The game ended, that’s the best thing we say about the Dallas Cowboys final game at home where the L.A. Chargers got an impressive victory. But how did the Cowboys rookie class perform during the defeat. Let’s break it down.

OG Tyler Booker 

(Game stats- Snaps: 58, Pass Blocks: 38, Pressures: 1, Sacks: 1, Penalties: 0)

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Booker quietly put another piece of solid tape in the loss to the Chargers, even while the offense stalled out around him. Dallas allowed just nine total pressures all game and one sack on 30 dropbacks, compared with the 14 pressures surrendered by Los Angeles, which tells you the Cowboys’ protection wasn’t the primary reason the game got away from them.

On the field, Booker’s night looked like what we’ve come to expect, a mostly clean performance. Inside, Booker and Cooper Beebe did a reasonable job keeping the A and B gaps from collapsing. There were no penalties on Booker, the key holding call that stalled a promising Cowboys drive was charged to Tyler Smith on the left side, which knocked off an unbelievable catch by Flournoy in the endzone.

The fairest conclusion is that Booker played well in a mediocre offensive performance. The Cowboys didn’t leak much pressure overall, but Booker was charged with the sole sack during the game. Against the Chargers he wasn’t the problem, instead he looked like a long-term answer at right guard in a game where the scoreboard makes everything else look worse than his individual tape.

DE Donovan Ezeiruaku 

(Game stats- Snaps: 39, Total Tackles: 2, Pressures: 3, Sacks: 0, TFL: 0)

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Ezeiruaku’s night against the Chargers was more about flashes than full-game impact, and it came inside a defensive performance that never really got Justin Herbert uncomfortable, which is most concerning. On the stat sheet he finished with two combined tackles, one QB hit, zero sacks, zero tackles for loss and no takeaways, contributing one of Dallas’ five quarterback hits in a game where the defense failed to register a single sack. Herbert went 23-of-29 for 300 yards and two touchdowns and was never sacked, while the Chargers piled up 152 rushing yards at 4.6 per carry, underlining how little consistent disruption the front managed overall.

His best moment came on a third-down sequence where Ezeiruaku and Markquese Bell collapsed the edge and chased Herbert into a hurried, off-platform throw that ended in an incompletion and a field goal instead of a touchdown. That rep showed exactly why Dallas is excited about him with his good get-off, disciplined pursuit and enough closing speed to finish the play even when he doesn’t get the sack. Outside of that, though, his impact was muted. The Chargers’ quick passing game and efficient run script meant Ezeiruaku spent most of the night squeezing the pocket and setting the edge rather than producing splash plays.

Through this week, PFF has Ezeiruaku at a 77.7 overall grade with 34 total pressures on 554 snaps, ranking third on the team in defensive grade, not bad for a rookie. Against the Chargers Ezeiruaku was active and technically sound, but not a game changer. He added a notable pressure on a key drive and one of the few clean shots on Herbert, stayed out of the penalty column, and continued to look like a high-upside rookie.

CB Shavon Revel Jr.

(Game stats- Snaps: 55, Total Tackles: 9, PBU: 1, INT: 0, TD Allowed: 2, RTG Allowed: 145.4)

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Revel’s night against the Chargers was really rough, and it showed up both in the box score and in how the game felt. He was effectively a full-time starter on the outside, logging 55 defensive snaps, tied with Malik Hooker for the most on the team. On paper he finished with nine total tackles, which led the team which is telling on how the game script went. But that volume says as much about how often the ball found him and the issues that went on up front in the trenches.

The defining play was the first-quarter touchdown to Quentin Johnston. Revel was in tight coverage down the right sideline, but never truly played the ball. Johnston went up and made a spectacular one-handed grab for a 23-yard score. Revel looked in phase on the play but never got his head around quickly enough to contest the catch point. Later, he was singled out again for two more costly moments – failing to force Tre’ Harris out of bounds, allowing extra yards after the catch, and missing a tackle on KeAndre Lambert-Smith on third down, extending what turned into a 16-play, eight-minute Chargers drive. When you layer that on top of Johnston’s final line of four catches on five targets for 104 yards and a touchdown, with Herbert posting an insane 132.8 passer rating

All of this, however, has to be viewed through the lens of his health and development. Revel is less than a year removed from a torn ACL that ended his final season at East Carolina, and he missed the first 10 weeks of his rookie year rehabbing before being activated in mid-November.  Even this week, he only cleared the injury report on Friday after being limited earlier in the week with a knee issue.

Throwing a rehabbing rookie corner into full-time duty against a hot quarterback and big, explosive receivers is exactly the kind of trial that can either accelerate his growth or dent his confidence if the staff aren’t careful.

