Linval Joseph, a 14-year veteran of the NFL who has played for five different teams, is joining the Dallas Cowboys before the 2024 season opens.
The move was first made public on August 21 by longtime NFL insider Josina Anderson; Joseph had been a free agent the entire offseason and had found a new home with Dallas. “Breaking: I’m told the #Cowboys are signing DT Linval Joseph, per source,” Anderson wrote on X.
Joseph joins the squad soon after Mike Zimmer, the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, openly demanded that more players be added at nose tackle (more on that below.) Joseph, who was playing for the Minnesota Vikings under Zimmer, was one of the best players in the NFL at that position in his peak. But he will turn 36 in a little more than a month.
Although Joseph’s most recent stint with the Buffalo Bills wasn’t exactly a success, it’s unlikely that Dallas will be eager to give Joseph a significant role. Rather, Joseph is likely to assume a rotational role that will provide the Cowboys with a new interior presence.
Linval Joseph Looking to Rekindle Old Success
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Joseph was a force of nature on a talented NFL defense. It’s hard for defensive tackles to stand out, but on a defense that boasted multiple Pro Bowlers, Joseph did just that for the Vikings.
In 2016, Joseph made a whopping 77 tackles, earning 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He followed up with 68 tackles in 2017, adding another 5 TFL and 3.5 sacks according to Pro Football Reference. The years before and after saw plenty of success too, but it with Minnesota and Zimmer that Joseph had his greatest years.
Joseph has had trouble making an impression on new teams during the previous two years. For the Philadelphia Eagles, he started 11 games overall, but his production did not keep up with his workload.
Joseph found it difficult to get on the field with the Bills. He only participated in 35% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps and did not start in any of his seven outings.
Cowboys DC Says Team Needed New ‘Noses’
Joseph’s arrival coincides with the Cowboys’ open admission that they needed coverage at DT, as was previously reported.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Cowboys are signing veteran DT Linval Joseph ✭ pic.twitter.com/vP2ed7Q6Rd
— The Cowboys Network (@TheCowboysNet) August 21, 2024
On August 14, Zimmer told reporters he thought young Cowboys defensive end Mazi Smith was doing a good job, but they still needed more help. “Mazi did a fantastic job in there. Obviously, we need to locate more noses; let’s see how these young men fare. Basically just taking it from there,” Zimmer stated.
The depth chart on the Cowboys’ official website shows Justin Rogers as the third-string nose tackle and no second-string option. In essence, the chart indicates that Dallas lacks a backup quarterback for the nose tackle position.
Bringing in Joseph should be beneficial for the future as well as the present. Joseph is a skilled player who ought to be able to compete. However, he is currently among the league’s most seasoned players, so this year, he should be able to pass along some knowledge to Smith.
Previously a managing editor at Outsider and sports writer for the Montana Standard, Evan Reier covers the NFL for Heavy.com, specializing in the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
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