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Week 2 in our series of previews of the Cowboys 2016 opponents.
After clashing with the New York Giants in Week 1, the Cowboys will travel to Washington in Week 2 and take on the reigning NFC East division champs. Washington was able to claim the title behind a red-hot Kirk Cousins down the stretch, now they hope to find that Cousins can continue his good work and become their franchise quarterback. The team and Cousins are still at an impasse over a long-term contract and Cousins might play the season under the franchise tag.
Washington was gifted a stud corner when the Carolina Panthers shockingly released Josh Norman late in the offseason. They've made other changes over the offseason so to get a better idea of what kind of team they will field in 2016, we get a preview from our sister blog, Hogs Haven.
Washington
Notable free agent additions: CB Josh Norman, DL Kendall Reyes
Notable free agent departures: QB Robert Griffin III, RB Alfred Morris, DT Terrance Knighton, LB Keenan Robinson, WR Andre Roberts
Trades: None
Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies: WR Josh Doctson, S/LB Su'a Cravens, CB Kendall Fuller
Biggest offseason addition: It would be hard not to call the acquisition of an All-Pro CB our biggest addition of the offseason, especially when the secondary has been one of the biggest weaknesses of this Washington team over the last few seasons. The importance of the insertion of Josh Norman into this defense can not be understated.
Biggest storyline heading into training camp: Will Kirk Cousins play on the franchise tag, and more importantly, will he take a step forward from his meteoric finish to the 2015 campaign? He threw for 23 touchdowns and three interceptions over the last ten games of the season last year en route to both the playoffs and a firm grasp on the locker room. If he continues evolving from there, Washington can call itself a true contender.
Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp: What is our safety position going to look like? DeAngelo Hall returns as likely the most certain member of our starting safety duo, which doesn't exactly inspire fear in opposing passing offenses. David Bruton and Duke Ihenacho will certainly factor heavily in the training camp battle to fill out the backside of our defense, but all eyes will be on rookie Su'a Cravens, the hybrid safety/linebacker. If he is able to log meaningful minutes at the strong safety position and make the kinds of plays our coaches feel confident he can make, this secondary could be exponentially better than it has been for years.
Notable injuries heading into training camp: Junior Galette continues to heal from his Achilles injury suffered in August 2015, and all reports seem to lean toward an impressive recovery. Should he regain his pass-rushing form from two seasons ago, it would be the equivalent of adding a top free agent from our own roster. First-round draft pick Josh Doctson is also being held out of a lot of workouts so far to allow a tender Achilles to heal fully before training camp.
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