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One of the Dallas Cowboys‘ top defensive players fractured their hand on Tuesday. Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn left with an apparent left-hand injury, which has been confirmed as a fractured hand. The team is practicing in Oxnard, CA, with just four days until their first preseason game.
Watch injury via Joe Trahan on Twitter:
Check out the play where #Cowboys DE Robert Quinn fractured his left hand. He’ll need surgery, but Stephen Jones says Quinn should be ready for the season opener.
#WFAACowboys
Dallas News’ Calvin Watkins reports Quinn has fractured his hand and will undergo surgery. Stephen Jones said Quinn will likely undergo surgery and be ready for week one:
Robert Quinn has a fracture of his hand. Stephen Jones said he expects Quinn to undergo surgery. Jones expects him to be ready for Week 1.
Watkins gave encouraging news as to the severity of the injury because DeMarco Murray played in the season opener after the injury:
Stephen Jones compared the hand injury suffered by Robert Quinn to the one Demarco Murray had years ago.
Quinn has since traveled to Dallas for surgery and is expected to be back by week one, according to head coach Jason Garrett.
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Initial Reports on Robert Quinn
NFL Network’s Jane Slater confirms he left the field with an apparent “left-hand injury.”
#Cowboys DE Robert Quinn coming off the practice field left hand looked like it was bothering him.
The injury was suffered during a pass rush drill, according to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Todd Archer:
Robert Quinn heading into the locker room early with an apparent left hand or finger injury suffered in one on one pass rush drills.
Robert Quinn Trade
Dallas acquired Quinn from the Miami Dolphins for a 2020 sixth-round pick. Quinn was a steal at that price and the Cowboys hope the injury is minor so they can get the two-time Pro Bowler.
The Dolphins traded fourth and sixth-round picks for Quinn from the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. Injury concerns were evident with the Rams and he was no longer a fit for the scheme so he was shipped away. He did well enough in Miami for the Cowboys to bring him along. He played in all regular-season games last season and amassed 38 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and 15 QB hits.
Quinn’s Career
Quinn played seven seasons with the St. Louis Rams and current Los Angeles Rams before heading to Miami. He had his best year in 2013, where he amassed 23 tackles for a loss, 19 sacks, 57 total tackles and a touchdown.
He had three straight years with more than 10 sacks. He had two seasons with 10.5 sacks in 2012 and 2014. He also had at least 11 tackles for a loss in those three seasons.
He also did a tremendous job hitting the quarterback with 34 quarterback hits in 2013 and 20 in 2014.
The 2015 and 2016 seasons were tough on him as he started an average of 7.5 games due to injury. He started in an average of 15 games in 2017 and 2018 with the Dolphins before being traded to the Cowboys.
The team already has a lot of depth on the defensive line, but Quinn brings a veteran presence to help Maliek Collins, Antwaun Woods, Tyrone Crawford, Demarcus Lawrence, Taco Charlton, and potentially Randy Gregory if he is reinstated by the league.
This bodes well for a defensive unit primed to lead the league in 2019. The defensive line is a big part of that success as their ability to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and stuff-up the run will help the rest of the team succeed.
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