Barry

Church

It’s an obvious fit for Church, who spent his first seven seasons with the Cowboys. Church needs to clear waivers, but it won’t be suprising if ends up back in Dallas. The Cowboys have been getting uneven safety play from Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods.

How the mighty have fallen. Church’s 2018 campaign with Jacksonville consisted of bottling Gronk in Week 2, getting arrested in London after allegedly skipping on a $40,000 bar tab, and eventually getting benched in Week 12 for rookie S Ronnie Harrison. Church was in on 96% of defensive snaps prior to riding the pine. We expect him to find a suitor shortly given his veteran status.

Ronnie Harrison, DJ Hayden and Gerard Wilson were also named in the report. The players allegedly skipped out on paying a $40,000 bar tab. Charges were eventually dropped, but it’s not a good look the night before a game. Church and Harrison are the only starters of the group and could face team-imposed discipline. It’s a potential downgrade to Jacksonville’s secondary.

He expects to participate in OTAs. Church will have to hold off rookie Matt Johnson to be Dallas’ third safety behind Gerald Sensabaugh and Brodney Pool.

This is first sniff of interest Pool has generated. He has been a backup with the Jets for much of the last two seasons, but the Cowboys are desperate for free safety help next to strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh. Right now, Barry Church is their best option but he’s recovering from serious shoulder surgery.

It sounds like Church is headed for year-ending injured reserve. Dallas’ third safety this season, Church has 28 tackles on the year. He was playing in nickel packages behind SS Gerald Sensabaugh and FS Alan Ball.

The procedure was described as similar to Mike Jenkins’ surgery, which will require a 4-6 month recovery timetable. Dallas’ third safety is in the final year of his rookie contract in 2012.

“Gerald has a history of playing being able to play through some different injuries, so hopefully he can do that again,” said coach Jason Garrett, and Sensabaugh said he plans on playing in Thursday’s game against Miami. Barry Church would step in if Sensabaugh cannot go.

Church’s shoulder popped out twice against the Giants on Sunday night. He’ll likely need surgery to stabilize the joint. Danny McCray is a candidate to take over third safety duties in sub packages.

Versatile Gerald Sensabaugh appears to be ticketed for free safety this season. Church is a physical in-the-box enforcer type, while Pool is more of a ballhawking option. We expect Pool to win the job and Church to be the No. 3 safety.