Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams sustained a significant knee injury while participating in special teams drills in Oxnard, California. The injury, involving torn ligaments in his left knee, will require season-ending surgery. The incident occurred during a drill without the team wearing pads, specifically in a blocking exercise where Williams was hurt. Trainers attended to him on the field before he was assisted onto a motorized cart without putting any weight on his leg.
Weighing 261 pounds and standing at 6-foot-4, Williams was anticipating a more prominent role as an edge rusher this season. This expectation arose following the departure of defensive end Dorance Armstrong and outside linebacker Dante Fowler in free agency during the offseason. Drafted in the second round from the University of Mississippi in 2022, Williams had played in 32 regular-season games in the last two seasons, including appearing in all 17 games the previous year. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 8 1/2 sacks.
The injury to Williams is a significant setback for the Cowboys as they had high hopes for his contributions in the upcoming season. His absence will require the team to rely on other defensive players to step up and fill the void left by his season-ending injury. Fans and teammates will undoubtedly miss his on-field presence and contributions.
