The Dallas Cowboys’ defense took a rough turn in Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and the damage may linger into Week 9.
Dallas had controlled the game defensively for most of the first 45 minutes before the wheels came off late in the fourth quarter. That collapse was bad enough on its own, but the Cowboys also came out of the game with several injury concerns, including two rookies who have become important pieces on that side of the ball.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and rookie safety Caleb Downs both exited with injuries, and Monday’s update didn’t bring much comfort. Porter is still awaiting tests, so there isn’t much clarity there yet. Downs, meanwhile, is in concussion protocol, which puts his availability for next week in doubt.
The biggest concern may be rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the injury Lawrence suffered was worse than the team first believed and that he could miss multiple weeks.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said rookie OLB Malachi Lawrence could be out a few weeks with an ankle injury. TE Jake Ferguson has a chance to play Sunday despite his ankle injury.Rookie DB Caleb Downs is in concussion protocol.
Lawrence, the No. 23 overall pick out of UCF, had recently earned a spot in the starting lineup. Through eight games, he has 13 tackles and one sack.
Downs has been even more central to the defense. The No. 11 overall pick out of Ohio State has 52 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles in eight games, and Week 9 had extra meaning for him. The Cowboys travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts, the team that employs his older brother, Josh Downs.
Josh Downs enters Week 9 with 30 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown. He also recently requested a trade from Indianapolis. The Colts are 2-6 and have already made major moves, including firing general manager Chris Ballard and trading guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
There have also been rumors about running back Jonathan Taylor, though for now Dallas is preparing to see him on the field along with Josh Downs. The problem is the Cowboys may have to do it with a defense missing several key names.
Dallas also announced that P.J. Locke is in concussion protocol. On a slightly better note, Jake Ferguson has a chance to play Sunday despite the ankle injury he suffered in Week 8.
In Other News...
Noah Fifita And Arizona Face A Real Friday Night Test
Friday night in Tucson brings a Big 12 matchup that should tell us a lot about where Arizona and TCU really stand. Arizona comes in leading the conference in passing offense behind Noah Fifita, and the Wildcats will lean on that strength against a Horned Frogs defense that has been one of the leagues toughest against the pass and has also set the pace in scoring defense.
For TCU, the trip is another chance to steady an offense that has been searching for answers, while Arizona has its own questions after both teams have had trouble getting much going on the ground. If the Wildcats can turn this into a clean aerial game, they can put real pressure on a TCU unit built to make life difficult through the air. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Defense Faces Its Biggest Big 12 Test Yet In Arizona
Arizonas passing game is about to put TCUs defense in a different kind of spotlight, with quarterback Noah Fifita at the center of it. The Horned Frogs have spent much of the season leaning on a defense that has been one of the leagues best, and now they get a test that asks whether that group can keep a polished, experienced passer from dictating the pace. Sonny Dykes and senior safety Jamel Johnson both pointed to Fifitas accuracy and mobility as the traits that make him such a difficult matchup.
For TCU, the challenge is less about simply getting stops and more about handling a quarterback who can extend plays and punish mistakes in the passing game. Arizonas offense has the kind of rhythm that can stress a secondary snap after snap, which is why this trip feels like such a measuring stick for the Horned Frogs. If TCU can make Fifita uncomfortable early, it could say plenty about how far this defense has come. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Dykes Just Fueled A Bigger TCU Debate Than Ever
TCUs latest football conversation has drifted well beyond the field, with Sonny Dykes fielding questions at a recent press conference about the temperature around his job and the noise that comes with it. The Horned Frogs coach said he did not notice the negative reactions from fans and kept the focus on the work in front of the program, even as the scrutiny around him has only grown louder.
Dykes also pushed back on a report about TCUs football payroll, saying the number being circulated was not accurate and that the programs budget is much closer to $30 million, which would put it near the top of the Big 12. He acknowledged that coaches live with constant pressure and social media criticism, but said he does not let any of it change how he approaches the job, leaving the bigger debate around the program very much alive. [Read more 🡒]