The 3-3-1 Dallas Cowboys are the definition of a .500 football team.
The next four weeks are crucial for the team to stack some wins with games against beatable opponents and a bye before getting into the meat of its schedule with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Chargers in Weeks 12-16.
Getting star receiver CeeDee Lamb and receiver/kick returner KaVontae Turpin back healthy is a big win for the offense, but unfortunately their defense-in particular their secondary-has been rocked by injuries in recent weeks.
Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs is also questionable with a concussion after suffering a bizarre off-field injury the day before last week's win over the Washington Commanders, star safety Malik Hooker is on injured reserve, and fellow safeties Donovan Wilson and Juanyeh Thomas are both questionable for Sunday's Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
With so many questions about Dallas' defensive backfield, NFL.com's Kevin Patra recently named safety as the team's biggest position of need ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.
"The offense gives Dallas a shot to win every week and could carry the team into the playoff hunt, but the defense, while playing better lately, still has holes," Patra wrote. "Jerry Jones said he has the ‘ammo' to boost that unit; we’ll see if he makes a move.
"As much as DeMarvion Overshown’s potential return should help, further upgrading at the deadline would indicate the Cowboys actually plan to make a push for the postseason. Another pass rusher, defensive tackle or safety should all be in play."
While four-time All-Pro safety Justin Simmons and former Baltimore Ravens safety Marcus Williams are both still unsigned, Simmons is 31 and clearly lost a step last season with the Atlanta Falcons, and Williams' durability is a red flag, having missed 19 games over the last three seasons.
If Dallas really wants to bolster its depth while infusing some youth in the backend of its defense, rookie safety Shilo Sanders, the son of Cowboys legend Deion Sanders, could be a name to watch.
Aside from working out for the San Francisco 49ers early in the season, Shilo hasn't had much NFL interest since being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the day after their preseason finale.
The 25-year-old DB had a solid showing in the preseason, logging 83 defensive snaps, 46 coverage snaps, four tackles, one quarterback pressure, and allowing one reception for eight yards in coverage, per Pro Football Focus, and he could be an inexpensive solution for Dallas' mounting secondary issues.
Some have speculated Shilo could end up playing in United Football League when its season starts up in early January, giving him just under 10 weeks to catch on with an NFL team first.
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