After having the NFL’s highest-scoring offense last year, the Dallas Cowboys will face the league’s best defense to kick off the 2024 season. Even though CeeDee Lamb is back, Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns’ defense will have a tough time scoring points, especially on the road.

It’s a tough matchup for the Cowboys. Fans will remember that Dallas wasn’t particularly successful against elite defenses last season.

With that in mind, the defense of Micah Parsons and Mike Zimmer may need to pull the offense out of what could be a slow start. Although Zimmer has received rave reviews all summer, teething issues are to be expected in a new scheme.

Fortunately, superstars like Parsons are able to overcome age-old obstacles. It also helps if you don’t expect the opponent’s left tackle to play. Parsons couldn’t have asked for better news in the countdown to Sunday afternoon.

Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 9 of last year. Wills, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft, suffered a severe MCL sprain, a mild PCL sprain and bone bruises. Wills was quickly placed on the injured list and later underwent successful arthroscopic surgery.

This is a big development for Cleveland, but Wills only participated in individual drills during the media-accessible portion of practice. It would be reckless of the Browns to kick him out of there after he was just cleared to practice following a lengthy rehab.

Well, Wills himself has announced that he will not start on Sunday.

“Oh no, I won’t,” Will said, via Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. “I’m not going to start this week. I’m just going to go out for indy (individual drills) and see how it feels and then get back in the game.”

Wills has been officially ruled out for Sunday, meaning veteran right tackle Jack Conklin will start at left tackle for the Browns. That’s more good news for Parsons.

Despite being a two-time All-Pro and one of the highest-earning RTs in football, Conklin has never played left tackle in the NFL. He played there in college at Michigan State, but switched to the right side for a good reason.

Even better for Parsons? Conklin is only in his second week back after completing his own knee rehab. Conklin tore two ligaments in his knee in Week 1 of last season and missed the rest of the season. Coming off a major injury and playing in an unfamiliar position, it stands to reason that Conklin will not be at his best when he plays on Sunday. His availability for the game is questionable.

Not only are the Browns missing their backup left tackle, but he just returned from a serious knee injury and likely won’t play. That bodes well for the entire Cowboys front seven, but the stage is set for Parsons in particular to completely ruin Sunday’s game.

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