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FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ Week 18 victory, a 38-10 party to the NFC East division title and the conference’s No. 2 seed, was interrupted at the 2-minute warning at the end of the first half by cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the ground, clutching his shoulder.
The 33-year-old, 12-year NFL veteran was diagnosed with separated shoulder, and the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year did not return to the game.
“It just popped out of place, and they popped it back,” Gilmore said postgame on Sunday. “I feel way better now. Happy it wasn’t anything too crazy.”
After a few days of rest, Gilmore is “confident” about his ability to play and start Sunday against the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers in the opening round of the postseason.
“I’m feeling good,” Gilmore said Wednesday. “Taking it day by day. Just trying to prepare for the Packers. Just looking forward to it.” Doing a lot of treatment, getting it strong. Looking forward to it. Confident.”
How important is Gilmore? Just simply having him, whose 60.3 passer rating against as the primary defender in coverage is the ninth-best in the NFL among 39 players with at least 80 passes thrown their way, on the field lifts the morale of the Cowboys’ entire unit. His presence also helps make up for losing Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs, who tore his ACL in practice prior to Dallas’ Week 3 contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
“He’s been huge for us especially with the lost of Tre[von Diggs] early in the year,” Dallas Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse said on a conference call on Monday. “Just having a guy like that, the level that he’s reached in his career and still going strong. It’s tremendous for everyone in the building, and it’s not even just on the defensive side of the ball or the cornerbacks. Everyone in the building see and understands the type of player that he’s been in his entire career and the things he’s…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-stephon-gilmore-confident-in-ability-to-play-sunday-vs-packers-despite-week-18-separated-shoulder/
Author : Garrett Podell
Publish date : 2024-01-11 16:54:46
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