OXNARD, Calif. — You can go ahead and add another proven talent to the ranks for the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive line for the 2024 season. This time it’s Linval Joseph, the veteran nose tackle having agreed to terms as the Cowboys moved training camp from Oxnard back to Dallas.
Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones initially confirmed the move Saturday during the pre-game broadcast “Countdown to Kickoff” before the game with the Chargers at AT&T Stadium.
It was made official on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Joseph, a 14-year veteran, will be the latest to reunite with newly-returned defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the two having spent time together as members of the Minnesota Vikings — during a stretch that helped Joseph earn both of his Pro Bowl nods.
He also joins both Carl Lawson and Jordan Phillips as the latest additions to a completely revamped defensive front in Dallas.
It’s a unit that lost defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler to Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders in free agency and then Sam Williams to a torn ACL early in training camp, stretching the depth at the edge as well as on the interior, as players like Chauncey Golston and Villiami Fehoko were tasked with taking reps on the outside.
With Lawson, Phillips and now Joseph in the mix, things can settle in nicely across the board and that also means continuing the plan laid forth by Micah Parsons that was designed for him by Zimmer and the defensive coaching staff.
Joseph brings a wealth of experience and that includes having won a Super Bowl in the early 2010s with the New York Giants against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, going on to the Vikings thereafter, where he spent six seasons before joining the Los Angeles Chargers for two seasons, followed by one-year stays with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
The goal of bringing in Joseph will be to bolster the rotation at nose tackle with Mazi Smith, who is having a very strong camp and preseason, while Phillips will aid Osa Odighizuwa in rotation at 3-tech (right of center) with the flexibility to help at 1-tech (nose tackle) when asked to do so.
The entire NFL is only days away from final roster cutdowns and that means not only trimming the roster for prepare for the all-important season opener, but also in making whatever improvements are needed via free agency and/or trade.
In the span of less than one week, the Cowboys have pulled both of those levers.
