The Dallas Cowboys took a massive hit to their defense this week, officially placing safety Jalen Thompson and defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard on injured reserve.
More Than Just A Minor Ding
This isn’t some minor ding, folks. Both Thompson and Bullard are looking at a minimum of four games on the sidelines. Thompson’s hamstring injury, in particular, sounds like it could keep him out even longer than that mandated time. And Bullard? The guy already missed most of training camp nursing a groin/abdominal injury, and now it’s a calf issue that’s got him parked. It’s a real bummer for their defensive line rotation, for sure.
The Secondary Is A MASH Unit
What’s truly wild about Thompson’s situation is that his hamstring is just the latest blow in what’s becoming an absolute nightmare for the Cowboys’ secondary. Safety Malik Hooker has already missed the last two games because of a fractured forearm. Then you’ve got P.J. Locke, also on injured reserve, battling a foot problem. And that’s not even counting cornerbacks Shavon Revel, dealing with a knee and ankle injury, or Cobie Durant, who’s also got a hamstring issue. That’s a whole lot of key players out of commission, leaving that backfield looking seriously thin.
Scrambling To Fill The Gaps
To try and patch up some of these holes, the Cowboys did make some moves. They signed defensive tackle Elijah Garcia to the active roster, pulling him up from the practice squad. They also added a few defensive backs to their practice squad, bringing in Alex Austin, Tyrek Funderburk, and Juanyeh Thomas. It’s clearly a scramble to just get bodies in there and keep that unit from completely falling apart with so many guys sidelined.
With at least four games without Thompson and Bullard, and their secondary already looking like a MASH unit, the Cowboys have their work cut out for them. This next stretch is going to be a true test of their depth and coaching, and every single snap matters for how they navigate these tough next few weeks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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