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The excuse-making for when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys today has already begun. Apparently the Cowboys are dealing with a sickness heading into Sunday’s huge NFC East matchup:
One thing to watch for the #Cowboys, as they prepare to face the #Eagles: A bug went through their locker room this week and several players were sick this week. IVs were helpful but conditioning will be key.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 9, 2018
Cowboys starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie missed Wednesday’s practice due to an illness. Rookie wide receiver Michael Gallup missed Friday’s practice and was ruled questionable for Sunday’s game, though it’s expected he’ll be able to play.
I can’t imagine the Cowboys are going to be severely debilitated by a common sickness going around but the Eagles will take any edge they can get in this critical game. It might be a good idea for Philadelphia to utilize tempo on offense and see if they can tire the Cowboys out.
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In other Cowboys news, Jason Garrett is reportedly trying to get Jason Witten to come out of retirement. Lol.
Witten has resisted those overtures, some of which came in recent weeks, as tempting as it might have been to help his former team, according to sources. Dallas has struggled at the tight end position due to performance and injury, and Garrett was convinced that Witten could step right back in and become another asset on an offense that has come alive in recent weeks since the acquisition of wide receiver Amari Cooper. Witten, however, ultimately is committed to the Monday Night Football booth and to his new craft as a broadcast analyst, according to sources.
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And one last Eagles versus Cowboys note: Philadelphia is reportedly expected to be without starting defensive tackle Tim Jernigan today. Not really a surprise considering Jernigan didn’t practice all week and the Eagles called up Bruce Hector from the practice squad on Saturday.