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LB Shemar James

(Game stats- Snaps: 50, Total Tackles: 5, TFL: 0, Sacks: 0)

James finally got a real defensive workload against the Chargers after DeMarvion Overshown went out, and he looked like exactly what he is right now, a young, fast linebacker who’s still learning but didn’t look out of his depth. Once Overshown left, James’ snap count climbed sharply compared with Minnesota, where he was exclusively a special-teams body. You could see Matt Eberflus trust him more as the game went on, rotating him into the nickel and dime looks rather than just keeping him for base or obvious run downs.

On the field he did the things you want from a backup suddenly pushed into a bigger role. He flowed to the ball, triggered downhill quickly against the run and finished a couple of tackles in space that easily could’ve turned into extra yards. In coverage he was mostly asked to handle underneath zones and running backs out of the backfield. The Chargers completed some short stuff in front of him, but he kept a lid on explosive plays and didn’t have a clear “that’s on James” bust on any of the big gains.

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Overall, it was a promising, if unspectacular, step. For a rookie who’d been living on special teams the last few weeks, that kind of steady, next-man-up performance is exactly what you want as a foundation going into next year.

DB Alijah Clark

(Game stats- Snaps: 13, Total Tackles: 0

*Snap count are all special team snaps*

Clark’s night against the Chargers was as low-impact as it gets, simply because he never got a chance to affect the game. He didn’t play a snap on defense and logged 13 snaps on special teams, where he finished without a tackle and without showing up on any of the major special teams swing plays. In one sense that’s neutral rather than negative, but in a game where Dallas needed a spark in the third phase, he was essentially anonymous. For a depth safety still carving out his role, this was more of a placeholder outing than any kind of statement.

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CB Trikweze Bridges

(Game stats- Snaps: 26, Total Tackles: 1)

*Snap count include special team snaps*

Bridges had a low-key but meaningful rotational outing against the Chargers, splitting his work between defense and special teams. He logged 17 snaps on defense, which is enough to count as part of the game plan but still very much in a depth role, coming on as an extra defensive back rather than a full-time starter. With that kind of snap count, his job is mostly about being assignment-sound and holding up in zone landmarks.

On special teams he added nine snaps and made his one contribution with a tackle on a kick return, a classic do-your-job play for a back-end corner trying to cement a role on game day. Taken together, 17 defensive snaps and nine on special teams with a solid kick-coverage tackle paints the picture of a depth defensive back who handled his assignments and quietly justified his place on the active roster, even if his name never showed up in the headline moments of the night.

RB Jaydon Blue

Inactive

OT Ajani Cornelius

Inactive

DT Jay Toia

Inactive

RB Phil Mafah

Injured reserve

WR Traeshon Holden

Practice squad

TE Rivaldo Fairweather

Practice squad

LB Justin Barron

Practice squad

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers…

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United are hopeful that Bruno Fernandes will return from injury before their clash with Manchester City on January 17, meaning the captain would miss only five matches – The Times.

Chelsea could have signed lifelong Blues fan Antoine Semenyo for just £2m six years ago – The Sun.

Antoine Semenyo’s release clause at Bournemouth is only active for the first 10 days of the January transfer window – BBC.

Roma want to sign Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan – BBC.

Manchester United are set to appoint Newcastle’s head of youth recruitment Paul Midgley to the same role at Old Trafford – Daily Mail.

EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

Robert Lewandowski will sit down with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick at the beginning of 2026 to discuss his future – Sport.

Monaco will not convert Ansu Fati’s loan move from Barcelona into a permanent deal – El Nacional.

SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

Celtic goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi is attracting interest from clubs in England and Europe – The Scottish Sun.

Hearts are set to sign defender Jordi Altena is set to be their first January signing after beating off competition from the MLS – The Scottish Sun.

(Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

CHARLESTON — Westbrook Health Services in Parkersburg was awarded two of 76 grants announced Tuesday from the West Virginia First Foundation.
The WVFF named the recipients of the Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG), which is nearly $18 million, to support high-impact initiatives addressing substance use disorder, prevention, recovery, and workforce and system capacity across West Virginia, according to a press release issued Tuesday.
WVFF Grant Awards
Approved by the WVFF Board of Directors earlier this month, MIG represents a landmark opioid abatement investment and reflects a revolutionary, nationally distinctive model for stewarding settlement dollars, one that combines objective evaluation and local expertise. Funding was awarded to 76 projects spanning statewide and regional target areas, reflecting both community-driven priorities and statewide needs.
Wood County is a part of District 3 within the WVFF which also includes Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Roane and Jackson counties.
Westbrook Health Services received a $125,000 grant focusing on Youth Prevention through the Westbrook Health Services Thrive Together Project and a $250,000 grant focused on the Westbrook Health Services Workforce Development Project to help with Behavioral Health & Workforce Development.
Other recipients in Region 3 include: $224,000 to Hope House Ministries Inc. for Recovery Housing; $58,329 to TEAM for West Virginia Children Inc. for Youth Prevention; and $113,554 to The Bomar Club Inc. for its On the Road to Success: Expanded Wraparound and Reentry Services as part of its Day Report Centers & Reentry Programs.
There were four statewide awards given to help with foster care and non-parental caregivers. Those awards include: $954,469.45 to the National Youth Advocate Program Inc. for the Foster RISE (Recruitment, Intervention, Support and Expansion) program; $974,751 to Pressley Ridge for the Pressley Ridge Treatment Kinship Care Statewide Services program; $975,000 to the West Virginia CASA Association Inc. for its Continuum of Care for Children & Families Impacted by the Opioid Crisis program; and $947,916 to West Virginia Wesleyan College for its WVWC & WV CASA Capacity Building Initiative program.
MIG investments will support a broad range of efforts, including foster care and non-parental caregiver initiatives, youth prevention, recovery housing, behavioral health and workforce development, and reentry and diversion programs, the press release said. Collectively, these investments are designed to strengthen systems of care, expand access to services, and promote long-term, sustainable impact for West Virginians, the release added.
“We were intentional in building a structure that reflects both feedback and best practices,” said Greg Duckworth, WVFF Board Chairman. “What emerged is a landmark opioid abatement model, distinct from any other foundation of its kind, made possible by volunteer board members and expert panelists dedicated to serving West Virginia.” To support consistency and objectivity, the WVFF review process followed a structured, multi-step approach, the press release stated. This first-of-its-kind model engaged local expert panelists, statewide leaders in their fields, neutral and objective data-driven specialists, and the full Board of Directors (both locally-elected and appointed). Independent, outcomes-based scoring was conducted and focused on program design, feasibility, and potential impact, the release said.
“The Momentum Initiative Grant reflects a new way of responding to the substance use crisis; one grounded in evidence, shaped by local expertise, and guided by accountability,” said Jonathan Board, WVFF Executive Director. “We traveled the state, listened to those holding the line in their communities, and answered the call to honor the lives lost by putting these resources into the hands of those ready to create real, lasting impact for West Virginia.”
For more information about the Momentum Initiative Grant, visit wvfirst.org/MIG.

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Boys Basketball team’s next game is on the road against the Academy of the Pacific Rim in Boston at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 2, followed by a return to the home gym on Monday, January 5 against Falmouth Academy at 5 p.m.

• The Girls Varsity Basketball team is 0-3 on the season after falling to the Carver Crusaders, 59-29, on Friday, December 19. Gianna Thorne scored 10 points, while Addison Littlefield had 6 points and 5 rebounds, and Bella Walsh scored 6 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots. During the holiday break, the team will play in the Scituate Holiday Tournament on Tuesday, December 30 at 12:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 31 at 11 a.m., then travels to the New Heights Charter School in Brockton on Monday, January 5 at 4:30 p.m.

• The Cohasset-Hull Cooperative Hockey team’s next games will be on Saturday, January 3 against Boston Latin Academy. Puck drops at 4 p.m. The team then heads down the Cape to take on Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School at the Tony Kent Arena in South Dennis on Monday, January 5 at 6 p.m.

• The Hingham-Hull Cooperative Gymnastics squad is 1-0 on the season, winning its opening matchup over Marshfield, 130.4 to 121.3, on December 19. The next competition will be against Whitman-Hanson Regional High School at the Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Hingham on Wednesday, January 7 at 8 p.m.

• The next meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be against Carver on Monday, January 5 at 4 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

• For the full schedule for each Hull High team, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• Registration is under way for Hull Pirates In-Town Youth Basketball. Programs include a skills and drills co-ed session for grades 1 and 2, a co-ed program for grades 3 and 4, as well as an open gym program (also co-ed) for grades 5-8. The season runs from January 10-March 14 on Saturdays at the Jacobs School gym. For more information, visit http://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com/camps.

• A combined Girls 3/4 travel basketball team is on the court this season, competing at the fourth-grade level, and has a record of 1-2. The team’s most recent game was a 36-5 loss to Weymouth on Saturday. Next up is Hingham on Sunday, January 4 at 3 p.m. All games are played at Indian Head Elementary School in Hanson, so fans have to travel to take in a game. The full schedule of game times and weekly opponents is at this link: www.oldcolonybasketball.org/team/hull/4/1.

• Registration is open for Hull Youth Lacrosse – two travel teams and the in-town programs – through January 22. For more information, visit www.hulllax.com or email hullyouthlax@gmail.com if you have any questions.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!