The Cowboys’ Week 2 depth chart is starting to show its hand, and the biggest clues are on defense.
After the disappointment of Sunday night’s loss to the New York Giants, Dallas turns quickly to its home opener against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys are slight favorites, but they’ll need to clean up a defense that had trouble getting off the field and looked shaky in coverage.
The clearest issue for Dallas is how it fills the holes left by DeMarvion Overshown and Malik Hooker, both of whom went down in the season opener. Overshown is expected to miss a few weeks with a strained hamstring, while Hooker broke a bone in his forearm and will be sidelined for several weeks.
Hooker’s situation is a little more straightforward. On the unofficial Week 2 depth chart, he is listed as a co-starter with free-agent addition P.J.
Locke. With Hooker unavailable, Locke should see a bigger workload, while rookie Caleb Downs is also expected to take on a more prominent safety role next to Jalen Thompson.
At linebacker, the picture is murkier. Overshown’s spot looks like it will come down to second-year linebacker Shemar James, who was Dallas’ fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft, or rookie Jaishawn Barham.
James showed flashes during his rookie season, which makes him a logical option to step in while Overshown recovers. Barham is still very much in the mix, though.
He was one of the bright spots in training camp before a groin injury slowed him down, and getting those missed reps back could matter down the line. Still, Barham’s lack of discipline in the opener gives James a safer case for Christian Parker and the defensive staff.
Offensively, the Cowboys are not expected to make changes to the starting lineup despite the slow start against New York. The adjustments appear likely to come on the defensive side, where Parker will have to sort through a unit that never settled in.
Dallas has a full week of work ahead before it faces Washington on Sunday, September 20. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX.
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