The Dallas Cowboys don't face a must-win game on Sunday, but falling to 1-3 would be highly unfortunate given their upcoming schedule.
You never want to look too far ahead, but if Dallas can take care of business against the Houston Texans, they have a real chance to stack some wins. It's no secret that the Cowboys are severely banged up, but Houston is dealing with some injuries of their own.
Will Nico Collins return from a hamstring injury? What's the status of star linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair? We get into all of that, and more, in this late-week Cowboys news roundup.
- Jerry Jones open to making more trades
- Joey Porter Jr. trending toward playing on Sunday
- Injury notebook
- This day in Cowboys history
Jerry Jones open to making more trades
Has the Cowboys' owner and general manager finally entered his "Forget them picks" era? It sure seems like it after he traded a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick for Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Porter is widely regarded as one of the best press-man cornerbacks in football. Just last season, he allowed the third-lowest passer rating of any CB, per Pro Football Focus. This is the shot in the arm the Dallas defense desperately needed, but more moves might be on the way.
During his weekly Friday hit on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said the Porter trade is a "belief in where we are and what we can do right now." He did not rule out making more trades in the future, saying, "everything is fluid."
Porter joins Quinnen Williams, Caleb Downs, and Jaishawn Barham as foundational pieces for this defense, but make no mistake: This was a win-now move by the front office.
If the right opportunity presents itself, look for Jerry Jones to be at the front of the line. Linebacker and edge rusher stand out as two more big needs.
Joey Porter Jr. trending toward playing on Sunday
Despite not arriving in Dallas until Thursday after Wednesday night's trade became official, Porter is tracking toward playing against the Texans.
Before Friday's practice, Brian Schottenheimer said Porter is "trending the right way" but needs to "stack a second day" on Friday. The 26-year-old did just that, as he did not carry an injury designation on the final injury report of the week.
The belief extends beyond the organization, too, with NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport saying the following SportsCenter:
"My understanding is the chances are good that Joey Porter makes his debut. He's been dealing with, you know, a back injury while he wasn't practicing with the Pittsburgh Steelers while the two sides were at a contract impasse. Then he gets traded to the Dallas Cowboys; he goes out and practices immediately. The ramp-up seems to be over. The back is healed. I would expect Porter to play."
How much Porter plays is a different story. His conditioning may need some work being that he wasn't practicing with Pittsburgh and he likely doesn't have a full grasp of the playbook after
We wouldn't go expecting Porter to play a full complement of snaps. It's unclear where his conditioning is at, being that he hasn't been practicing, and he likely doesn't have a full grasp of the playbook after two practices.
However, Christian Parker can certainly limit the complexity of his assignments. Porter's experience and ability in man coverage should make it easier for Parker to get him on the field without asking him to digest the entire defense overnight.
Injury notebook
DeMarvion Overshown ruled out, Malik Hooker will play
The Cowboys are going to give Overshown at least one more week to rest his hamstring, which he injured in Week 1. Schottenheimer made it clear that Overshown has not suffered a setback, but with two games in five days and the tricky nature of soft-tissue injuries, the coaching staff is playing it safe.
Hopefully, Overshown is ready to go for next Thursday. While Jaishawn Barham already looks like a star at MIKE linebacker, Dee Winters has been unplayable at WILL. Once Overshown is healthy, that job should be his.
It's always better to finish with good news, and Malik Hooker's return is exactly that for an ailing secondary. Hooker practiced in full on Friday after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday, so he's cleared to play after missing two games following forearm surgery.
Dallas still won't have Cobie Durant (hamstring), Jalen Thompson (hamstring), or P.J. Locke (foot).
With Hooker returning, the Cowboys will have the following DBs at their disposal: Hooker, Joey Porter Jr., Caleb Downs, DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel, Alijah Clark, Markquese Bell, Caelen Carson, Ameer Speed, and Derion Kendrick, who's a candidate to be called up from the practice squad.
Texans WR Nico Collins will return after missing two games
This marks the second week in a row that the Cowboys will have a star wide receiver make their return from injury against them. Last Sunday, it was Zay Flowers.
Now, it's Nico Collins, who missed the last two games with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. That's just how the cookie's been crumbling. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins got in a full week of practice, so he'll be out there.
Collins is C.J. Stroud's go-to target. The offense, while not explosive, functions at a different level when he is healthy. The good news for Dallas? Joey Porter Jr. has played well whenever matched up against Collins, including in the Texans-Steelers playoff game last January.
Texans rule out LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Finally, the Cowboys catch an injury break. Al-Shaair did not practice all week due to a groin injury and was ruled out on Friday.
The Texans' defense still has plenty of firepower, but Al-Shaair is the tone-setter. He plays with an edge that sometimes borders on dirty, and he wears the green dot as the unit's field general. Running the ball against Houston will still be a tall order, but Al-Shaair's absence is a big one. Outside of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, he might be the most important player on the defense.
This day in Cowboys history
October 3, 1976: Cowboys overcome a 13-0 deficit to defeat the Seattle Seahawks, 28-13.
This was actually the first-ever meeting between these two franchises. It was a lopsided matchup on paper. The Cowboys were coming off a Super Bowl appearance, while the expansion Seahawks were playing just their fourth game in franchise history.
It turns out overlooking opponents was a problem even in the early days of the Super Bowl era and even under the legendary Tom Landry. Dallas clearly took Seattle for granted, as the upstart Seahawks raced out to a 13-0 lead in the second quarter.
By halftime, though, the Cowboys took a 14-13 lead, with Roger Staubach throwing touchdowns to Drew Pearson and Charley Young. Staubach finished with 200 yards passing and a 114.6 passer rating, but running back Robert Newhouse was the true catalyst behind the win, racking up a career- high 126 rushing yards and the go-ahead TD in the third quarter.
Once the Cowboys woke up, the talent gap became obvious. They took control and never looked back. 50 years later, Dallas holds a slight edge in the NFC rivalry, leading the all-time head-to-head series with a record of 12-10 across 22 matchups.
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