JAYLON SMITH

Daniel Jones threw two touchdowns, Saquon Barkley ran for 152 yards and a TD and the surprising New York Giants returned from their bye week and beat the Houston Texans 24-16.

The Dallas Cowboys are moving on from linebacker Jaylon Smith without getting into the specifics of the decision to release their leading returning tackler four games into 2021.

The Dallas Cowboys are releasing linebacker Jaylon Smith in what could be considered a cost-cutting move because of a guaranteed salary next season in the case of an injury.

CeeDee Lamb looks like he will be frustrating the NFC East for many years to come, filling the role DeSean Jackson held in seasons past.

The 2021 Cowboys Training Camp is a time to prove the defense will be much better this season compared to 2020.

The Dallas Cowboys will be featured for the third time on “Hard Knocks.”.

Dak Prescott is back on the field in offseason practices for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys have declined the fifth-year option on linebacker Leighton Vander Esch’s rookie contract.

(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys won a game thanks to a watermelon kick and are now 2-0 after smashing said fruit as a motivational tactic the night before each victory. Now, the Cowboys could be two playoff wins from their first run that far in the postseason in 25 years — with a little help, of course. After giving up 14 points in less than 10 minutes to start the game, the Cowboys held Philadelphia to three the rest of the way. But it was still enough to set a franchise record in points allowed with a game to go at 450. It was the most for a Dalton-led offense since the Bengals had 559 in a 31-17 win over Cleveland in 2016.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates a touchdown throw with wide receiver Amari Cooper (19) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)CINCINNATI – Andy Dalton was good enough in his return to Cincinnati, tossing two touchdown passes and helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 30-7 win over the Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys (4-9). Dalton was serviceable, going 16 for 23 for 185 yards, as the Cowboys stayed in contention in the weak NFC East. Dalton signed with the Cowboys as a backup, and stepped in when Dak Prescott went down.

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)The Latest on Week 14 in the NFL (all times EST):___1:35 p.m.Patrick Mahomes is off to a rough start against Miami and the Dolphins' defense. Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker sacked the Chiefs quarterback for a 30-yard loss for one of the longest sacks of Mahomes' career. The Chiefs’ quarterback tried to turn the corner around Baker but was tripped up at the 3-yard line. Mahomes also has been intercepted not once but twice by the Dolphins off deflected passes in just the first quarter. Byron Jones picked him off first, then Eric Rowe intercepted a second Mahomes' pass late in the first quarter.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Seattle's star quarterback Russell Wilson and Kansas City's standout tight end Travis Kelce are among the 32 finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)In a year impacted by a pandemic and social unrest, NFL players have spoken out and stepped up. “The 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees remind us that even in the face of adversity, players continue to raise awareness and use their voice and platform to positively impact their communities. “Being nominated as the Chiefs' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” tight end Travis Kelce said. As an organization captain, he directs a team of active NFL players who are committed to using their platform to help address the clean water crisis.

The limp was gone as the 38-year-old engineered a fourth-quarter comeback that kept Pittsburgh as the NFL's only unbeaten team. Those are the four games Dallas has been without star Dak Prescott, out for the season with a broken ankle. Roethlisberger's first touchdown came after he injured his left knee after a throw on a hit from defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. “Someone hit me right on the side of the knee, kind of bent my knee a little bit,” Roethlisberger said. “Just had some discomfort.”Gilbert's first touchdown pass was a 20-yarder to Lamb for a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.

Mike McCarthy lost his debut as coach of the Dallas Cowboys in part because of a curious fourth-down decision that didn’t work. Now the Cowboys (0-1) will see whether a short-term loss can turn into a long-term gain, starting Sunday in their home opener against Atlanta (0-1). WHAT NEEDS HELPThe Cowboys played from behind almost all of the first half because they couldn't defend the screen pass. Vander Esch's injury raises serious questions for the linebackers when the secondary was already the weakest link on the team. The scoreboard didn't show it, but Dallas appears capable of having an offense as productive as last season's top-ranked unit.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Mike McCarthy’s first big decision in his debut as Dallas Cowboys coach is going to be second guessed for awhile. “I think it was a good play call. “We ended up coming up short, and that’s just one of those plays in the game where you’ve got to convert. That cost us the game.”Lamb finished with five receptions for 59 yards in his NFL debut. Dallas' defense allowed 422 yards, but linebacker Aldon Smith got a sack in his first game since November 2015.

If youre not trying to win a Super Bowl, I dont know what youre even doing in this business, McCarthy said. The ones that dont talk about it are probably trying to underpromise, overachieve. The dynamic former Oklahoma receiver joins Amari Cooper, who signed a $100 million contract, and the promising young Michael Gallup. FANS IN STANDSJones said the Cowboys plan to play all eight home games with fans, although the club hasn't announced anything specific. The Cowboys also know they'll play their opener without fans in the first game at the new home of the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 13.

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-8)New Faces: Coach Mike McCarthy, backup QB Andy Dalton, WR CeeDee Lamb, DE Everson Griffen, DE Aldon Smith, DT Dontari Poe, S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Trevon Diggs, K Greg Zuerlein, C Tyler Biadasz. Strengths: If Lamb lives up to hype after unexpectedly falling to Cowboys at No. This season will mark 25 years since last time Dallas won multiple playoff games in same year. Roster is built for that playoff run, McCarthy sees no reason why it shouldn't happen in his Cowboys debut, 10 years after winning Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. McCarthy probably doesn't have another Rodgers in terms of pure ability, but Prescott is capable of leading postseason run that would probably secure long-term contract he's been trying to get since early 2019.

AUSTIN, Texas Former Texas Rangers great Ivan Pudge Rodriguez has a message for fans and Texans in the fight against COVID-19. Now I want to ask you to wear your mask to keep our businesses safe for you, Rodriguez said in the PSA. Rodriguez is the fifth recognizable Texan to record a PSA for Gov. Abbott, himself, recorded the first PSA regarding COVID-19 safety protocols. Other PSAs:University of Texas football coach Tom Herman in new COVID-19 PSA: We need a team effortDallas Cowboys LB in new COVID-19 PSA: Wear a maskNolan Ryan in new COVID-19 PSA: Dont Be A KnuckleheadGovernor Abbott enlists help of George Strait to urge Texans to wear masks, keep social distanceGovernor Greg Abbott encourages Texans to wear face coverings in PSA

AUSTIN, Texas University of Texas football coach Tom Herman has a message for fans and Texans in the fight against COVID-19. And right now, we need a team effort to stop COVID-19, Herman said in the PSA. Herman is the fourth recognizable Texan to record a PSA for Gov. Abbott, himself, recorded the first PSA regarding COVID-19 safety protocols. Other PSAs:Dallas Cowboys LB in new COVID-19 PSA: Wear a maskNolan Ryan in new COVID-19 PSA: Dont Be A KnuckleheadGovernor Abbott enlists help of George Strait to urge Texans to wear masks, keep social distanceGovernor Greg Abbott encourages Texans to wear face coverings in PSA

AUSTIN, Texas Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith has a message for fans and Texans in the fight against COVID-19. I wear a face mask every single day on the football field to protect myself. Now Im switching it up to a different mask to protect myself and others around me, Smith said in the PSA. While Abbott is encouraging Texans to wear a mask, he has refused to allow local officials to issue mandates that would make wearing a face mask mandatory, saying he believes in individual responsibility." Other PSAs:Nolan Ryan in new COVID-19 PSA: Dont Be A KnuckleheadGovernor Abbott enlists help of George Strait to urge Texans to wear masks, keep social distanceGovernor Greg Abbott encourages Texans to wear face coverings in PSA