The Dallas Cowboys training camp was hit with a massive blow on Sunday afternoon when defensive end Sam Williams was carted off with a knee injury.

#Cowboys DE Sam Williams is feared to have torn his ACL in practice today, sources tell me and @RapSheet. He’ll have an MRI to confirm. A tough blow early in camp. pic.twitter.com/xGcKIjT2Wz

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 28, 2024

A tough blow is correct. Williams was entering his third season as a Cowboy since being a 2nd-round draft pick in 2022. In a rotational role behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons, Williams has been featured in 26 games and has compiled 39 tackles, 8 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in his first two years.

Williams is the Cowboys’ third-best edge rusher and behind number 54 is inexperience and untapped potential.

The depth behind Williams includes fellow 2024 2nd-round pick Marshawn Kneeland, who had 13 sacks over his 4-year career at Western Michigan. While Kneeland could be the next Sam Williams for the Dallas Cowboys, Kneeland immediately has to perform with the likely absence of Sam Williams.

Behind Kneeland on the depth chart are Viliami Fehoko (2023 4th-round pick), Tyrus Wheat (2023 undrafted free agent), and Durrell Johnson (2024 undrafted free agent) who all combine for 2 tackles and 0 sacks at the pro level.

In an offseason that saw the Cowboys not make any free agent moves at the defensive end position, an injury like Sam Williams is very discouraging. The Cowboys need someone to give DeMarcus Lawrence some snaps to rest and someone who can help limit double-teams on Micah Parsons.

Some free agents are available at defensive end with the most notable name being Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue is 29 years old and has been on 6 teams since 2019 and 3 teams in the last three years. Ngakoue visited the Dolphins last week and left Miami without a deal, but has 23.5 sacks since 2021.

If the initial reports are true, Dallas is already in trouble in one of the most important positions on the field. A game can be won or lost in the trenches, and if the Cowboys lose the time of possession battle this season and get fatigued on the defense, or face another significant injury, this could be a much bigger loss moving forward.

Do you want Dallas to consider a free agent like Ngakoue? Or do you think one of these unproven defensive linemen to step up in Sam’s absence? Let us know in the comments below.