The Cowboys got some good news Sunday, relatively speaking: DeMarcus Lawrence won’t need surgery. But that only numbs the sting of losing one’s top two edge rushers so much.
Both Lawrence and Micah Parsons suffered injuries in Dallas’ Thursday win over the New York Giants, Lawrence a mid foot sprain and Parsons a high ankle sprain. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Lawrence’s injury is worse than Parsons’, but both could be out for several weeks, with Lawrence expected to go on IR in the coming days.
Rookie Marshawn Kneeland, hailed as the Lawrence successor throughout training camp, is sure to get tested with a bigger role, and Chauncey Golston is an option as well. While discussing how the team could handle the position Monday, Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) that Carl Lawson and Tyrus Wheat were among in-house names to consider with Kneeland and Golston.
Jones also commented on the possibility of looking externally for another defensive line weapon.
“I don’t know this time of year that anyone’s willing to trade their best players,” Jones said. “It’s just a work in progress. We’ll keep our lines of communications open around the league and if something presents itself, then we’ll certainly look at it.”
Dallas’ plan for now is to elevate Lawson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game and bring in several players for a workout.
With the Cowboys struggling mightily to start the season, wins against the 1-3 Browns and Giants notwithstanding, Dallas may need to look elsewhere to fill in their gaps. Here are a few options:
Shaq Lawson, 30, free agent
Lawson most recently played for the Buffalo Bills, the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2016. Though an injury-marred rookie season held him back from reaching his draft potential, Lawson has been consistent, tallying over 3.5 sacks in five of eight seasons. Though he only started one game last season, Lawson earned 13 tackles and a sack through 16 games. His last contract, a one-year deal in Buffalo, had an average salary of $1,317,500.
Viliami Fehoko Jr., 24, free agent
Fehoko was the Cowboys’ fourth-round pick in 2023 out of San Jose State. A first-team All-Mountain West selectee three years in a row and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year his senior year, Fehoko surprisingly didn’t see game action in his rookie season, but it was thought that he could take the time to develop and grow into a roster spot. Because of the Cowboys’ depth at the position heading into this season, that didn’t happen and he didn’t make the 53-man roster. But perhaps he’ll get another look with these injuries.
Haason Reddick, 30, New York Jets
The Cowboys would have to take a major swing to make this trade happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible for them to acquire one of the league’s most prolific pass rushers. Reddick is currently embroiled in a contract holdout after being traded to the Jets for a 2026 conditional third-round pick in April. Dissatisfied with a contract with one year remaining on it, Reddick has not reported to training camp nor any team activities so far, even asking for a trade in August. Though the Jets said then that they were not entertaining the request, with the clock going, fines being incurred and the possibility of Reddick’s contract tolling to 2025, they, like the Cowboys, might get desperate. Reddick’s contract as an average salary of $15 million.
Josh Hines-Allen, 27, Jacksonville Jaguars
Hines-Allen made headlines this summer for changing his name in order to avoid confusion with the superstar quarterback in western New York. However, a star in his own right, Hines-Allen could be a trade target should the Cowboys want to replace Parsons and Lawrence with an equal talent. With 17.5 sacks last year, Hines-Allen came in third in the league and signed a commensurate five-year contract worth $141,250,000 in April. Would the Cowboys want to take on a contract of that size? Maybe not, but Jacksonville might need to put him on the market. The Jaguars are currently winless, and a player like Hines-Allen could fetch a high enough price to inject some life into their rebuild.
Randy Gregory, 31, free agent
The Cowboys drafted Gregory back in 2016, but in six years with the team he repeatedly got in trouble with the NFL’s marijuana policy and was suspended multiple times. During free agency in 2022, a disagreement between Gregory and the Cowboys resulted in Gregory leaving for Denver despite the Cowboys desiring to keep him. After two years with the Broncos and a brief stint with the 49ers, Gregory signed a contract with Tampa Bay in April, but did not show up for OTAs or training camp, prompting the Buccaneers to release him without pay.
Despite the tumult, Gregory was a reliable defender for the Cowboys, tallying 16.5 sacks and 64 solo tackles in 50 games. Both may benefit from a reunion, with Dallas adding a familiar, reliable face probably at a discount and Gregory gaining a career restart.
More possible free agents
| Name | Last team | Last average salary |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah Buggs | KC | $289,000 |
| Austin Bryant | SF | $1,125,000 |
| Bradlee Anae | ATL | $917,000 |
| Anthony Barr | MIN | $1,165,000 |
| Frank Clark | SEA | $1,165,000 |
| Joe Jones | TEN | $1,080,000 |
| Rasheem Green | JAX | $1,295,000 |
| Jonathan Ledbetter | ARI | $787,500 |
| Ifeadi Odenigbo | NYJ | $1,080,000 |
| Kyle Phillips | NO | $1,010,000 |
| Shaka Toney | WAS | $893,238 |
| Kemoko Turay | CAR | $1,055,000 |
| Shane Ray | TEN | $1,125,000 |
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