Jason Hatcher believes he finally has his opportunity.
With Stephen Bowen departing for a five-year, $27 million deal with the Washington Redskins, Hatcher will have a legitimate chance to compete with Igor Olshansky for the starting defensive end job opposite Marcus Spears, who was awarded a five-year, $19 million deal by the team two weeks ago.
Early on, it looks as though Hatcher is poised to capitalize on this chance. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan described the veteran defensive end as “a one-man wrecking crew” in the preseason opener against Denver, in which Hatcher had four tackles, three solo.
The team, as well as Hatcher, hopes that the performance last Thursday is a sign of things to come from the former third round pick.
“I started off slow, didn’t get the shot that I wanted early in my career,” Hatcher said recently, per ESPN Dallas. “Now I’ve got my shot. It’s a waiting game sometimes in this league. You’ve just got to be ready when the time comes. I feel like my time is here.”
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