Cowboys Secondary Could Get An Opener Break They Really Needed

The Cowboys' chances against the Giants could improve with a strategic roster shift in New York's receiving corps.

The Cowboys may have gotten a little help before they even kick off their season opener.

Dallas is set to face the Giants on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium, and one of the biggest pregame questions has been whether New York wide receiver Malik Nabers will be on the field. Nabers has been working back from a torn ACL and a full meniscus repair, and while he has been cleared to play, his availability has still been unsettled.

That uncertainty got louder on Saturday afternoon when the Giants announced they were signing wide receiver Dalen Cambre to the 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s game. It doesn’t make anything official, but it certainly raises questions about whether Nabers will actually suit up.

That matters for a Dallas defense trying to turn the page after having the league’s worst pass defense a season ago. Christian Parker’s group is one of the main storylines entering Week 1, and the matchup could look a lot friendlier if Nabers is sidelined.

The Cowboys have their own issues to sort through, too. Right tackle Terence Steele’s inconsistency remains a concern, and Dallas will also be without All-Pro guard Tyler Smith as it lines up against a Giants defensive front that looks dangerous on paper.

Nabers gave the Cowboys problems in their last meeting, catching nine passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in New York’s overtime loss. If he’s not active this time around, that gives Parker and the secondary a much easier assignment when the Giants’ passing game takes center stage.

Nothing is final until the inactives are announced about an hour before kickoff, so the picture could still change. But the Cambre move is the kind of roster wrinkle that usually tells you something, and it will be one of the biggest things to watch as Sunday night gets closer.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2026, at 8:20 p.m. ET in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

NBC and Peacock will carry the matchup. The Cowboys are listed as 3-point favorites, with an over/under of 48.5.

Dallas is -162 on the moneyline, while the Giants are +136.

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