Injuries are never a good thing, but this time, one may have been a blessing in disguise for the Dallas Cowboys, as it opened up the door for a rookie to showcase his skills. And after watching Shemar James dominate in Week 5, he should be a strong candidate to get more playing time going forward.
The ever-struggling Jack Sanborn had to leave the win over the New York Jets early in the second quarter because of a concussion. That forced Matt Eberflus' hand to trust the rookie fifth-round pick, and he was more than up for the task.
Shemar James Should Play Over Jack Sanborn
James played 26 snaps in Week 4, and he was on the field for 60 snaps (72 percent) in Week 5. He responded by logging a whopping 15 tackles, the most by any Cowboys since Sean Lee registered 17 one decade ago.
He was all over the field, stopping the run, and even finding success against the pass in man coverage, which was perhaps the biggest concern scouts had when he first entered the league out of Florida.
Sanborn, on the other hand, has been one of the worst offseason additions in the entire league. His familiarity with Matt Eberflus' defensive system and past success with the Chicago Bears made him seem like a bargain, but he's been dreadful every single time he's set foot on the field. Prior to Week 5, he had given up nine catches for a whopping 117 yards. He has failed in drop coverage, and his missed assignments often led to big gains by the offense.
He's on a one-year contract and shouldn't be a part of the team's future, given the way he's performed, which is all the more reason to trust Shemar James with a longer leash. He's still raw around the edges and has a lot of work to do to be a consistent starter, but the flashes are clearly there.
James figured to be more of a backup or special teams player. Still, the athleticism is there, and given how poorly this defense has performed this season, the team needs to reward strong play with more playing time.
Sanborn might not be cleared from the concussion protocol in time for the Cowboys' trip to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, and that should leave the door wide open for the fifth-round rookie to get another chance to prove his worth.