If you had to sum up the Dallas Cowboys' season in one word, the most fitting descriptor would be disappointment. Entering the season, this team had real aspirations of making the playoffs and winning the NFC East, and they've failed to capitalize on the Eagles' struggles because of poor coaching more than anything else.
Everything has been a disappointment this season. Brian Schottenheimer's coaching job has disappointed, the defense has been a major disappointment, and it's disappointing that the 4-5 Cowboys are losing the division title race to the New York Giants. Patience among fans is wearing thin.
For all of the qualities that have left fans disappointed, a key piece of their free-agent class is part of it. Dallas signed Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal in free agency to help stabilize their secondary, but unfortunately, injuries have sunk what could've been a promising first season here.
Thompson was placed on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring in the Week 3 loss to the Ravens. His 21-day window to return to practice has not been opened, and he's trending toward missing his seventh consecutive game in Week 10 against the 49ers, and we have no clue when he'll come back.
It's safe to say that, no matter your expectations for him, you would've hoped for more than this.
Jalen Thompson has been a big disappointment for the Dallas Cowboys
Obviously, the injury is the caveat here, as it's hard to be impactful when you're not on the field, but that's it. Availability is the best ability in this game, and he hasn't been available enough to rewrite this narrative, which in turn has made it hard for Dallas to deploy Caleb Downs in the way they'd like to.
Here's the weird part: Jalen Thompson was given a 4-6 week timetable to return to the field, yet we're past that timeframe, and he isn't even ramping up. We've only just seen him back on the practice field, but he's been limited to the rehab group with director of rehabilitation Britt Brown.
It's got to be even more frustrating for Thompson. But you can also understand why fans are so disappointed.
Thompson's return window was not opened up on Wednesday, and that's telling given rookie cornerback Devin Moore, who has been out since August with a groin injury, had his 21-day return window opened.
Hamstring strains are tricky and I acknowledge that, but without P.J. Locke again due to a concussion, the Cowboys really needed to get the 28-year-old back soon.
The Cowboys paid Thompson worth up to $36 million and was one of their biggest free-agent pickups in franchise history. Jerry Jones typically isn't one to back up the Brinks truck for external free agents, yet he did this time. Before this, the last "big" FA this franchise signed was Brandon Carr.
And yet, this is bound to make Jerry think twice before opening up his checkbook next time. Jalen Thompson has not been as advertised, and while it's not his fault he got hurt on one of the worst-looking fields the NFL has ever played on, the Cowboys have felt the weight of his absence.
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