Where do the Dallas Cowboys go from here? That is the question on everyone's mind after Brian Schottenheimer's side fell to 2-4 after being dominated by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
The Cowboys lost by 10 points, but it wasn't that close. If not for a couple of dropped touchdowns by Matthew Golden and Christian Watson, Green Bay could have won by 20-plus points.
Fortunately, a favorable matchup awaits against the reeling Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The Eagles won't have quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is out for the season after doctors discovered multiple blood clots in his lungs. Philly (2-4) has dropped four games in a row, but still sits ahead of Dallas in the NFC East by virtue of their 1-0 record in division games.
Enough about the opposition, though. Let's get into the latest news surrounding a Cowboys team that is hopefully doing plenty of soul-searching this week.
Latest Cowboys news
- Cowboys sign Kyle Trask to replace Joe Milton
- Roster shuffle sees Caelen Carson waived
- Quick Slants
- Must-see Cowboys stories from around the web
Cowboys sign Kyle Trask to replace Joe Milton
It got lost in the shuffle since it happened late in the week, but the Eagles poached Joe Milton off the Cowboys' practice squad. This was always the risk Dallas ran by leaving Milton off the 53-man roster. Any team could swoop in and sign him, and the Cowboys clearly didn't value him enough to use a roster spot to prevent that from happening.
With only two quarterbacks on the roster, Dallas signed quarterback Kyle Trask on Tuesday. A second-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2021, Trask will join the practice squad. He was with Tampa Bay for three years, making seven appearances (zero starts): 10-of-27 for 68 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs.
Trask was most recently with the Panthers, spending training camp with Carolina before he was cut in August. He has been a free agent ever since.
Not exactly an exciting replacement for Milton, who impressed over the summer, but it's not like the late-October quarterback market is dripping with talent. It remains to be seen if Philly has long-term plans for Milton, but with Hurts sidelined indefinitely, you have to think Milton will be an Eagle for the rest of the season.
Roster shuffle sees Caelen Carson waived
Tuesday was a busy one on the transaction front.
On top of adding Trask, Dallas signed safety Juanyeh Thomas to the active roster. Thomas was out of practice squad elevations, and with P.J. Locke (foot) and Jalen Thompson (hamstring) still on injured reserve, safety depth is still needed.
In a corresponding move, the Cowboys waived cornerback Caelen Carson, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Swapping out one defensive back for another makes sense, and Carson had become the odd man out in the cornerback room.
Carson had fallen behind Ameer Speed and Shavon Revel. Speed has seemingly jumped Revel in the pecking order after logging 25 defensive snaps in Week 6. Even with Revel struggling, Carson could not get on the field. He has not played since Week 3 against Baltimore, when he totaled 17 snaps.
The 24-year-old Carson showed promise as a rookie, but never built on it due to an inability to stay healthy and objectively poor play when he was on the field.
Quick Slants
Your mid-week roundup of finer Cowboys news items.
DeMarvion Overshown confirms his long-awaited return
Per the man himself, Overshown will return from a five-game absence after straining his hamstring back in Week 1. He was initially given a short recovery timeline, but the Cowboys took an extra-cautious approach with his rehab.
"I’ve definitely taken this rehab, this recovery, very serious," Overshown said. "I’ve been trying to get back on the field since the week after I got out, so getting this opportunity to go this week. I’m thankful that I’m still able to get to do what I love.”
This is big news for the Dallas defense. With Jaishawn Barham asserting himself at MIKE, Overshown should slide into the WILL role, which should accentuate his skill set.
The Cowboys don't need Overshown to be a star. Even adequate play paired with the occasional splash play would do wonders.
Dee Winters and KaVontae Turpin unlikely to play Week 7
Overshown's return comes at an ideal time, as Dee Winters is not expected to play against the Eagles due to an Achilles strain. It's unclear if Winters is an IR candidate. He suffered the injury in the first half against Green Bay, which, by all accounts, was his best game as a Cowboy.
Winters intercepted Jordan Love and returned it to the house before refs (questionably) ruled that he was touched down upon completing the process of the catch.
Turpin also seems like a long shot to play Monday night. The speedster got dinged up on the opening kickoff against the Packers and did not return. He is week-to-week with a rib cartilage injury, per Brian Schottenheimer.
Tyler Goodson took over kickoff returns, while Jonathan Mingo handled punt returns. Caleb Downs is listed as the backup PR on the depth chart, but he was not used in that capacity after Turpin's departure.
Eagles waive Jaydon Blue
The Joe Milton and Jaydon Blue reunion didn't last a full week, as the Eagles announced they waived Blue in a string of roster moves on Tuesday.
The kicker? Blue was signed to the active roster last week before Philadelphia's game against the Panthers. It's clear now that was because their hands were tied, with running backs Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley all on the shelf.
Despite dressing for the game, Blue was not utilized. He did not play a snap, while Dameon Pierce (12 carries) played 61 of 64 offensive snaps, per PFF. Carson Steele played the other three snaps.
The Eagles were quick to sign Blue following his release from the Cowboys in August. The fact that he couldn't make headway in the most decimated backfield in the NFL says a lot about where his stock stands right now.
Must-see Cowboys stories from around the web
- Brian Schottenheimer report card: A second straight dud from the head coach (Blogging The Boys)
Connor Livesay evaluates Schottenheimer's performance from Sunday night. Between the team's apparent lack of energy despite having 10 days of rest and Schottenheimer's head-scratching offensive game plan, Dallas was dead on arrival against the Packers.
- Joey Porter's lagging snap counts, Cowboys switched things up in Wk 6 (Cowboys Wire)
Much was made of Schottenheimer's promised personnel changes. Todd Brock dove deep into Dallas' snap counts from the Packers game to see if Schottenheimer actually followed through. It was reported before kickoff that Malachi Lawrence would start over Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Brian Schottenheimer, Jim Harbaugh and the 4 NFL head coaches we can't defend any longer (FanSided)
Does this story need much explaining? Brian Schottenheimer's stock as Cowboys head coach has never been lower. His seat is getting warmer by the week, and while he still has the front office's support, don't be surprised if their tone changes if Dallas can't beat an undermanned Eagles team with the entire country watching.
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