Mazi Smith, Damone Clark updates featured on Cowboys Wednesday injury report
Mazi Smith and Damone Clark are two Dallas Cowboys players dealing with injuries ahead of the team’s season opener against the Cleveland Browns. The Cowboys released their first injury report of the year and both players are on the list. Smith, a defensive tackle, is dealing with an Achilles, and Clark, a linebacker, has a knee injury. The good news is Smith and Clark were both full participants at practice on Wednesday.
The other players on the injury report are defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (knee, full participant), Cornerback Israel Mukuamu (groin, full), tight end John Stephens Jr. (hamstring, did not participate) and safety Juanyeh Thomas (groin, full). The only player who could miss the game is Stephens who did not play during his entire 2023 rookie season due to a torn ACL.
Smith is entering his second season with the Cowboys and had a solid rookie year. In 16 games with three starts, the former Michigan Wolverines star recorded 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. Earlier this year, Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer talked about his plan for Smith in 2024.
“Obviously, he was a high draft pick,” Zimmer said, per the Cowboys official website. “I heard that he kinda struggled last year, so we’re gonna start with the basics: get him in a good stance, get him using his hands the right way, getting his footwork the right way and then go from there.
Watch NFL Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW
More on Mazi Smith and Damone Clark
“I talked to him yesterday and asked him what weight he felt comfortable at, so we’ve gotta get him to that point first and then get his strength back, and then we’ll let him go out here on the field. We anticipate he’s gonna be a good player like he was in college, and that’s how we have to go.”
Clark is in his third season with the Cowboys and had a big 2023 campaign. The former LSU Tigers star registered 109 tackles, three passes defended and one fumble recovery in 17 games. This week, Clark revaeled he’s being mentored by two former Cowboys stars Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee.
“Having a guy like Leighton and Sean Lee — I told [them] I’m a sponge,” Clark said. “I can never [learn] too much. This is my third year but second full season, and anything I can do to get better, I’m gonna do it.”