Cowboys News: Kelvin Joseph benched, Jerry Jones on Odell Beckham Jr., TY Hilton

The Dallas Cowboys aren’t a team with many weaknesses, but the cornerback position is in a precarious spot following the season-ending injuries to Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown. While Da’Ron Bland’s been solid in the nickel, Kelvin Joseph’s been a huge liability on the boundary opposite Trevon Diggs.

Making his first start of the season, Joseph’s limitations in coverage were exploited by Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.

With zero motivation to test Diggs, Joseph was beat for two touchdowns in a three-minute span in the third quarter; a 59-yarder on a double move from Zay Jones, and a 10-yarder to Marvin Jones. The blown assignments allowed the Jaguars to cut a 17-point deficit to three points before the fourth quarter.

That’s not to put the collapse entirely on Joseph’s shoulders. The entire defense deserves blame. But anytime you give up touchdowns (plural) in rapid succession, your performance is going to be scrutinized more than others.

In light of Joseph’s poor showing, Dan Quinn confirmed the second-year cornerback has been benched. Per the defensive coordinator, Dallas will hold an open competition for the starting perimeter job opposite Diggs.

More Cowboys News:

• Nahshon Wright is the de facto favorite to replace Joseph given his familiarity with Dallas’ system, but he hasn’t shown much early in his career. The recently-signed Mackensie Alexander and recently-claimed Trayvon Mullen, along with practice squad stash Kendall Sheffield, are other candidates.
• During his weekly hit on 105.3 The Fan, Jerry Jones updated the Cowboys’ pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr., which is surprisingly still kicking even after the team signed veteran wideout TY Hilton for the rest of the year.
• “As of this morning (Tuesday) we don’t have anything,” Jones said of Beckham. “I don’t have an assessment. The reality is that time is moving on down the road relative to playing in the playoffs. And, so, everyday diminishes our chances of getting going forward.”
• Speaking of Hilton, Kellen Moore gave an encouraging update on the former Pro Bowler, saying he was “very close” to making the 48-man game-day roster for Week 15 against the Jaguars. Wouldn’t be surprising if Hilton makes his Cowboys debut against the Eagles on Christmas Eve.

NFL News:

• If you haven’t heard, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is doubtful for Christmas Eve against the Cowboys. Hurts suffered a sprain to his throwing shoulder against the Bears and is expected to return for the playoffs, if not sooner. The Eagles need one more win to clinch the NFC East and No. 1 seed.
• Several teams can secure playoff berths this weekend, including the Bengals, Ravens, Chargers and Giants. Each team needs help, but none more than New York, which needs to beat the Vikings, plus any two (or all three) of the Lions, Seahawks, and Commanders to combine for losses.
• Chargers cornerback JC Jackson was arrested in Massachusetts in relation to a nonviolent family issue. Jackson was already out for the year with a knee injury, but the latest thing the surging Bolts need is an off-field distraction from an injured star.

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