Cowboys get defender back from injury but not the one fans were hoping for

The Dallas Cowboys' season is not over if they lose to the San Francisco 49ers this week, but falling to 3-4 in what is shaping up to be a stacked NFC would put them in a precarious spot in terms of the playoff picture.

At full strength, the Cowboys have myriad flaws. With a warehouse full of injuries, they've had to scratch and claw to win games against the Steelers and Giants.

Dallas hoped to get healthy during the bye, but the extra week of rest may not have been enough for defensive stars Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, who both worked with the rehab group again on Thursday. DeMarcus Lawrence and standout rookie Marshawn Kneeland are still on injured reserve, so Mike Zimmer's defense may be shorthanded yet again Sunday night.

While Cowboys fans eagerly wait for reinforcements, the defense welcomed back one player from injury. The bad news? He is one of the most polarizing players on the roster.

Cowboys open 21-day practice window for DT Jordan Phillips

Phillips was placed on IR after the second game of the season with an apparent wrist injury. The veteran defensive tackle claimed he wasn't injured, however, which sparked confusion about the move. Phillips said this week that he still doesn't know why he was placed on injured reserve.

Regardless, Phillips practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday. By activating Phillips' 21-day practice window, the Cowboys now have three weeks to decide whether to move him to the active roster or end his season.

Given how depleted Dallas' defensive line is, one would think Phillips will get activated for Sunday's game against the 49ers. However, Phillips was seemingly on thin ice with Zimmer before his IR stint. He played a combined 34 snaps in the first two games and put out objectively terrible film.

That culminated in Week 2 when Phillips chose to pummel an already-grounded Saints offensive linemen instead of pursuing quarterback Derek Carr.

Phillips had a clear shot at Carr, who took advantage of the clean pocket and connected with tight end Foster Moreau for a long touchdown. Fortunately, it was called back thanks to a penalty, but the boneheaded sequence encapsulated Phillips' play to start the season.

At the time Phillips was placed on IR, he was Pro Football Focus' lowest-graded interior defensive lineman with a 29.2 grade.

It will be interesting to see what the Cowboys do with Phillips. They traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants in August for the 32-year-old. This front office isn't one to admit defeat on a trade, but it might make an exception for Phillips.

We'll know soon enough.

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