Brock Bowers on Kittle, Kelce and NFL advice
Raiders star tight end Brock Bowers reveals how George Kittle and Travis Kelce inspired his game and shared key advice.
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Could this be the week the Dallas Cowboys announce their Thanksgiving Day halftime show? This was about the time a year ago when Dallas announced Lainey Wilson would play, so an announcement should be imminent.
The Cowboys are playing Kansas City on Thanksgiving. Could they book Travis Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift? Um, no, that’s not going to happen.
Speaking of speculation, apropos of the midpoint of the college football season, new mock drafts are out, and Dallas has two picks it can use to begin the process of fixing its defense.
Here’s what’s up in Cowboys Land.
Dallas Cowboys mock draft 2025: A Texas Tech defensive player?
The good news about Dallas’ struggles is that their draft position figures to be pretty good, and as the college football season hits its midpoint, two new mock drafts have emerged.
At the moment, Dallas is looking at a No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft and will also have what looks like a late first-rounder from Green Bay as the first part of the Micah Parsons trade.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid has Dallas taking someone who should excite a segment of Cowboy fans: Texas Tech Red Raiders edge rusher David Bailey.
Reid writes: “he leads the FBS with a 24.6% pressure rate to go along with 8.5 sacks, which are tied for first. He is a constant disruptor who can win with speed or power. And with Micah Parsons now in Green Bay, the Cowboys need a potent pass-rushing presence outside, which Bailey could provide. Dallas’ 11 sacks are tied for 22nd in the NFL, and that defense is giving up 6.2 yards per play, which ranks 30th.”
With the 29th pick, he has Dallas taking another defensive player, Florida tackle Caleb Banks. He was a projected top 15 pick before a foot injury that required surgery. He should be a full go by the start of next year, so he represents a value pick.
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez, meanwhile, has Dallas going in a radically different direction with its No. 1, taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. He is thinking long-term here.
He writes: “The Cowboys need to truly invest in the running back position. With this pick, they go after the electric playmaker Jeremiyah Love. Love can be a true RB1 of an offense, making explosive plays in both the run game and as a receiver out of the backfield.”
Sanchez has Dallas going with Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the 30th pick of the first round.
Dallas Cowboys injury report: CeeDee Lamb still looks good
Dallas’ injury report is still long, but it’s leaning more toward the “LP” designation of limited practice instead of “DNP” for did not practice.
Important players who are limited, and considered likely to play, include receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle), guard Tyler Booker (ankle) and returner KaVontae Turpin (foot).
Of the 14 players listed on the injury report, only guard Trevor Keegan (neck) didn’t practice Thursday and four of the players were full practice.
As for Lamb, “I’m out there moving around, running around, being me,” Lamb told The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Happy as can be.”
Said Dak Prescott: “He looks great. He’s ready to go. It’s going to be fun.”
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator
Many Cowboy fans won’t like learning Matt Eberflus is still Dallas’ defensive coordinator, even though the Cowboys have the worst defense in the 32-team NFL. He did get a dreaded vote of confidence from owner Jerry Jones after the latest defensive collapse, against the Carolina Panthers last week.
“We just have to continue to work every day and get our hands around how we can play the best defensive football,” Jones said. “Certainly, (Eberflus) has been an established coach in this league and have a lot of confidence that he’ll get the job done.”
Said coach Brian Schottenheimer: “That’s a great coach, he’s been around, everywhere he’s ever been, he’s had good defenses.”
Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving halftime show: Will we learn Sunday?
There is still no word on this. Last year, the Cowboys announced on Oct. 14 that Lainey Wilson would play the Thanksgiving Day halftime show, so Dallas could well make this year’s announcement Sunday.
While Dallas is playing the Kansas City Chiefs and tight end Travis Kelce on Thanksgiving, don’t expect to see Taylor Swift. Early speculation centers around Kacey Musgraves, Post Malone or “a Latin pop artist.” That presumably won’t be Bad Bunny warming up for the Super Bowl.
Cowboys’ next game vs. Washington CommandersGame: Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys, AT&T StadiumTime: 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CTDate: October 19, 2025TV channel: FOXLive stream: FuboDallas Cowboys schedule 2025
The Dallas Cowboys have kicked off their 17-game, 18-week 2025 schedule. Here is what it looks like.
Home games in bold
1 Thu. Sept. 4 at Philadelphia 24, Dallas 20
2 Sun. Sept. 14 Dallas 40, New York Giants 37, OT
3 Sun. Sept. 21 at Chicago, 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, FOX
4 Sun. Sept. 28 Green Bay, 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT, NBC
5 Sun. Oct. 5 Dallas 37, New York Jets 22
6 Sun. Oct. 12 Carolina 30, Dallas 27
7 Sun. Oct. 19 Washington, 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, FOX
8 Sun. Oct. 26 at Denver, 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, CBS
9 Mon, Nov. 3 Arizona, 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT, ABC/ESPN
10 BYE WEEK
11 Mon. Nov. 17 at Las Vegas, 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT, ABC/ESPN
12 Sun. Nov. 23 Philadelphia, 2:25 p.m. MT/3:25 p.m. CT, FOX
13 Thu. Nov. 27 Kansas City, 2:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. CT, CBS
14 Thu. Dec. 4 at Detroit, 6:15 p.m. MT/7:15 p.m. CT, Prime Video
15 Sun, Dec. 14 Minnesota, 6:20 p.m. MT/7:20 p.m. CT, NBC
16. Sun. Dec. 21 Los Angeles Chargers, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT FOX
17. Thu. Dec. 25 at Washington, 11 a.m. MT/noon CT, Netflix
18. TBD at New York Giants, TBD
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.