The Dallas Cowboys left Lambeau Field with another ugly loss, and the damage didn’t stop at the scoreboard.
Dallas fell 23-13 to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, and the postgame mood got worse once the team learned starting linebacker Dee Winters came away with an Achilles strain. According to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Winters will "likely miss" Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
That’s a rough break for a defense that can’t really afford one. Winters had just turned in one of his better moments of the season against Green Bay, picking off a pass for what looked like it could become a touchdown before replay stepped in and ruled him down. Instead of celebrating that play, the Cowboys are now waiting on the injury report.
His absence would land at the same time Dallas is already dealing with another linebacker issue. DeMarvion Overshown remains out with a hamstring injury, though there is a chance he could return in Week 7 after missing five games. Still, hamstrings are tricky, and that becomes an even bigger concern for a player with Overshown’s injury history.
So far this season, Winters has started all six games and produced 35 total tackles, 23 of them solo, along with one fumble recovery and one interception.
With Winters sidelined, rookie Jaishawn Barham figures to see even more responsibility. The depth behind him could also be tested, and Schottenheimer pointed to Shemar James and Justin Barron as two players who may be asked to do more. On Monday, he made it clear both have earned trust.
"We're getting a lot of guys reps. Shemar James, like I said, is doing a really good job," Schottenheimer said.
"Justin Barron last night did a really good job. We put him in on a couple passing situations.
They actually tried him on a little wheel route immediately when he came in the game and he played it beautifully. That's a position that normally gets dinged up and beat up a little bit, and both those guys Shemar and Justin have played really well for us."
Dallas and Philadelphia are set to kick off at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday Night Football in Week 7 at 7:15 p.m. CT.
In Other News...
Cowboys Secondary Battle Could Force A Big Cornerback Change
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That trend has opened the door to a possible depth chart adjustment, one that would shift more responsibility toward Speed if the team decides it needs a cleaner fit in the secondary. For a defense trying to find its footing, the Cowboys are clearly weighing whether the current rotation is helping or whether a change at cornerback could bring a little more stability. [Read more 🡒]
Jerry Jones Just Added Fresh Intrigue To Cowboys Eagles Week 7
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Caleb Downs Is Already Facing A Cowboys Problem He Didnt Create
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The growing pains have shown up most clearly when he is lined up in the nickel, where the fit has been tougher than it looked on paper. Even so, Downs still leads the team in tackles, a sign that the production is there even if the comfort level is still catching up. For the Cowboys, the larger issue is less about one rookie adjusting and more about a secondary that has forced him into spots that ask a lot more than his natural position did. [Read more 🡒]