Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Contributes eight stops in defeat
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Wilson recorded eight tackles (four solo) and recovered a fumble Sunday in a Week 9 loss to the Falcons.
Wilson finished second on Dallas in stops behind Eric Kendricks in the defeat. The safety also made a big play with a second-quarter fumble recovery on a sack of Kirk Cousins, but the Cowboys couldn't convert a key fourth down on their ensuing drive. Wilson's eight tackles Sunday were a season high, and he's totaled 43 total stops through eight games on the campaign.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Tallies sack in blowout loss
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Wilson recorded seven tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Sunday's 47-9 loss to the Lions.
This was Wilson's first sack since the 2022 season, when he posted 5.0 sacks before failing to post a sack in 2023. Wilson now has 30 tackles (including Sunday's sack), an interception and an additional pass breakup through six games as the Cowboys' starting strong safety. He should remain a high-end IDP option with a solid floor from his tackling performance.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Intercepts pass in loss to Saints
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Wilson recorded six tackles (two solo) and one interception in Sunday's Week 2 loss to the Saints.
Wilson has played 95 percent of the defensive snaps through two weeks. His interception came in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys already losing by a 41-19 margin. After two games, Wilson has eight tackles (two solo), two pass breakups and the one interception.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Still in starting role
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Wilson appears headed for another season as a starting safety for the Cowboys.
The 29-year-old Texas A&M product missed the first two games of last season with a calf injury, but he put together a 100-tackle pace over 15 regular-season games after returning to action. Wilson's impressive IDP numbers the last two years came with Dan Quinn as his defensive coordinator, but the switch to Mike Zimmer shouldn't impact him too much, as Zimmer's defenses have a long track record of setting up safeties for success -- Harrison Smith made six Pro Bowls in eight seasons for the Vikings with Zimmer as his head coach.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Solid numbers in 2023
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Wilson recorded 88 tackles (55 solo) while adding three passes defended (two interceptions), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries over 15 regular-season games in 2023.
The 28-year-old safety missed the first two games of the year with a calf injury and didn't start seeing a full workload until Week 5, but Wilson was his usual tackling machine self down the stretch, with 53 of his stops coming in the Cowboys' final seven regular-season games. He's thrived in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme, but Wilson's 2024 outlook could take a hit if Quinn takes a head coaching job elsewhere this offseason.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Big day in win over Detroit
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Wilson recorded a team-high 11 tackles (six solo) and added an interception in a Week 17 win over the Lions.
The fifth-year safety reached double-digit tackles for the second straight game as he moves back into a leading role in Dan Quinn's defense. The INT was Wilson's first of the season and the fourth of his career, and he's coming on strong down the stretch with 48 tackles over the last six games. With the Cowboys looking to lock up the NFC East title with a win in Week 18 over the Commanders, Wilson and the rest of the defensive starters should see their usual workloads.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Leading tackler against Miami
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Wilson recorded a team-high 12 tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's 22-20 loss to the Dolphins.
The fifth-year safety reached double-digit tackles for the first time this season. Wilson would need a huge finish to the season to produce 100-plus tackles again, as he has 72 with two games to go, but he's in strong form with 37 stops, plus one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery over the last five contests.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Suffers right leg injury
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Wilson went down with a right leg injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday's contest with the 49ers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Wilson was assisted off the field by the training staff and he appears unlikely to return. More information on his status will likely come following the game.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Back in pads Thursday
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Wilson (calf) was a limited participant at practice Thursday ahead of Sunday's game versus the Jets, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, it's the first time Wilson has been seen in pads since January. He appears to be nearing a return from his calf strain but will probably need to log a full practice Friday in order to avoid carrying an injury designation into the Cowboys' matchup versus the Jets in Week 2.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Status for Week 2 in question
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Wilson (calf) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Wilson had a big workout Wednesday, according to head coach Mike McCarthy, who is hopeful the safety will be able to practice Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports. The 28-year-old was unable to play Week 1 against the Giants and will likely need to log at least a limited session this week if he's going to play Sunday against the Jets. If Wilson is ultimately unable to play, Malik Hooker will likely get the start at free safety.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Projected to miss 4-to-6 weeks
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Wilson (calf) is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks due to the right calf strain he suffered in practice Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN reports.
The Cowboys are optimistic that Wilson will be available for the Sept. 10 season opener against the Giants, which is just over six weeks away. Wilson -- who re-signed on a three-year deal worth up to $24 million this offseason -- was carted off Wednesday. He led the team with 101 tackles in 2022.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Suffers strain
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Wilson, who was carted off the field during practice Wednesday, has been diagnosed with a calf strain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Considering a cart was involved in his leaving the field, this is likely good news for Wilson and the Cowboys. The 28-year-old is coming off the best season of his career and had amassed career highs in tackles and sacks, as he asserted himself as an important piece of the Cowboys' secondary. However, it's still unclear how much of camp he'll miss.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Seven stops in victory
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Wilson recorded seven tackles (six solo) in Saturday's 40-34 win over the Eagles.
Wilson didn't stuff the stat sheet, but he did record his most tackles since Week 13 against the Colts, and the second most since Week 8 against the Bears. He now has 94 stops on the season, which far exceeds his previous career high of 71. He'll work to continue producing Thursday against the Titans.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Available against Giants
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Wilson (illness) is available for Thursday's game against the Giants, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness and was listed as questionable for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day matchup. However, he'll be able to play through the issue against the Giants. Over his last two games, he's tallied nine tackles (seven solo).
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Deemed questionable
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Wilson (illness) didn't practice Wednesday and is considered questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Giants, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Wilson landed on the injury report Wednesday as a non-participant due to an illness and is in danger of missing the Thanksgiving Day matchup. If he's sidelined, Malik Hooker and Israel Mukuamu would be strong candidates for increased roles.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Seven stops in loss
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Wilson collected seven tackles (five solo) during Sunday's 31-28 overtime loss to the Packers.
Wilson was one of four Dallas defenders to tie with a team-high seven stops against Green Bay, though he'd played the second lowest defensive snaps (52) of this group. The safety was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, though it's unclear if this ultimately affected his playing time Sunday. Nevertheless, Wilson is now just six tackles shy of setting a new career high in this category.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: No injury designation for Week 10
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Wilson (tooth) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Wilson was limited during practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a tooth issue, but he was a full participant Friday and will be available for Sunday's game in Green Bay. He's tallied 58 tackles (43 solo), three sacks, an interception, two pass defenses and a forced fumble over the first eight games of the year.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Notches third sack in Week 7 win
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Wilson totaled six tackles (three solo) and one sack in Sunday's 24-6 win over the Lions.
Wilson had one of Dallas' five sacks of quarterback Jared Goff. The 27-year-old safety has been adept at getting to the quarterback in 2022, as Wilson's three sacks in seven games this season have him just half a sack shy of his career total accrued over 34 games heading into the season.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Leads team with nine tackles
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Wilson recorded nine tackles (eight solo) during Sunday's 25-10 win over the Commanders.
Wilson has totaled 28 tackles and one sack while playing every defensive snap for the Cowboys over the past three weeks. The fourth-year safety has emerged as a viable IDP option and will look to continue his strong play against the Rams in Week 5.
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Cowboys' Donovan Wilson: Will play Saturday
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Wilson (illness) is active Saturday against the Eagles.
Wilson didn't originally travel with the team to Philadelphia, but he ended up feeling well enough to play and made his way there in time. Wilson should at the very least help provide depth at safety against the Eagles on Saturday.
