Kenneth Murray’s Struggles Continue as Cowboys’ Linebacker Play Remains a Major Concern
The Dallas Cowboys came into Week 15 with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Every snap mattered.
Every assignment needed to be executed. And yet, in a game where precision was paramount, linebacker Kenneth Murray once again found himself at the center of a defensive breakdown that left fans and analysts alike shaking their heads.
Let’s set the stage: Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings. A must-win scenario for Dallas.
The Vikings, led by rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy-who’s had his fair share of growing pains this season-weren’t exactly expected to light up the scoreboard. But they didn’t need to.
They just needed to take advantage of a Dallas defense that’s been inconsistent, especially at the second level.
Before kickoff, the Cowboys made a move fans had been calling for. Logan Wilson, acquired in a midseason trade, was announced as the starting linebacker.
Murray, who had been struggling for weeks, was relegated to a rotational role. The idea was to limit his exposure and shore up a unit that’s been a liability.
But even in a limited role, Murray made his presence felt-for all the wrong reasons.
With under two minutes left in the second quarter and the Vikings threatening in the red zone, Minnesota dialed up a run up the gut on second-and-goal. It should’ve been a routine stop or at least a chance to contain the play.
Instead, Murray misread the action entirely, sprinting to his right toward a ghost-no ball carrier in sight. The lane he vacated?
That’s exactly where the Vikings punched it in for a touchdown.
It was a moment that crystallized the frustration around Murray’s play this season. And it wasn’t just a one-off.
According to Pro Football Focus, Murray ranks 92nd out of 95 qualifying linebackers this year, with an overall grade of 36.8. That’s not just below average-that’s bottom-tier production at one of the most important positions on the field.
Since arriving in Dallas via trade from the Tennessee Titans, Murray has yet to make a real impact. In his last five games, he hasn’t recorded more than three tackles in a single outing. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a defense that’s been desperate for consistency at linebacker.
The reaction from Cowboys fans during and after the game was swift and brutal. Social media lit up with clips of the miscue and calls for accountability.
Some fans even joked that Murray must have been playing for the other team. Hyperbole?
Sure. But it speaks to the level of frustration with a player who was brought in to help stabilize a shaky unit-and has instead added to the instability.
This isn’t just about one bad play or one bad game. It’s about a pattern that’s become impossible to ignore.
The Cowboys gambled on Murray as a reclamation project, hoping a change of scenery would unlock his potential. So far, that bet hasn’t paid off.
With the postseason still technically in reach but the margin for error gone, Dallas has to take a hard look at how it deploys its personnel moving forward. Logan Wilson’s promotion was a step in the right direction, but the linebacker room as a whole still needs answers. And fast.
As for Kenneth Murray, his future in Dallas is looking increasingly uncertain. Unless something changes dramatically in the final stretch of the season, it’s hard to envision him being part of the long-term plans. For now, the Cowboys need to find a way to patch the holes-and hope the rest of the defense can carry the load.