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Todd Archer, ESPN staff writer
OXNARD, Calif. — Before the Dallas Cowboys held their first padded practice of training camp, pass rusher Sam Williams tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, dealing a blow to the defense, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
The injury will likely end Williams’ season before it even gets started.
Williams was injured while working on a blocking drill during a special teams session. He remained down for several minutes while being treated by the Cowboys’ medical staff. He was taken on a cart to the locker room but was unable to put any weight on his leg.
“I didn’t like what I saw,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after practice before Williams headed in for an MRI.
The Cowboys expected Williams to be the primary pass rusher behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. In free agency, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. joined former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in joining the Washington Commanders.
Last year, they combined for 11.5 sacks.
Williams had 8.5 sacks over his first two seasons and was third on the team with 4.5 sacks in 2023, but played just 28.3% of the minutes on defense. The Cowboys drafted Williams in the second round in 2022 out of Ole Miss.
The Cowboys selected Marshawn Kneeland in the second round this year and have been impressed with his early performance in training camp.
“Great. Really good. Really mature,” coach Mike McCarthy said before practice Sunday. “Just like he was in the draft process, his physical strength, his mobility. He’s off to a good start. He’s very calm, he’s soaking it up in the classroom. Outgoing personality, that’s a big thing. He’s off to a good start.”
The Cowboys have Viliami Fehoko Jr., Tyrus Wheat and Durell Johnson as full-time defensive ends in camp, but none recorded a sack last year. Chauncey Gholston can play both end and tackle and recorded 1.5 sacks last season.
