The Cowboys are woefully short on playmakers on defense.
So that might be why they’re talking up Rolando McClain, almost as if they’re hoping he takes a job and makes it his own.
Owner Jerry Jones didn’t need prompting to praise the twice-retired linebacker after Saturday’s game against the Ravens, McClain’s first since 2012.
“I liked what 55 did out there,” Jones said, via Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. “He got some good snaps, more snaps than I thought he might get and he did real well. We knew and felt that he was good in coverage and he showed tonight that he drops back good, got a good feel for coverage out there.”
They need someone to make a difference in the absence of Sean Lee, but have given Justin Durant the bulk of the work in the middle with the starters.
But after McClain led them in tackles, forced a fumble and batted down a pass, they have to consider sliding the solid Durant outside to get McClain on the field.
“Hard to assess it without watching the tape, but he definitely showed up a couple of times,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “There was a play right on our bench where he pulled the ball out, and he’s done an excellent job running to the ball, being physical as a tackler and then getting the ball out. He’s done that all throughout training cap.
“It was good to see that show up a little bit.”
Getting McClain to show up on tape hasn’t been the challenge throughout his career, it’s been getting him to show up. But the Cowboys appear inclined to give him another chance.