The Cowboys left Indianapolis with a win, but not much else changed around them. They edged a bottom-tier Colts team on Sunday, then watched Tuesday’s trade deadline pass without adding anything to the roster. Put together, those two decisions say plenty about where this season is going and how the front office appears to be thinking beyond it.
One of the biggest questions now is whether Caleb Downs should just be allowed to play safety.
Dallas has mostly used the rookie as a slot defender in Christian Parker’s scheme, and the fit has been uneven. It has not been a total disaster, but Downs’ athletic limitations have been exposed by quicker, more seasoned receivers.
At the same time, the flashes keep popping up when he’s used differently. He can blitz.
He can diagnose. He read the final pass and picked it off to seal the Cowboys’ win, which only makes the question louder: why not let him line up at safety, where he starred at Ohio State and where he became an elite 2026 draft prospect?
The need is there, too. Jalen Thompson is still out, P.J.
Locke is injured again, and Malik Hooker remains mediocre. Dallas is not exactly overflowing with cornerback help either, but Downs has not done much from the slot to move the needle.
If he were more impactful at safety, those plays could help a defense that needs someone to end drives and maybe create turnovers.
There’s also a domino effect to consider. If Joey Porter Jr. can stay on the field, and if Cobie Durant can consistently handle the sidelines, DaRon Bland could move back to his natural spot in the slot. That would open the door for Downs to spend more time at safety, and that kind of reshuffling could make the secondary more functional.
The other major question is simpler: why did the Cowboys do nothing at the deadline?
After the loss to the Cardinals, plenty of people were ready to move on from Porter, George Pickens, and anyone else who might bring back future assets. Then Sunday’s win changed the mood just enough that some wanted Dallas to make one more push and add a piece for the stretch run. Instead, the Cowboys stood pat and let the roster ride.
That doesn’t mean the organization is done making decisions. A coaching change is still possible, though any move there would likely be about evaluating someone for the future rather than trying to alter the current season. For now, though, Dallas chose not to buy and not to sell.
Jerry Jones told the media Tuesday morning that Porter and Pickens were not held out Sunday as a setup for a trade. That’s an easy line to deliver after a win. It would have sounded different after a 3-6 collapse and another ugly loss to the Colts.
Even with the victory, there isn’t a ton of reason to feel better about where this is headed. And because of the compensatory draft pick system, Porter, Pickens, and any other free agent are not simply walking out the door next spring and leaving Dallas empty-handed. That gives the Cowboys some cover if they’re betting on a turnaround in 2026.
But it also leaves the fan base stuck in a frustrating middle ground. The front office isn’t angry enough to blow things up or fire anyone right now, but it also wasn’t motivated enough to chase help that might have made a real difference.
So the Cowboys keep moving through the same cycle. Nine more weeks of discontent, and the feeling is that the results could look awfully familiar by the time winter arrives.
In Other News...
Cowboys Secondary Depth Is Suddenly Looking Like A Real Problem
The Cowboys defensive backfield has become one of the more unstable parts of the roster, and the ripple effects are showing up everywhere. Injuries have forced constant shuffling in the secondary, leaving Dallas to lean on less experienced players while first-year defensive coordinator Christian Parker keeps trying to patch together a workable rotation.
Roster moves have only added to the sense that the room is being stretched thin. Dallas released cornerback Reddy Steward from the practice squad to make room for running back Kendre Miller after Tyler Goodsons injury, a reminder that the Cowboys are juggling needs on both sides of the ball while several key defensive backs have already missed multiple games. The result has been inconsistent coverage and a depth chart that looks a lot shakier than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Rookie Suddenly Faces Big Test With Defense Banged Up
A banged-up stretch on defense is opening the door for Jaishawn Barham, and the rookie linebacker is suddenly in line for a much bigger workload. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker said Barham will see increased playing time, a notable shift for a player who has been limited in recent weeks but has still managed to contribute 35 total tackles, four tackles for loss and one quarterback hit through nine games.
The timing matters with San Francisco next on the schedule, because Dallas needs bodies and production wherever it can find them. Barhams expanded role gives the Cowboys another young piece to lean on as the defense navigates injuries, and it also puts a spotlight on how quickly he can handle a heavier assignment when the snaps start coming his way. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Need Answers Fast On Joey Porter Jr's Latest Setback
Joey Porter Jr.s latest injury setback comes at a time when the Cowboys could use some stability on defense. Their pass coverage has been a problem, and Porter has already been part of the conversation around the team because of contract-related rumors that owner Jerry Jones has pushed back on. Instead of quieting things down, the ankle issue has only added another layer of uncertainty around a player the Cowboys would rather have available than discussing from the sideline.
Porter acknowledged the injury is serious and said he wants to get back on the field as soon as he can, but the timing is not ideal with San Francisco next on the schedule. He was held out of practice Wednesday, which leaves his status for the upcoming game in doubt and forces the Cowboys to keep looking for answers in a secondary that has already had enough problems. [Read more 🡒]