Why the Cowboys Should Prioritize Quinnen Williams’ Long-Term Health Over a Slim Playoff Shot
The Dallas Cowboys still have a mathematical shot at the postseason-but let’s be honest, it’s a long one. They’d need to win out and hope the Philadelphia Eagles drop all three of their remaining games.
That’s not impossible, but it’s a stretch. And with that in mind, it’s time for Dallas to start thinking less about the Hail Mary scenario and more about protecting the core pieces they’ll need for the long haul-starting with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.
Williams Enters Concussion Protocol After Physical Loss
Williams, who’s been a game-changer since arriving from the Jets, is back on the injury report. Already nursing a minor shoulder issue, he took two significant shots to the head during the Cowboys’ recent loss to the Vikings. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that Williams is now in the concussion protocol.
“Yep, he’ll be in the protocol,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “He came back fine from the first one, and then it sounds like he got a knee to the head or something. Physical game.”
That’s the kind of update that should immediately trigger a cautious approach. With three games left-against the Chargers, Commanders, and Giants-Dallas has to weigh the risk-reward of putting their best defensive lineman back on the field. And when you look at the stakes, the answer becomes pretty clear.
Run Defense Has Improved With Williams-But at What Cost?
Before Williams arrived, Dallas was getting gashed on the ground. Since then, the run defense has tightened up considerably, and that’s no coincidence.
Williams currently holds an 85.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking him third among all interior defensive linemen. He’s also logged 45 pressures-seventh-most among defensive tackles.
That kind of production doesn’t just fill up a stat sheet-it changes the way offenses scheme against you.
But even with that kind of impact, the Cowboys are at a point where they can’t afford to gamble with his health. The Commanders and Giants don’t exactly boast elite rushing attacks, and while Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal have shown flashes, Dallas should be able to hold its own without Williams anchoring the middle.
The bigger picture? Williams is a foundational piece for this defense moving forward.
He signed a four-year, $96 million extension in 2023, locking him in at $24 million per year. That’s a serious investment, and with the Cowboys already navigating a tricky salary cap situation, keeping their franchise defensive tackle healthy should be a top priority.
A Smart, Long-Term Decision
Yes, it’s tough to sit a player of Williams’ caliber when your playoff hopes are technically still alive. But this isn’t just about the next three games.
It’s about the next three years. Concussions are no small matter, and with Williams already dealing with shoulder issues, there’s no need to push him back into action when the postseason odds are stacked so heavily against you.
Had Williams been on the roster from Week 1, maybe this season looks a little different. The defense has clearly taken a step forward with him in the lineup. But now that the Cowboys have a better sense of what their ceiling looks like with a fortified front, they need to be thinking about how to sustain that success-not jeopardize it.
So while the competitive instinct might say, “If he’s cleared, he plays,” the smarter move is to take the long view. Let Williams heal.
Protect your investment. And start setting the tone for a 2026 campaign where this defense can hit the ground running at full strength.