Everything that could go wrong for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday did go wrong - and then some. Not only did they fall to the Los Angeles Chargers, officially shutting the door on any playoff hopes this season, but they also watched one of their most promising young receivers go down with an injury after a controversial hit.
Late in the game, Cowboys wideout Ryan Flournoy was on the receiving end of a jarring - and questionable - hit from Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman. Flournoy was already down when Perryman came in from behind and led with his helmet.
The initial concern was a possible concussion, but later updates clarified it was a knee injury instead. While that's a bit of a silver lining, it still meant Flournoy had to exit the game and won’t return this season.
To his credit, Perryman reportedly reached out to Flournoy after the game to apologize. But good intentions don’t erase a hit that crossed the line - especially in the eyes of the league office. Perryman is now facing a two-game suspension without pay, and while he’s expected to appeal, his history as a repeat offender doesn’t exactly help his case.
Financially, it’s a costly mistake. According to Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti, Perryman stands to lose nearly $270,000 in salary and active roster bonuses.
Even more damaging, the suspension drops his snap count below a key threshold, costing him an additional $200,000 incentive. That’s a half-million-dollar swing for two games - a steep price for a hit that never should’ve happened.
As for Flournoy, the good news is that the injury isn’t believed to be serious. But with the Cowboys already out of playoff contention, there’s no reason to rush him back onto the field. The focus now shifts to recovery and the bigger picture - and for Flournoy, that picture is still a promising one.
While he might not be a household name yet, Flournoy has quietly carved out a meaningful role in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. When CeeDee Lamb missed time earlier this season, Flournoy stepped up in a big way. He’s hauled in 35 catches on 49 targets for 405 yards and four touchdowns - including a pair of 100-yard games that turned heads inside the building and around the league.
With Jonathan Mingo likely on his way out, Flournoy could be in line for a bigger role next season, potentially lining up opposite Lamb in the starting unit. Of course, the Cowboys also have to figure out what’s next with George Pickens, who’s due for a significant pay bump in his next contract. But Flournoy, with his production and upside, has put himself firmly in the conversation for 2026.
Sunday was a rough one for Dallas - no sugarcoating it. But amid the disappointment, there’s still reason to believe the Cowboys have a young receiver worth building around.