It's about time the Dallas Cowboys were beneficiaries of some good news. Over the last four weeks, any semblance of optimism swirling around this squad has been sucked out thanks to a rocky 1-2 start and injuries to integral pieces of the roster in CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker. Add in a date with old friend Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers on the docket, and the campaign seems on the brink of collapse.
Following Sunday's pathetic effort against the Chicago Bears, the team's woeful defense has been a popular point of contention. Dallas is 25th in pressure rate and has given up the most air yards in the league. Even with key starters DaRon Bland and DeMarvion Overshown sidelined, there's no excuse for the unit to be so inept at the fundamentals.
Oh, I almost forgot - the good news! Matt Eberflus will likely be in town for the next few weeks, so the only realistic way to give this defense a semblance of a pulse is by injecting much-needed talent into the lineup. In his recent presser, Brian Schottenheimer suggested former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney could be making his debut for the club in the near future.
Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer provides optimistic Jadeveon Clowney update
According to beat reporter Tommy Yarish, Schottenheimer said Clowney will "work more" this week in an attempt to eventually get him active. He added that he needs to see how practice goes for the rest of the week, but he's trending towards playing on Sunday.
Clowney was still a serviceable pass rusher last year in Carolina, leading the team in pressures and pressure rate. He doesn't have the same get-off he once did during his prime, but he still is a force around the edge. The trouble for Clowney will be converting more of that pressure back into sacks, after only netting 5.5 throughout his stint with the Panthers.
Since Jerry Jones is such a staunch defender of ensuring his edges are viable in the run game, it's important to note that Clowney is a force at getting to the backfield. In 2024, Clowney played his most snaps against the run since 2018, showing he has plenty of gas left in the tank to earn meaningful reps right away.
With Packers starting tackle Zach Tom set to miss the upcoming matchup, Green Bay will likely have to again rotate at that key position. Eberflus should start Clowney on the left side and let him go to work, hopefully producing instant results.