Cowboys’ DE Sam Williams will miss the 2024 NFL season due to this reason.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams in October 2022. Photo by Louis Lopez/CSM/Shutterstock (13452434bt)

The Dallas Cowboys have been handed a tough blow early in the training camp. Their promising defensive end, Sam Williams, suffered an ACL tear and will miss the entire 2024 season.

Reportedly, Williams got hurt while performing a blocking assignment in a special teams drill and needed to be carted off the field. He later underwent an MRI that showed torn ACL and MCL in his left knee.

The MRI confirmed that promising DE Sam Williams is out for the season with a torn ACL. Brutal. https://t.co/MRZZCHfkj8

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 28, 2024

Williams was projected to have an expanded role on the Cowboys’ defensive line in 2024 following promising performances since becoming a second-round pick two years ago. During his time in the pros, the former Ole Miss product contributed 48 tackles, including 15 for loss, 8.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, and two forced fumbles.

Losing Williams leaves the Cowboys with a thin defensive line beyond stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. The franchise previously let the likes of Dante Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong walk away in free agency, hoping that Williams could step up and fill that void.

Dallas will likely turn to the free agent market to bolster its depth while also possibly giving rookie Marshawn Kneeland an expanded role. Kneeland was the 56th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after racking up 149 tackles and 12.5 sacks playing college football with Western Michigan.