After the 49ers’ loss, a key Cowboys cornerback is out for the season, according to reports.
The Dallas Cowboys’ injuries are piling up following their humiliating loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
In Week 5, the Cowboys lost their worst game of the season, 42-10, against the Niners, and several key players were injured. C.J. Goodwin, a seasoned cornerback and special teams ace, is one of those players. Goodwin is gone for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“More bad injury news: Cowboys’ special teams ace CJ Goodwin tore his pectoral muscle and will be out for the season, per source,” Schefter said on Monday, October 9.
C.J. Goodwin Injured Against the 49ers in the First Quarter
Goodwin was injured during the first quarter of the team’s game against the Niners. The 33-year-old was hurt when giving a hard hit during punt return coverage. According to The Dallas Morning News, after exiting the game, he returned for a chunk of the first half before being ruled out for the rest of the game in the third quarter.
“Goodwin suffered the injury in the first quarter.” He produced a strong hit in coverage on Bryan Anger’s 53-yard punt, then departed the game after injuring his left shoulder after a San Francisco punt. Goodwin returned to the game and appeared in the first half. In the third quarter, he was ruled out for the rest of the game.”
Goodwin, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014, has played an important part on the Cowboys’ special teams unit since his acquisition during the 2018 season. Between 2019 and 2021, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound veteran led Dallas in special teams tackles for three seasons in a row.
Goodwin’s ability to get down the field swiftly on special teams coverage plays is what makes him so valuable, as Mike Poland of SB Nation’s Blogging the Boys detailed in his analysis of Goodwin prior to the start of the 2023 season.
“His main reason for employment at Dallas has been playing as one of the team’s most dependable gunners,” Poland explained in August.”His speed and ability to
get downfield quickly helped him lead the team in special teams tackles for three consecutive seasons, and he finished third last year.” He signed a one-year contract with Dallas earlier this year.”
Noah Igbinoghene is the Cowboys’ likely replacement for C.J. Goodwin.
As Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News noted during the game, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene took over as special teams gunner for Goodwin. During the preseason, the Cowboys acquired Igbinoghene in a player-for-player trade with the Miami Dolphins involving former second-round selection pick Kelvin Joseph. Igbinoghene has contributed significantly to Dallas’ special teams unit in his debut season with the organization, appearing in a career-high 62% of special teams snaps.
Other notable players who suffered injuries during the game included wide receiver/returner KaVontae Turpin (ankle) and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Turpin might be out for four to six weeks, depending on the outcome of his MRI.
DJ Siddiqi is a Heavy.com NFL reporter that focuses on the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before joining Heavy, he covered the NFL and NBA for Forbes, ClutchPoints, CBS Sports, 24/7 Sports, and Bleacher Report. More information on” SportOclock.co.uk
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