Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys should be weary of this Browns rookie

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Although the Dallas Cowboys are heavily favored against the Cleveland Browns, one insider warns about overlooking this Browns’ rookie defender.

The Dallas Cowboys are off to an unexpected 6-1 start this season due primarily to the stellar play of two rookies: quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. And both are expected to start this Sunday against a winless Cleveland Browns team in a contest where the Cowboys are heavily favored.

Although the Cowboys rookie duo of Prescott and Elliott continue to be the talk of the league amid a six-game winning-streak, one Dallas insider warns America’s Team should be weary of a unheralded but talented rookie roaming the Browns’ defensive middle this Sunday.

“Something to keep an eye on for the Browns defensively is outside linebacker Carl Nassib,” wrote former NFL Scout Bryan Broaddus on the team’s official website. “Last week against the New York Jets, Nassib knocked three of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s passes down at the line of scrimmage. For the season, Nassib has four tipped passes to go along with 1.5 sacks. With the way the Cowboys like to work the ball in the middle of the field and to the outside on swings and screens, Nassib’s length and ability could affect how successful those attempts are executed.”

Nassib was a one-year wonder coming out of Penn State prior to the Browns selecting the defensive end as the 65th overall selection in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. After being redshirted in 2011, Carl recorded a total of 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles during his first three active seasons with the Nittany Lions.

In 2015, Nassib exploded for 46 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. After the rookie defender had a strong first game in Week One for the Browns, recording three tackles and a sack against the Green Bay Packers, he broke his hand in the following contest against the Baltimore Ravens.

The 6-7, 275 pound defender returned in Week Five and has slowly been worked back into the Browns’ defensive rotation. In Week One, Nassib recorded 54 snaps on defense. Since returning last month, he’s posted defensive snap totals of 27, 26, 27 and finally, in last Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets, 52. That’s the 23-year old’s most playing time since the start of the season.

So far this year, Nassib has recorded seven total tackles, four pass defends and 1.5 sacks in six games. But with the added presence of recently acquired Jamie Collins, who was traded to the Browns by the New England Patriots on Monday, the rookie could receive a boost in play due to the talented linebacker’s presence.

It would only make sense that a Browns’ rookie could potentially find success against a Cowboys team being lead by two talented first-year players of their own.