FRISCO, Texas – Pardon my negligence following Cowboys' 37-22 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, raising their record to a more respectable 2-2-1, now only nine teams in the NFL with fewer losses than the Cowboys.
Most assuredly got caught up in stellar performances in that game by Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, George Pickens and Ryan Flournoy. Plus, that unexpected high performance by the Cowboys offensive line while having to start four backups on the five-man unit.
And despite that, the Cowboys still managed to score 37-points and string together touchdown drives of 90 and 91 yards, and these without the help of injured receivers CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin. Guess just blinded by the glaring lights.
Then on Monday morning when taking a closer look at the defensive stats, saw this at the top of the tackle chart:
Shemar James – TKL 11, AST 6, COMB 17, PR 1.
Seriously, 11 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles, 17 combined tackles and 1 QB pressure.
Astounding to say the least.
Reason why: This was only the second NFL game the Cowboys' second fifth-round draft choice in 2025 participated in. Had been a game-day inactive in the first three games until getting 26 defensive snaps against the Packers in Game 4.
And this certainly was not the plan to play 60 snaps (73 percent) against the Jets. The Cowboys were slowing ramping him up into the NFL after he played just three seasons at Florida. The plan was to include him on certain subpackages, mainly in pass-rush situations and on the nickel defense. Maybe I'm told like 20 snaps.
But when starting middle linebacker Jack Sanborn went to the bench suffering a second-quarter concussion, hey, James, you're in on base defense and then in nickel as one of two linebackers and even when the Cowboys went dime as the lone linebacker.
Totally unexpected.
"Yeah, so I would say it was kind of a surreal feeling for me," James said in the locker room on Monday.
First, that he was thrust into the game. Secondly, how he performed, and as he said, "Amazing to be out there and have those 15 tackles," James finding out the game review found two more tackles for him, bumping the number to 17. That's just two tackles shy of Leighton Vander Esch's Cowboys 19, a rookie single-game high, back on Nov. 11, 2018, against the Eagles.
"Just be ready when your number is called."
Well, better stay ready. Sanborn still is in concussion protocol and did not practice on Wednesday. Sure would appear after that performance, and if Sanborn is not ready to play Sunday against Carolina, James would get the start as one of the three base defensive linebackers at least and likely on the nickel too.
As head coach Brian Schottenheimer said, "You earn more opportunities if you're a backup and play well."
• Et Tu Thomas: So the Cowboys also had to be pleased with the play of Nate Thomas, taking over at left tackle for his first NFL start since starter Tyler Guyton was out in concussion protocol. Guyton was on the field for Wednesday's practice during the media availability, though listed no better than "limited" on the injury report. So if he is not totally ready to resume playing even after being cleared to practice, might the Cowboys consider thinking of going with the hot hand of Thomas, playing his first full game of football since 2023 at Louisiana.
• Buckle Up: You go, Rico Dowdle. The Cowboys' lead running back in 2024 signed a free agent contract with Carolina in the offseason, and in his first start with the Panthers this past Sunday, he went off for 206 yards rushing, one touchdown and 234 yards from scrimmage. And now the Cowboys must face Rico, depending on if starter Chuba Hubbard (calf) is ready to play. "They got to buckle up," Dowdle said after the Panthers come-from-behind 27-24 victory over Miami. "I think they know, for sure. They didn't keep me there for five years for no reason." He's right, and posing the natural question, why didn't the Cowboys re-sign Rico? Well, Dowdle agreed to his one-year contract with the Panthers for $2.75 million guaranteed two days before the start of free agency, prompting the Cowboys to sign veteran Williams to his one-year deal worth $2 million guaranteed, owner Jerry Jones saying, "We thought we had a chance to get a back" for less guaranteed money. But Rico is right, the Cowboys know all about him, Schottenheimer saying, "We are buckling up." And as linebacker Kenneth Murray said, "We definitely heard about it. … We'll leave it up to Sunday and see what happens."
• No 7-Irons: The Cowboys certainly on offense have taken out their driver as seven of their 17 touchdowns scored in five games have been the result of at least 80-yard drives. Four of those seven have covered at least 90 yards and three of them the 80-yard variety. That certainly will cause defenses to, uh, buckle up on the line of scrimmage, knowing they might get burned in the long run if adhering to any sort of conservative bend-but-don't-break philosophy, the Cowboys showing capability driving the distance.
• Bootless: Three of the Cowboys out with foot and ankle injuries are finally out of their walking boots with two of those working resistance-cord rehab on the field during Wednesday's practice. That would include Lamb and Tyler Booker with high ankle sprains. Also out of the boot is KaVontae Turpin (foot sprain), saying he was done with the boot and is hoping to jump back into practice next week. That means more reliance on Pickens and the emerging Flournoy, whose performance in the win over the Jets (four catches, 114 yards) just might draw some attention away from Pickens, who already in five games has tied a single-season career high of five touchdown receptions.
• Fall Nuggets: Hey, Pickens, what you say realizing without Lamb on the field teams will either double you or put their best cornerback in man against you, trying to use a lot of physicality to get you off your game: "Just definitely, with me – I can't really personally speak with others but definitely with me – I kind of figured that out. I'm definitely so good that's the only way you can try to take me out of my game." Gotta love it … Oh, and Pickens catching a touchdown pass in four consecutive games is the longest stretch of his career, and with one more TD reception he'll establish a career single-season high of six … And thanks to my buddies at 105.3 The Fan during our daily weekday 11 a.m. segment for providing this stat, pointing out Prescott has completed 87 percent of his passes when operating out of play-action. Meaning, amazing what a sturdy running game can do for you, with Williams' 447 yards rushing and five touchdowns keeping defenses cognizant of biting on the run fake.
And how about this for the final word, just a few from Jerry Jones, nice and concise, and don't think he was trying to be cute after the Sunday hubbub over the use of fingers from his suite at MetLife Stadium. Said this to end his Tuesday morning weekly segment on 105.3 The Fan when summing up there where he thinks this 2-2-1 team is heading after a tie and a victory the past two games:
"I think the thumb is pointing up around here."
Kind of makes you smile, don't it?
