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Cowboys Secondary Collapse: Juanyeh Thomas Returns As Injuries Mount
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- Cowboys Secondary Collapse: Juanyeh Thomas Returns As Injuries Mount
Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
The Dallas Cowboys secondary is in freefall, and the numbers prove it. After a gut-wrenching loss in Brazil, the team sits at 1-2 with a defense that simply cannot stop anyone. They are giving up 387 yards per game, a mark that ranks 30th in the entire NFL. This is not a temporary slump; it is a structural collapse that requires immediate, drastic action.
The Injury Crisis Hits Hard
The list of missing players reads like a fantasy football waiver wire nightmare. P.J. Locke remains on injured reserve due to a foot injury, whereas Jalen Thompson is projected to be out for a minimum of four weeks because of a hamstring problem. Cornerback Cobie Durant and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown are also out with hamstring strains that could keep them sidelined for multiple weeks. Even rookie sensation Shavon Revel Jr. suffered a multiweek injury during the game in Rio de Janeiro. Jerry Jones confirmed on 105.3 The Fan that Revel's knee injury could keep him out multiple weeks, adding another layer of pain to an already thin roster. Every game this season has seen the defense give up 20 points or more, a figure underscoring the unit's genuine fragility.
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To make matters worse, the run defense is a disaster. Rushing yardage allowed by Dallas averages 179.7 per contest, placing them among the league's poorest performers in that category. Their opponents have averaged 27.3 points per game, a metric that places the unit at rank 25. The pass rush has been equally ineffective, producing only two sacks so far. With insufficient pressure, opposing quarterbacks can settle in and dismantle a secondary missing its four Week One starters plus three vital contributors. The math is simple: if the front four cannot get home, the back end will get exposed.
Thomas Returns to Save the Day
Enter Juanyeh Thomas . Following a Tuesday workout, the Cowboys signed the safety, thereby acquiring a player familiar with the facility. Thomas spent four seasons with Dallas, playing in 36 games and making four starts from 2022 through 2025. He finished with 62 tackles, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble during his first stint. His return is not just a roster move; it is a desperate attempt to plug a gaping hole. Thomas started three games last season when Malik Hooker was unavailable, proving he can step in and play immediately. His 2025 season ended early due to chronic migraines, but he is healthy enough to contribute now.
According to the Dallas Cowboys , the team is "needing every last one of them right now because of the injuries." That quote sums up the entire situation perfectly. The front office had no choice but to act fast. They also signed cornerback Alex Austin , who joins the practice squad. Austin appeared in 29 games for the Patriots and Texans , recording 31 tackles and eight passes defensed. These moves show the urgency of the situation. The defense cannot survive another week without reinforcements.
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Thomas brings special teams value too, having recorded 15 special teams tackles over his first four seasons. During 2024, he returned seven kickoffs for 187 yards, and scored on a 43-yard on-side kick return at Washington. He blocked two kicks earlier in his career, adding another dimension to his game. With the defense allowing 387 yards per game, every extra body matters. The Cowboys face the Houston Texans on Sunday, and they need to be ready.
