Days after Dallas Cowboys general manager and owner Jerry Jones made waves for his comments on a Dallas radio station, Troy Aikman is now joining the discussion.
Unlike Jerry Jones, Aikman focused his comments on the team and how they are playing.
The former Dallas quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Famer ripped the Cowboys’ wide receivers for their effort during the first six weeks of the 2024 NFL season.
Aikman expressed his dissatisfaction with the Dallas Cowboys’ route-running and called upon the team’s star wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, to improve his skills.
“I think the routes are terrible,” Aikman opined, as transcribed by The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “I think they run terrible routes. And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee has got to improve in his route running.”
The 57-year-old also called out the wideouts for only putting maximum effort on releases during which they expected to get the ball.
Troy Aikman isn’t loving the play designs for the Cowboys this season. 👀 pic.twitter.com/VKNPeSFJ4H
— theScore (@theScore) October 17, 2024
“I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage,” Aikman said. “Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it.”
Aikman applauded other teams across the NFL for the work that they put in.
“It’s hard to play the (QB) position if you’re not certain how guys are going to run routes or where they’re going to be,” Aikman said.
Aikman hopes that Dak Prescott can get similar support as the season goes on.
Can The Dallas Cowboys Save This Season?
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, who played for the Cowboys for 12 seasons from 1989 to 2000, ripped the team in his latest assessment.
The Cowboys recently suffered an embarrassing 47-9 blowout at home to the Detroit Lions before entering their Week 7 bye.
The team is just 3-3 on the year.
Things will not get any easier as they will play the San Francisco 49ers next on the road on Oct. 27.
After that, the Dallas Cowboys have matchups against the Falcons, Eagles, Texans, and Commanders.
It’s going to take maximum effort for this team to find the issues that have plagued them and fix them soon enough to salvage the season.
