The Cowboys are expected to have several cleat choices available when they face the Ravens on Sunday at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said players will decide which footwear to use according to their individual preferences. The team is scheduled to inspect the surface for the first time Saturday.
The NFL has been checking the Rio field during the month, NFL Field Director Nick Pappas told The Dallas Morning News. The league has said the game will take place as planned, although no additional information about the field was provided.
Kenny Clark, a Cowboys defensive tackle, said the team will play regardless of the surface. He experienced traction issues in São Paulo two years ago while playing for the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles. Clark described that field as soft and hard to manage.
Saquon Barkley switched cleats during the game, while Clark used shoes fitted with seven studs for better grip. Clark said he does not know what the Maracanã surface will be like but considers the earlier field a concern.
