Cowboys' Mike McCarthy signals Stephon Gilmore plans to play vs. Packers
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore separated his right shoulder in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders, but he will try to suit up Sunday in the wild-card round against the Green Bay Packers.
According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expects the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion to practice Thursday, wearing a harness that will protect his shoulder. He added, "We feel good about where he is."
Gilmore is a big reason why the Cowboys were fifth in the NFL in passing yards allowed (187.4) during the regular season. In 17 games, he allowed a 60.3 passer rating in coverage, the ninth-best in the league among players with 80 or more targets, per CBS Sports' Garrett Podell.
And he mentored CB DaRon Bland — the league's interception leader (nine in 17 games) — after Trevon Diggs suffered a season-ending ACL tear in September.
"Coming in, we had all three of us [Bland, Gilmore and Diggs]," Bland said Wednesday, via Podell. "Then once Tre went down, he's [Gilmore] a guy that's been in the league and seen everything. In this league, injuries are going to happen. He always kept us in the right spot. Just making it easier to see reads and see route combinations."
Packers QB Jordan Love has proved he's the future of the franchise. Over his past eight games, the former first-round pick went 6-2, completing 70.3 percent of his passes for 18 TDs, one interception and an outstanding 112.7 passer rating.
To stop him, Dallas' secondary must excel. Assuming Gilmore plays, it will give the Cowboys the boost they need. As of Thursday, FanDuel lists them as a seven-point favorite in their home playoff game.
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