PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – With Micah Parsons no longer in the Dallas Cowboys’ pass‑rush equation, the spotlight now falls squarely on two young edge defenders ready—or soon to be asked—to rise: Sam Williams and Marshawn Kneeland.
Williams, entering his fourth season, returns from a torn ACL that sidelined him in 2024. He steps into a starting role opposite veteran Dante Fowler Jr. in Sunday night’s opener against the Eagles. The depth chart confirms his elevation, giving him a prominent platform under prime-time lights.
His approach? Disciplined and self‑aware. Williams said he’s “hungry” to seize the opportunity in a contract year but knows overexuberance can lead to penalties. “It’s me versus me this year … I gotta beat them,” he emphasized. Observers see potential: his 13.4 percent pressure rate across 2022–23 points to upside—but also underlines the need for consistency now that he’s not working alongside Parsons.
Kneeland, in his second year after being drafted in 2024, remains more under the radar—but perhaps not for long. He recorded no sacks as a rookie in limited action, but his teammates and coaches see something more brewing. He and fellow rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku know the assignment: they must fill the void left by Parsons. The bond among the younger pass rushers runs deep—Parsons even broke the news via a group‐chat text, offering ongoing mentorship despite his departure.
Kneeland framed it simply: “Whether [Parsons] was here or not, it is going to be important for all of us to really go out there and produce, and just play an attack front.” That attitude signals readiness for broader responsibility.
In sum, the Cowboys have restructured. They bolstered the interior with DT Kenny Clark and valuable draft capital, but in doing so, they sacrificed their star edge. The fallout: Williams must deliver with discipline, Fowler must lead by example, and Kneeland (along with Ezeiruaku and others) must ascend quickly.
Now, as Dallas turns the page on the Parsons chapter, the team’s hopes hinge on whether these young rushers can rewrite the narrative and keep that pressure intact.
