3 high-profile Cowboys who should be benched after 49ers loss

1. Jayron Kearse

We're just as shocked as you, but Kearse hasn't had a great start to the season. Whereas Micah Parsons has largely backed up his trash talk (though most fans wouldn't hate to see Micah stop chirping so much), Kearse has done the exact opposite.

Penalties have suddenly become a part of Kearse's game and he committed two needless penalties against the 49ers. On the first, he lined up offsides to gift San Francisco a first down. Flags don't get more boneheaded than that.

On the second, Kearse was flagged for taunting after Donovan Wilson (also flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct) laid out Christian McCaffrey over the middle of the field. The Cowboys were trailing big at the time. A player with Kearse's experience has to know better than to let emotions take over.

Beyond the discipline issues, Kearse isn't playing up to the standard he set for himself the previous two seasons. His three missed tackles on the season already matches his total from 2022 in nine fewer games.

In coverage, Kearse has allowed 13 catches on 16 targets (he allowed four catches on four targets vs SF) and has a 46.6 coverage grade to show for it, via PFF.

Sunday was a stinker for all three Cowboys safeties, but Kearse was arguably the biggest hindrance for Dallas on the defensive side of the ball. A temporary benching could be the best thing for him, and would allow promising youngsters like Juanyeh Thomas, Markquese Belle, Israel Mukuamu more snaps.

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