Cowboys Sign New Center, Bolster Offensive Line Depth After Cooper Beebe’s Injury

The Dallas Cowboys may have celebrated a thrilling 40-37 overtime win against the New York Giants, but the aftermath brought troubling news. Starting center Cooper Beebe went down with an ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for 6-to-8 weeks, forcing the Cowboys to move quickly to reinforce their offensive line.

Vice president Stephen Jones expressed hope that Beebe could recover on the shorter end of that timeline, possibly returning before the end of October. In the meantime, backup center Brock Hoffman is expected to step into the starting role, much as he did during Week 2. Hoffman, who has been with Dallas since 2022, started seven games last year and brings valuable continuity.

To further address the depth issue, Dallas signed veteran offensive lineman Wesley French, adding him to the practice squad. French spent the past three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, playing in 17 games with three starts in 2023. His familiarity with offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who previously worked with him in Indianapolis, should smooth his transition into the Cowboys’ system.

Still, the Cowboys’ offensive line remains a work in progress. Alongside Beebe, young linemen Tyler Guyton and rookie Tyler Booker are still adjusting to the pro level, with inconsistent results reflected in their Pro Football Focus grades. The addition of French brings much-needed veteran presence to balance the inexperience.

Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer expressed confidence in Hoffman, praising not only his reliability but also his vocal leadership. “At practice, he does it. On gameday, from the sideline, he does it. He gets underneath defenders, gets in their heads a little bit. His play style, it’s fun, it’s cool, and it’s noticeable for everybody else,” Schottenheimer said.