A lot has unfolded for the Dallas Cowboys over the last week. With injuries stealing the shine of their second win of the year, Dallas still needs to find a way to step up.
With gaps to fill on the roster, and perhaps more veteran leadership to emerge, there was one player who stood out in Thursday night’s game who may be called upon even more now with the loss of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Dallas Cowboys X-factor vs Giants: Eric Kendricks
Eric Kendricks was brought to Dallas to be a leader and help usher in Mike Zimmer’s defense. Despite the ups and downs of this season, he has been all of that and more for the Cowboys. Thursday night was no different for the veteran linebacker.
Kendricks finished with 13 total tackles, six solo, and led the defense in both categories. He was all over the field making plays, handling calls from the sideline, and leading the charge even as star players were in and out of the game due to injury.
It may not have been perfect, and perhaps Dallas lost more than they won in the short-term Thursday night, but the Cowboys needed the win in the worst way, and Kendricks helped ensure they secured it.
With all of the youth and excitement the young players in the linebacker room is bringing, it’s Kendricks who looks to be the elder statesman who has settled the room.
The Cowboys need that type of presence more than ever going forward, and if Kendricks is able to add production on the field to go with his intangibles in the locker room, it should continue to work wonders for a Dallas defense looking to weather this upcoming storm.
Dallas doesn’t do much in free agency, but Kendricks felt like the lone exception for them to add a difference-maker on the open market. So far it looks as if they got this one right.
