After ACL derailment, Cowboys DE's closing camp moment indicates best is ahead
One year ago, Sam Williams' season ended before it began. A torn ACL in training camp put him on injured reserve, and while recovering, he served a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy. It was the latest in a string of disciplinary setbacks that included multiple arrests and a reputation for costly on-field penalties.
Now, after months of rehab and reflection, Williams left Oxnard with one of the most talked-about plays of Cowboys training camp and perhaps a turning point in how he is viewed inside the building. Coaches have called him 'hungry' all summer, and his final act in California showed exactly what they meant.
In the final padded practice, with only one snap left on the day, Williams dropped into coverage and intercepted Dak Prescott in the red zone. Then he took off, sprinting the length of the field for a Pick-6, drawing cheers from teammates and a smile from the owner.
'Sam is not fragile in terms of mental,' Jerry Jones said, 'but as Michael Irvin said when he had an injury that flashed before him the prospects of not playing again… it made his career to appreciate what he might miss. I think Sam has had that same realization.'
The comparison to Irvin, a Hall of Famer who turned a career-threatening injury scare into fuel for his legendary work ethic, is no small compliment. For Williams, it is validation after a turbulent stretch.
With veteran depth on the edge gone and expectations higher than ever, Williams' 2025 season will be about proving this version of himself is here to stay. If the end of camp was any indication, he is off to the right start.
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