Likely crowd of 20,000 would be NFL’S most so far
FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys will have a capacity of about 25 percent for their home opener against the Atlanta Falcons at AT&T Stadium when kickoff takes place at noon Sunday.
Since the Arlington venue has an official seated capacity of 80,000, that means that approximately 20,000 fans will be able to be in seats inside the stadium. The team’s policy on suite attendance has not been shared publically, and the team will not sell standing-room-only tickets.
If the Cowboys do approach 20,000 fans, that would be the largest NFL attendance this season. Only two of 16 teams — the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars — allowed fans during Week 1 last weekend, with neither venue exceeding 17,000 fans.
Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones had previously repeatedly said the team won’t announce an official capacity figure until the day of the game.
The Cowboys’ crowd will be well under the 50 percent capacity previously set by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
While the Cowboys players will be excited to see fans in the stands after playing the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams before an empty crowd at Sofi Stadium last Sunday due to COVID-19 restrictions in California, don’t look for many of their family members to be in attendance.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott usually has an end-zone suite for his mom and sisters at AT&T Stadium, but it will be empty in 2020.
“No, sir. No family coming into town this year,” Elliott said. “… Me and my mom, we had a trade-off. I told her that she couldn’t come down this year, so
I finished her basement and got her a nice TV and couches so she has somewhere nice to watch the games.”
Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence is of a similar mindset, though he said he is looking forward to fans being in the stands Sunday because he likes to entertain people.
“Being able to have fans out there, to have the laughs, the joys, the cheers go along with the game is more exciting than to be out there celebrating by yourself and trying to bring your own energy,” Lawrence said.
LB Lee out at least six weeks
Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee underwent surgery last week to repair a sports hernia and he will be out at least six weeks, sources have confirmed.
Lee, 34, who was already on injured reserve and scheduled to miss the first three games of the season, now likely won’t be available until mid-tolate October.
It further exacerbates an already compromised linebacker position. Leighton Vander Esch will be out for six to eight weeks after fracturing his collarbone in the season-opening 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Joe Thomas has been tapped to start in place of Vander Esch, and the team signed Rashad Smith off the Chicago Bears’ practice squad to provide depth at the position.
Lee’s injury is a huge setback for the Cowboys and the seemingly injuryprone aging linebacker, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason to return for an 11th season.
Last year was the first time in his career Lee played a full 16-game season.
In other injury news, backup tackle Cam Erving will be out four to six weeks with a knee injury.