Getting back into the win column last Thursday night came at a cost for the Dallas Cowboys as they will be without All-Pro defensive ends Micah Parsons (ankle injury) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) for multiple weeks.
With the preparation turning to Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, the Cowboys defensive line is preparing to play without the duo at least through the team’s bye in Week 7.
In their spot, the Cowboys will turn to rookie second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland and fourth-year pass rusher Chauncey Golston.
“It’s time to man up,” Micah Parsons said. “We talk about [the] next man mentality, I’m talking to Marshawn coming back in on Friday saying, ‘It’s time. You gotta step up. When I say step up, I don’t mean just playing. You gotta lead now. You lost your two veterans. You gotta lead, communicate, talk to them and bring these other guys with you.’”
For Kneeland, who has garnered praise for his work ethic in his first season in the league, he will now take his intentional preparation into a starting role for at least the immediate future.
“Basically, just keep doing my stuff,” Kneeland said. “I’ve been working like I’m going to be playing a lot anyway. I just know there’s a lot more weight on my shoulders than before.”
“I really like the way Marshawn has reacted to everything,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “Every time we give him more responsibility, he just goes about it with the right attitude and good energy. We’ve cranked up his responsibilities on special teams, and he’s done a good job.”
While there will be a certain drop off in losing two leaders on the defensive front, there is confidence that the depth group – consisting of Kneeland, Golston, Tyrus Wheat and Carl Lawson – can pull together strong performances despite combining for just one sack and 19 tackles through four games.
“I’m very confident in these guys,” Parsons said. “I’ve been priming Marshawn for this moment for a while now and I feel like he just keeps getting better and better. You got T-Wheat who keeps getting better. You got Carl. I don’t think there’s going to be a huge drop off.”
Golston, who was drafted in the same class as Parsons, has seen experience playing from inside at 3-Tech all the way to the wide-nine off the edge. Honing in on the edge in the next couple of weeks, Golston will be able to maximize his lengthy 6-foot-5 frame in pass rush situations.
“Chauncey has a unique skillset that if he masters, he can be one of the best guys in the league,” Parsons said. “I’m hoping he performs and shows it this week. He’s been talking about waiting for his opportunity. Now he’s got one, I’m excited to see it.”
All in all, the depth group at the edge position will be tested in the coming weeks against playoff offenses from a season ago. For the group, it will only prepare them for the long run of the team’s end-of-season goals.
“It’s not a terrible thing,” Parsons said. “You want these guys ready so that when it gets late in the season, these guys are going to be prepared to go through it and they have the experience.”
“We know we have to step up for our boys,” Kneeland said. “Seeing them go down, obviously none of us wanted to see that happen. We just need to come together and play for each other.”