Dallas Cowboys: 5 X-factor players for Week 1 vs. Rams

2. Cam Erving, Right Tackle

La’el Collins was playing out of his mind in 2019. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he was the second-best Cowboys offensive lineman behind only Zack Martin. He was also the No. 5 overall tackle in the NFL, scoring an 86.4, which was nearly 15 points higher than he had been given the previous season.

While it was fun watching him grow into the dominant tackle he has become, fans will have to wait a few weeks (at least) to see him hit the field again in 2020. That’s because Collins has been put on the IR to start the season as he’s been battling a hip injury.

The new IR rules could mean that Collins’ stay on the list might last only three weeks which is great news for the Cowboys season outlook but it doesn’t help them in Week 1. What will help them is the fact that they landed an offensive tackle with starting experience as the backup in Cam Erving.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, Erving bounced all over the offensive line early in his career, and that stunted his growth. He didn’t live up to the hype with the Browns but then found new life with the Kansas City Chiefs. Erving has started 25 games in the past three seasons, including eight at left tackle last year.

In Week 1, he’s going to be relied upon to help keep Dak Prescott upright. Dallas fans still have trauma over the 2017 season when Chaz Green let Prescott get sacked five times and Byron Bell gave up one more for good measure (to the same player). They’ve remedied that in recent seasons with Cameron Fleming and now they will rely on Erving to do the same. If he can’t rise to the occasion, this game could get ugly.