Six weeks into the season and, Eric Kendricks continues to hold down the Cowboys defense. He created 52 total tackles, tying him for the second most in the league, made two sacks, and even managed to get an interception. A Cowboys team without Kendricks is terrifying. However, Kendricks won’t play against the Lions. With all of his production over the last few weeks, several players must step up to replace him.
Who Needs to Step Up for the Cowboys with the Loss of Eric Kendricks in Week 6
A Dominant Presence on Mike Zimmer’s Defense
Kendricks came into this defensive scheme specifically because he’s been able to produce well under Mike Zimmer before. He understands what’s asked of him and has become a fast leader for his teammates. It would be tough if the Cowboys had only lost Kendricks, but the news comes amid several star players being out on defense. They’re already low on EDGE and corner depth. Now, they continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel for replacements.
Which leads to Kendricks injury. With such a powerful player out, it’ll again require a young but talented squad to step in and take his place. Good thing the Cowboys have some young talent to fill the holes.
Who Will Help Supplement the Absence of Eric Kendricks
First to mind is DeMarvion Overshown. After suffering an ACL injury last season and missing his rookie year, Overshown has proved his value on the team. He’s not just present–he’s aggressive. He fights for a ball, and the offense doesn’t make easy catches with his presence. He’s recorded 37 total tackles this season, along with a sack and two pass deflections. If anyone is going to make himself known in this upcoming game, it’s Overshown.
Or it could be Marist Liufau, who is coming off a quad injury but has been a full participant in practice this week. A part of the Cowboys rookie class, Liufau received big opportunities early on. He’s been a starter this year but hasn’t had the same amount of fire as Overshown. This gives Liufau a chance to burst through the seams and show what he’s made of.
On October 11, 2024, the news broke about Kendricks sitting out against the Lions during an interview with Stephen Jones by a local radio station. He mentioned that there’s a good opportunity for Darius Harris to have some opportunity and be elevated from the practice squad. Harris spent three years with the Chiefs before being in free agency in 2023, where the Cowboys picked him up. The absence of Kendricks provides a chance for him to show growth from his low production rate in Kansas City.
The Warning Eric Kendricks Issues About the Lions Offense
With so many possible options, hopefully, someone will fill the big shoes Kendricks leaves behind in Week 6.
In an interview on October 11, 2024, Kendricks mentions the difficulty the Cowboys will face with trying to shut down the offense against the Lions. When asked about the very good run offense the Lions have, Kendricks responds with a solution the Cowboys defense has to implement:
“The thing about play-action pass is that it has to be complimentary with a good run game, which is what we’re dealing with. They have good complimentary offense. When you see a couple of runs hit, and then the play action off of the same kind of look, that’s when you see a lot of success.”
And this is what the Cowboys have to try to prevent. Once Detroit gets that run game going, the game is over for the Cowboys. It’ll resemble what happened against the Ravens in Week 3, where the Ravens produced nearly 275 yards of rushing offense. Or the bloodbath of Week 2 against the Saints, where the Cowboys first realized they struggle to stop the run.
The past two weeks have looked better, but without Kendricks, the hope is in a lot of unproven talent. But maybe they’re up to the challenge to step up to the plate.
Main Image: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
