The Cowboys have spent plenty of years taking heat for not doing enough to help the roster. This season, though, the front office has been much more aggressive about patching holes, and a handful of those additions are starting to show up again and again on game day.
That list starts with Quinnen Williams, whose impact is becoming harder to miss by the week. Against the Eagles, he was everywhere: blowing up a goal-line run, diagnosing a screen and chasing down the ball carrier, then adding another sack to his ledger.
He now has three sacks in his last four games, and his nine tackles for a loss this year are the most by any defensive tackle. The production is starting to match the vision.
Joey Porter Jr. is making a case of his own. The Cowboys paid a second-round price for him, though that pick does not come until 2028, and the early return looks strong.
He is tight in coverage, glued to his assignment, and his fundamentals keep standing out every week. His long-term future with the team is still unclear, but with DaRon Bland’s unexpected decline, the argument for keeping Porter Jr. around is getting stronger.
Otito Ogbonnia has been one of the best finds of the offseason. On a modest one-year deal, he has grown into the team’s most dependable interior run defender and its top offseason addition. He came in expected to eat blocks; instead, his hand use and lateral quickness have turned him into a disruptive run stuffer who is making plays so often they feel routine.
Another player turning a small investment into something bigger is Brevyn Spann-Ford. The Cowboys gave him a three-year extension right before the season, and that decision looks better every time he steps on the field.
He’s doing the dirty work as an in-line blocker, opening space on the edge, while also becoming a bigger part of the passing game as another outlet for Dak Prescott. He’s contributing on special teams too, which only adds to his value.
The backup running back job has been a moving target, but Tyler Goodson may have finally stabilized it. The Cowboys tried to make it work with Jaydon Blue or Phil Mafah, but neither made the final roster.
Malik Davis had momentum in camp before a hip injury ended that path a week before the season. Emari Demercado lasted two games after being claimed from the Chiefs, and then the team turned to Goodson, who has brought some burst to the offense.
Since arriving, Goodson has given Dallas a high-efficiency change-of-pace option. With Javonte Williams handling the inside workload, Goodson has shown the vision and acceleration to attack the perimeter on outside-zone looks. He’s also brought value as a return man, filling in for KaVontae Turpin.
Broderick Jones is another piece the Cowboys are working into the mix. Brought over from Pittsburgh as a swing tackle, he has been used in heavy-run packages, including snaps as an eligible sixth offensive lineman.
That role gives the staff flexibility to move him between the left and right sides, and Monday night was his best outing yet in that package. He played nine offensive snaps as a sixth lineman, got off the ball quickly, sealed his man and climbed to the second level to help erase a linebacker.
It was a small sample, but it mattered in helping Dallas get its running game going against a tough Eagles front.
There was also a spot that would have gone to Jonathan Bullard, had he not suffered a calf injury in Week 3. He had been giving the Cowboys exactly what they wanted as a steady run defender in this scheme.
Elijah Garcia stepped in right away and kept the interior defensive line from missing a beat. That kind of response has been a theme for Dallas this year: targeted moves, useful depth, and enough dependable pieces to keep the roster afloat.
The Cowboys still have work to do, but the front office has clearly hit on more than a few of these bets. Even if every move doesn’t stick, several of them are already looking like players this team can build around.
In Other News...
Cowboys Head Into Cardinals Week With New Questions Around Key Stars
The Cowboys week of prep for Arizona has already taken on a different tone, with George Pickens working through shoulder and hamstring injuries that have cut into his practice reps. For a team trying to keep its offense on schedule, any limitation for a key pass catcher changes the look of the day-to-day plan, even if there is still time before kickoff. Safety Caleb Downs is also limited because of an ankle injury, adding another name to a practice report that merits close attention.
Patrick Queens name has also surfaced in trade talk, giving the injury watch a little extra noise as Dallas moves toward the Cardinals. Jerry Jones has already poured some cold water on the speculation, but that has not stopped the rumors from circulating around a Cowboys team that seems to collect questions as fast as it collects headlines. For now, the focus is on who can get right in time for the weekend and how much depth Dallas may need to lean on if the list keeps growing. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Week 8 Backfield Question Amid Mounting Absences
Jeremiyah Love was back on the field in a limited capacity this week after missing the past two weeks with an ankle injury, giving Arizona at least a chance to sort through its backfield before the Week 8 meeting with Dallas. The Cardinals are still juggling a lengthy injury report, with nine of the 15 players listed not taking part in practice, and the team continues to manage an illness that swept through the group last week.
Head coach Mike LaFleur has been working through how Love fits alongside backup Bam Knight while the offense tries to steady itself up front. Arizonas offensive line has been a concern, and with the Cowboys coming up, the Cardinals still have plenty to clean up before they know exactly what kind of shape their backfield will be in. [Read more 🡒]
Troy Aikman Suddenly Feels Like A Real Option For Cowboys Fans
Jerry Jones has a habit of keeping Cowboys conversations moving in every direction at once, and the latest one involves a familiar face from the franchises past. With the teams owner revisiting how he wants the organization to operate after recent decisions, the idea of Troy Aikman being part of the picture has started to feel less like nostalgia and more like a real talking point around Dallas.
Aikmans name has been tied to the organization before, but this time the speculation is being fueled by his uncertain future in broadcasting. His current ESPN deal is nearing its end, and if he does step away from the booth, the open question becomes whether Dallas could tempt him into a management role. For Cowboys fans, that is the kind of possibility that can turn an ordinary offseason conversation into a much bigger one. [Read more 🡒]