The Dallas Cowboys came up short in Week 6, suffering a disappointing 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers and falling to 2-3-1.
Dallas is preparing for the return of star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and while the offense has largely held its own, the defense has been a major concern. The Cowboys allowed former teammate and current Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to rush 30 times for a staggering 183 yards, while also catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
The defense has surrendered 20 or more points in every game this season, including 30-plus in four of six contests. On Tuesday, during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made it clear that the team is open for business ahead of the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline.
"If we can improve our team and it makes sense for what we give up in the future, all of it's there," Jones said. "We have major, major, major resources that we wouldn't have had if we didn't make that (Micah Parsons) trade. I promise you, yours truly or anybody associated with the Cowboys has got our eyes really open to ways we can help this defense - and I certainly don't want to preclude anything on offense, either.
"There's nothing untouchable in our resources to help our team. And there's no way I'm at a point right now where I wouldn't make a move because of where we are in the season. Six games in, I'd act as early as I would if we were talking three games back."
The Cowboys haven't historically been very active when it comes to making major in-season trades, but if Jones believes a move can help the team improve, he's shown he's willing to use the team's resources to do so.
This past offseason, Dallas made one of its biggest moves in recent memory by trading star pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers after failing to reach an agreement on a long-term extension. In return, the Cowboys received two first-round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
While Jones has remained confident in that trade, the Cowboys have clearly struggled defensively this season. And it's becoming evident that addressing that side of the ball could be their top priority before the trade deadline in a few weeks.
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