3 offseason mistakes that reared their head in Cowboys’ Week 1 loss

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 11: Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacks Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 11: Anthony Nelson #98 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sacks Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Cowboys, James Washington
Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver James Washington (83) carries the ball during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Refusing to get veteran WR help after James Washington’s injury

The Cowboys opted to pick up Washington in hopes of getting a veteran receiver for a cheap price. It was a good thought. The issue is that when Washington went down with an ankle injury during training camp, the Joneses refused to go out and secure a veteran free agent to replace him. The Cowboys GM told reporters he had faith in his young guys and had no intentions of adding a veteran receiver.

While Dennis Houston, Noah Brown, and Simi Fehoko had exciting moments in camp and preseason, it was irresponsible to assume that these three players could be starting wide receivers in Week 1.

Maybe Dallas should’ve taken a page out of their enemy’s book. Despite already having like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage, the Bucs went out and signed veteran WR Julio Jones who had some big moments in their Week 1 victory.

On the other hand, Brown, Houston, and Fehoko struggled to do much of anything in this matchup. The best receiver on the Dallas roster last night wasn’t a receiver. It was tight end Dalton Schultz.

Prescott was left with Lamb as the only true veteran presence for the WR corps, and even that duo struggled to connect. Jones’s brilliant idea to “trust the young guys” was clearly a mistake and ended up leaving Dak throwing to guys who couldn’t bring in easy passes.