Amid Ndamukong Suh Rumors, Dallas Cowboys Have Roster Moves Plan for Johnathan Hankins Injury

Amid Ndamukong Suh Rumors, Dallas Cowboys Have Roster Moves Plan for Johnathan Hankins Injury

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys have a hole. But they have a plan - and no, we're told it does not included the off-the-couch signing of Ndamukong Suh.

Maybe the only real negative to come out of Dallas' 33-13 blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night is the injury issue with defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins. Hankins, highly effective as a nose tackle in coordinator Dan Quinn's defense, exited the game with what the Cowboys say is a "high ankle sprain'' - but one that might be relatively "mild.''

Enter ... Ndamukong Suh? Nope. Enter ... Mazi Smith up the depth chart and probably Carl Davis up from the practice squad.

Suh's name is a compelling one. The former second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft was one of the most destructive players of his generation, and even last year, at 36, signed on late and played in Super Bowl LVII after joining the Eagles mid-season.

There are rumors about teams being interested in repeating that scenario with the 6-4, 313-pounder. But Dallas should not be included in the gossip.

Instead, the coaching staff will scurry to ready rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith - the Cowboys' recent first-round pick - for a top-of-the-rotation role.

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Additionally, there is a reason that a couple of weeks ago Dallas signed another defensive tackle, the 6-5, 320-pound Carl Davis, to the practice squad. At 31, he's now a fringe roster guy, the 2015 Ravens' third-round draft pick having been a part-time starter for an assortment of teams during his career.

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As is the case with Hankins, who will hopefully be back in the regular season, Mazi - and Davis, with the safe assumption he gets elevated - will largely work as nose tackles, with the assignment to be to occupy blockers.

At the very top of the spectrum, that's why the rookie Mazi Smith is here. And at the other end of the spectrum? That's why the journeyman Carl Davis is here, too.