The Dallas Cowboys suffered their first major blow of the year, with star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy suffering a ruptured quad tendon during practice on Monday.
McCoy, who signed with the Cowboys this offseason, left Monday’s practice with the assistance of trainers after suffering a lower-leg injury. While the official diagnosis is unknown, Dallas is preparing for the worst.
Latest on Gerald McCoy’s knee injury
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones announced Gerald McCoy would miss the entire 2020 NFL season after suffering a ruptured quad tendon.
McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, came to Dallas this spring as one of the team’s biggest offseason acquisitions. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the club hoping he could be a huge factor on the interior defensive line.
The 32-year-old defensive tackle has been a force since coming into the NFL as the No. 3 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Following a nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in which he recorded 54.5 sacks and 79 tackles for loss, McCoy joined the Carolina Panthers before the 2019 season. While he failed to record six-plus sacks for the first time since 2012, he still showed the same ability to force opposing quarterbacks out of the pocket.
Losing McCoy for the entire season is a significant blow for this defense. After signing Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen, the Cowboys had put together a front seven that could create some havoc.
After losing Maliek Collins in free agency, Dallas hoped McCoy would be the one to fill that void. If he is out for the season, third-round pick Neville Gallimore will step into a much larger role and be asked to make an impact immediately.
If the Cowboys look to fill the void on the defensive line, free-agent defensive tackle Damon Harrison could be the best option. While he isn’t a pass rusher, the 6-foot-3, 350-pound lineman can stuff running lanes.