Parsons, Clark could help the Cowboys improve in both run and pass situations. Clark was 85th among 219 qualifying defensive tackles in 2024 according to PFF’s grading (59.3) and was in the top-half in both pass-rush (63.1, 72nd) and run defense (57.1, 83rd) grades.
So Williams is a believer in his new teammate.
“He’s a superstar player,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, we just got to match each other and work as a unit.”
Dan Campbell is satisfied with the Lions’ current pass-rushing depth – subtly signaling a pass on Za’Darius Smith’s return
The Detroit Lions are going to need every edge they can find in what looks to be a competitive NFC North division chase.
However, according to head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions are settled at one of the position groups that every fan has pined for one additional piece — edge rusher.
When asked about why Detroit has not pursued a reunion with Pro Bowl edge rusher Za’Darius Smith on Wednesday, September 3, Campbell summed up his response in two words on Detroit’s 97.1 The Ticket.
“We’re good,” Campbell said, adding that he’s content with the Lions pass rush as it stands. “I mean, we’re pretty good here. We got (Marcus) Davenport, we got good depth, I like what we got on the interior, too, we got a lot of flexibility and we’re sitting pretty good right now. So we’re ready to go, man.”
Acquired at the trade deadline from the Cleveland Browns last season, Smith tallied four sacks and 36 quarterback pressures, ranking third in pressures in the final eight games of the regular season.
Smith did so without the benefits of lining up opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.
The three-time Pro Bowler has expressed a desire to return. However, Detroit appears content rolling with Davenport, who has played just six games the past two seasons.
Dan Campbell Addresses Lions Starting Marcus Davenport
Ahead of the Lions’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers, Campbell raved about Davenport’s performance in training camp.
“Him opposite of Hutch, it’s pretty good right now. I think he just continues on the trajectory he’s at right now, and just take it one day at a time. I’m glad we got him.
“He’s done exactly what we’ve asked him to do,” Campbell added. “He’s got some versatility with his ability to play really in all the packages that we have. There’s nothing more that he needs to show me. I know he can do it all.”
The dilemma with Davenport, a former first-round pick, has been his injury history. He fell out of favor with the New Orleans Saints, and his durability has become front and center since then.
“He’s doing everything he can to take care of his body, and he went through a rigorous offseason to try to help all of that, which is a credit to him to put the work out. He’s in a good place right now,” Campbell added.
Za’Darius Smith Pitches Reunion With Lions
Inheriting Smith’s contract from the Browns, the Lions opted to release him and save $5.7 million in cap space. It was a cost-saving move that Detroit was unwavering over to help build out the rest of the roster.
But as edge rusher remained a major concern throughout the offseason, Smith spoke openly about his desire to return to Detroit.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith said Monday at the BET Awards, per USA TODAY. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”