The Cowboys’ backfield is suddenly a problem, and Jerry Jones says help is coming.
Dallas is already trying to claw its way back toward .500 after Sunday’s win over the Colts, a result that kept the team alive in the NFC East race. But the victory also came without George Pickens, who has been the subject of rumors, and it did little to hide the bigger issue: this roster still looks like it needs another piece or two if it’s going to make a real push for the division crown.
The running back situation has become especially thin. Backup Tyler Goodson is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a knee injury in Week 9, leaving Dallas short-handed in the backfield at a time when it can’t afford more hits to the depth chart.
Jones addressed that need directly on Tuesday, the day of the NFL trade deadline, and made it clear the Cowboys plan to add a running back.
Asked if bringing in a running back would be a priority, Jones said: “It will be. And we will do that today.”
Jones did not say whether the move would come through a trade or free agency, but he did indicate it would not be a major deal. And while the Cowboys are expected to make a move, the message from Jones was that this won’t be some blockbuster swing.
Dallas still has work to do, and the margin for error is shrinking. Every team in the division has already lost its starting quarterback to injury, with Jayden Daniels eventually returning from his elbow issue, but the Cowboys remain behind and have not been able to stack wins. If this team misses the playoffs, the pressure around it will only grow.
In Other News...
Cowboys Flipped The Finish When A Colts Star Broke Down
The Cowboys got a timely break in a game that had been tight for much of the afternoon, and it came on a play where Sauce Gardner could not hold up at the end. Gardner had been steady for most of the day, but one crucial lapse helped swing the finish in Dallas favor and left the Colts staring at another loss in a skid that has now reached five straight.
For Dallas, it was the kind of closing sequence that can change the feel of a season, especially against a team already under pressure. Gardners rough ending also renewed the scrutiny around his value since arriving from the Jets, while the Colts now have to sort through both the defeat and a schedule that does not offer much relief ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Linked To A Pass Rush Fix With One Big Catch
Will McDonald IV has emerged as a name to watch as the trade deadline approaches, and the Cowboys are among the teams reportedly poking around. The Jets edge rusher has asked for a trade after seeing his playing time dip this season, which has naturally opened the door for teams looking to add juice off the edge. For Dallas, the fit is easy to understand: the pass rush has been a constant point of emphasis, and McDonald would give the defense another young piece to consider.
The catch is just as important as the interest. McDonald has one year left on his contract, and New York is not in a hurry to move him, which means this is not the kind of deal that happens on Dallas timeline alone. If the Cowboys want to turn interest into action, they may have to wait out the Jets and decide how much they are willing to pay for a player whose situation is unsettled but whose upside is obvious. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Downs Just Gave The Cowboys Something They Desperately Needed
The Cowboys needed a defensive jolt in a tight game against the Colts, and rookie safety Caleb Downs delivered one at exactly the right time. Dallas came away with a close win to move to 4-5, and Downs was right in the middle of it, making his presence felt all over the field as the secondary helped keep Indianapolis from finding much rhythm through the air.
Downs was especially effective when the Colts tested him, limiting their success in coverage and earning the highest coverage grade among the defenders in the game. For a Cowboys defense that has been searching for steady play and timely stops, his performance stood out as one of the clearest reasons the team was able to finish the job. [Read more 🡒]