The Dallas Cowboys came out of Week 1 with more than one problem on defense, but the most glaring one was right in the middle. Against the New York Giants, the front was pushed around, the pass rush never found a steady rhythm, and the secondary spent too much of the night out of place.
Inside linebacker looked especially shaky. DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters both landed near the bottom of the defensive grades, with PFF tagging Overshown at a team-worst 29.4. Winters checked in at 42.2, which was better, but still not nearly enough to inspire confidence.
That’s why Dallas should be looking beyond its current room, and there are a few names that fit the bill.
One possibility is Tyrel Dodson, a veteran who is currently sitting on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. Dodson was already on the Cowboys’ radar when he was with the Miami Dolphins, but Dallas passed even after he was let go. He then landed with Carolina, the same team that signed Bobby Okereke, another linebacker the Cowboys ignored.
Dodson didn’t dress in Week 1, and that could make him open to a move if it offers a shot at the active roster. He doesn’t bring a lot of flash, but he does bring production.
In 2025, he posted 129 tackles and five sacks while handling the green dot. With Overshown struggling in the middle and carrying injury concerns, Dodson would make sense as a reliable insurance policy.
Another veteran worth a look is Bobby Wagner. Dallas was willing to give Von Miller a shot, so there’s a case to be made for doing the same with Wagner, who is 36 but still coming off a huge season with the Washington Commanders.
He finished with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He may not be a long-term answer, but he could absolutely serve as a one-year fix for a defense that needs a playmaker at linebacker.
If the Cowboys want to swing bigger, a trade could be on the table, and Tyrice Knight would be the name to check on with the Seattle Seahawks. Knight has put together 145 tackles and 3.5 sacks across his first two seasons, even though he hasn’t been a full-time starter. He’s currently behind Ernest Jones IV and Drake Thomas, and in Seattle’s season-opening win over the New England Patriots, he played just 14 snaps.
Seattle may not be eager to move him, but Knight looks like a player who should be on the field more often. In 2025, he earned a 76.3 PFF grade, which ranked 14th among qualified linebackers.
He was solid in coverage and against the run, and he stood out as a pass rusher with a 94.2 grade that led all linebackers. That kind of versatility is exactly what Dallas is missing right now.
In Other News...
Cowboys Face New Controversy After Bloody Missed Call vs Giants
Sunday night in Arlington already had enough edge to it before a missed call became the most talked-about moment of the game. In the Giants 28-20 win over the Cowboys, New York running back Cam Skattebo took a hit that left him with a bloodied nose after Dallas defensive tackle Quinnen Williams grabbed his facemask, yet officials kept the flag in their pocket and play moved on.
The play is now under review by the league office, and Williams could be facing discipline for it, adding another layer to a Cowboys loss that already stings. Skattebo had returned from injury and made it count, finishing with 81 rushing yards and a touchdown as Dallas was left to sort through both the result and the controversy attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Opener Exposed A Problem Fans Already Feared
The Cowboys walked into MetLife Stadium on Sunday with a fresh season and a new defensive voice, but the first regular-season test under Christian Parker quickly turned into a familiar kind of frustration. Dallas fell 28-20 to the Giants, and the defense had trouble finding answers in coverage or generating much pressure, which made it hard to get the game under control once New York started sustaining drives.
The most telling number was the Giants success on third down, where they converted nine of 11 chances and kept the Cowboys chasing. Add in the heavy penalty count in the first half and the conservative feel of Brian Schottenheimers play-calling on offense, and the opener looked less like a clean reset than a snapshot of the issues Dallas feared would show up first. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Reignited An NFL Double Standard Debate Fans Know Well
ESPNs Monday Night Football broadcast of the Broncos-Chiefs game turned into something more than a division clash when sideline reporter Laura Rutledge addressed why Denver defender Jonathon Cooper was not available, noting his placement on the commissioners exempt list after domestic violence charges. The mention added a layer of context to a national telecast, the kind of detail broadcasters sometimes feel obligated to explain when a players absence is tied to off-field issues.
Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons quickly criticized ESPN for bringing up Coopers legal situation during the game, and the reaction spread from there. Some viewers defended the network, saying the explanation mattered because it clarified why Cooper was missing, while others questioned whether ESPN applies the same standard every time a player controversy surfaces. For NFL fans, especially in a league that has long wrestled with how to handle these moments, the debate felt familiar and far from settled. [Read more 🡒]