The Dallas Cowboys' three-headed dragon at safety has not performed up to expectations this season. While Malik Hooker has been serviceable, Jayron Kearse has been inconsistent and committed a number of costly penalties and Donovan Wilson hasn't been nearly as impactful.
These issues reared their ugly head on Thursday Night Football as Wilson was caught in no-man's land on a long Seahawks touchdown.
On third down, Geno Smith connected with D.K. Metcalf, who beat DaRon Bland by a step on a deep post and went 73 yards to the house. While Bland got beat, replay showed that Wilson was completely out of position when the ball was thrown.
Mistakes like this have plagued Wilson all season and Cowboys fans were quick to point out his struggles on social media.
DK METCALF 73 YARDS ‼️#SEAvsDAL on Prime Video
— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2023
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/YcXzMZb8jY pic.twitter.com/kE4zLLDz5M
Cowboys fans rip Donovan Wilson for blown coverage on D.K. Metcalf touchdown
Donovan Wilson has not played well this year.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) December 1, 2023
Not sure what was happening with Donovan Wilson on that play. Need to have plenty of attention on DK Metcalf at all times.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 1, 2023
It's never good when beat reporters are calling out a player's positioning.
What happened to Donovan Wilson
— 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙙•𝙯𝙚𝙠𝙚✭ (@6Blackhawks) December 1, 2023
A question Cowboys fans have been asking themselves all season.
Dono in coverage 💔🐶🐶
— Festive Micah Parsons Fan (@demcowboysfan) December 1, 2023
Please give 6’s snaps to 30.
— Connor Livesay (@ConnorNFLDraft) December 1, 2023
Bland deserves just as much blame as Wilson for the touchdown, but Wilson should have been in position to tackle Metcalf once he caught the pass. The hard-hitting safety got unnecessarily aggressive and Geno Smith made him pay with a strike that he fit right past Bland's outstretched hand.
Thankfully, the Cowboys fired right back with a Dak Prescott touchdown pass to CeeDee Lamb to reclaim a 10-7 lead.
That being said, Wilson needs to be more mindful that Bland is giving up a lot of size, strength and speed against the chiseled Metcalf. If he doesn't clean it up, there will be more calls for him to be benched for fan favorite Juanyeh Thomas.
Plenty of time for Bland and Wilson to right the ship and get on the same page.