Jerry Jones still isn't ready to give up on the season, but the Dallas Cowboys are essentially playing for draft position over the final seven games. With a 3-7 record entering Week 12, the Cowboys currently own the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Up next for Dallas is a road date against Dan Quinn and the 7-4 Washington Commanders. As sweet as it would be to hand Quinn a third-straight loss, some (maybe most) Cowboys fans will be rooting for the team's former defensive coordinator to extend Dallas' losing streak.
There will be a lot of familiar faces on the field this Sunday.
Names like Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Tyler Biadasz will ring a bell. They are each prominent players for Quinn. Even former cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, who hardly sniffed the field last year with the Cowboys, has already logged 469 defensive snaps in Quinn's defense.
With the Week 12 matchup just days away, Quinn is taking a look at another former Cowboy. The Commanders hosted defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko for a workout this week, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.
Dan Quinn works out former Cowboys draft pick Viliami Fehoko
#Commanders worked out Viliami Fehoko
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 19, 2024
Quinn has to be trolling us, right?
Fehoko is part of a forgettable Cowboys' 2023 draft class. Taken in the fourth round, Fehoko didn't play a single snap as a rookie. The San Jose State product suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp and went on injured reserve. He was waived with an injury designation in September after he and the team failed to reach an injury settlement.
The Commanders working out Fehoko is a big surprise. After all, it was Quinn who refused to play Fehoko last season. It's no secret that Quinn had influence in the Cowboys' defensive draft picks during his tenure. It stands to reason that Quinn endorsed taking Fehoko in round four. Now, he suddenly wants him back? It doesn't add up.
While Washington is playing without star defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, he's been out of the lineup since the middle of October.
Last week against the Eagles, Quinn rotated Jer'Zhan Newton, Daron Payne, Sheldon Ray and Phidarian Mathis on the interior defensive line. He also rotated five defensive ends: Armstrong, Fowler, Clelin Ferrell and Efe Obada.
That isn't to say that Fehoko would get playing time right away if he signs, but it's hard to envision any role on the playoff-hopeful Commanders for the second-year pro.
Perhaps there's an opening on the practice squad for Fehoko to develop under his former defensive coordinator. Maybe Quinn wants to pick Fehoko's brain about Mike Zimmer's scheme being he spent the whole offseason with the Cowboys. Maybe the timing is just a coincidence.
Regardless of the motivation, it is extremely head-scratching given Quinn will lock horns with his former team this Sunday.