IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys will wear their blue jerseys for Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Oakland Raiders.
With the league not allowing throwback helmets because of player safety concerns, the Cowboys eschewed the throwback jersey and will go with their blue jersey at home, which will be a first since 1964.
The Cowboys have worn their blue jersey just once this season, losing to the San Diego Chargers 30-21. The Cowboys could have opted for the throwback jersey and kept the star helmet, but chose to go with their normal blue jersey.
In September the NFL issued a memo advising teams that players would no longer wear different helmets as part of a throwback or third uniform. With the concussion lawsuit, the NFL wanted to make sure players were in helmets that were properly broken in. The Cowboys would typically practice for two or three weeks in the throwback helmets during the year before the rule was changed.
“I think everything is about putting payer safety first and foremost,” said Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, who is a member of the NFL’s competition committee. “I don’t know that it’s a given by moving from one helmet to another that it’s an issue but we haven’t proven that it’s not either. So anytime we’re always going to err on the side of safety, so it’s going to give us a new look this year, but sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that either. We’ll continue to look at that.”