Pregame spat with Panthers assistant added ‘fuel to the fire’ for Cowboys LB Marist Liufau

FRISCO — One thing that was forgotten about in the Cowboys’ loss to the Panthers was a pregame yelling match between linebacker Marist Liufau and Panthers special teams assistant Daren Bates.

It appears Bates was standing in an area of the field where the Cowboys were warming up, which irked Liufau and starting center Brock Hoffman, who had a few choice words with Bates.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) is seen in the second half of an NFL football...

The brief yelling match was broken up quickly and no more incidents occurred.

Cowboys

“I try to stay level-headed because it’s not hard for me to get fired up,” Liufau said after Wednesday’s practice. “That adds fuel to the fire machine. It was clear he was kinda in our area where we were warming up and we didn’t like it, so we kinda get into it. It wasn’t a big deal.”

On the field, Liufau is getting more snaps. He came off the bench in the first three games of the year, getting 23 snaps total. But getting time as a strong side linebacker in the base defense, Liufau has played at least 25 snaps in each of the last three games. He’s mainly in the base defense and hopes to get some time in the nickel packages.

Liufau picked up a sack against the Panthers while coming off the blitz.

“Managing [playing time] for me, it’s finding a way to serve,” he said. “Finding a way to help the team. I can’t control when I’m put in. I just can’t control when my number is called. I just try to stay ready as soon, as much as I can. I try to be a great servant to my teammates as much as I can and help them in any way that I can.”

Twitter/X: @calvinwatkins

CeeDee Lamb among trio of Cowboys starters who could return to lineup vs. Commanders

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer says about Lamb taking the field Sunday: ‘If he’s breathing, I’d feel pretty good.’

Chiefs’ offense gets boost as Rashee Rice returns from suspension