There is no question that the Dallas Cowboys have an incredibly difficult Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Having said that, one player whom the franchise could be getting an unexpected boost from is center Cooper Beebe, whose 21-day window to return from his foot injury was officially opened earlier this week. Now, it looks like he could play on Sunday.
"Beebe said that he hopes to play this Sunday in Denver," Dallas Morning News' Josephy Hoyt reported on Wednesday. "Still some work to be done."
Beebe's return will give the franchise a far better chance to establish the run and allow Javonte Williams to make an impact in his return to Denver, as he faces his old team for the first time in his five-year career. Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't believe there was any further upside to keep the veteran running back, and now Beebe is in a spot to help Williams make Payton look foolish.
Cooper Beebe Could Help Javonte Williams' Denver Return
Beebe is a fantastic run blocker and a clear upgrade over any of the Cowboys' reserve options. He finished his rookie campaign with a 66.1 run block grade on Pro Football Focus and was at a mark of 61.9 this season before getting hurt. Williams will have a far better chance to establish the run against an incredibly tough Denver defensive front, which is allowing only 93.3 rushing yards per game (9th) and 3.8 yards per carry (T-5th).
Although Brock Hoffman filled in nicely for Beebe during the latter's absence, the former's run block grades of 51.9, 48.6, and 63.1 in the last three weeks show that there's room for improvement.
Williams converted 33 carries into 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns in his first two games with Beebe this season. The veteran RB has since posted a 78-441-3 stat line in his last five games, and the 24-year-old blocker's return could help Williams continue that momentum.
The Broncos have only lost twice so far: once to the Indianapolis Colts and again to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both games had a productive run game, with the loss to Indy being defined by 167 rushing yards against a Colts team that clearly caught the franchise off guard.
This is exactly what the Cowboys need to do and why getting Beebe back into the lineup is vital. It sets the table to run the ball between the tackles and allows Williams a far better chance at a revenge game against the team that tossed him to the side. With that said, Beebe's return isn't official just yet, and he'll need to keep logging encouraging practices for that to happen.
Until we have more official confirmation, it remains hopeful and speculative that the talented center is rejoining the lineup. Regardless, it is an exciting update that perhaps sets the table for Williams and the Cowboys to have a chance to pull off a Mile High City upset.