Dallas Cowboys safety Jalen Thompson is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering an injury during the team’s Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. The veteran defensive back exited the contest midway through the second quarter, requiring assistance to leave the field before being ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Stephen Jones Addresses Roster Depth After Rio Injuries
Speaking on 105.3 The Fan the Monday after the team’s return flight landed in Dallas, Cowboys director of operations and co-owner Stephen Jones confirmed the severity of the setback. Jones stated that Thompson is a candidate to land on the injured reserve list alongside fellow safety P.J. Locke, with both players facing multi-week absences exceeding four games.
“The position of safety is complicated. We’ve taken a lot of hits there, no doubt,” Jones said during the radio appearance. “And at the cornerback position right now, sort of in the same light. We have high hopes that [Malik] Hooker can make it back this week. But, unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to lose [Jalen Thompson] for a few weeks, and the same with [P.J.] Locke.”
The mounting injuries present an immediate challenge for Christian Parker as his unit attempts to establish stability and build chemistry early in the season. The secondary was already managing a heavy workload before the physical toll of the international matchup in Brazil.
Defensive Line and Secondary Face Uncertainty Ahead of Week 4
Thompson and Locke are not the only defensive players currently sidelined or monitored by the medical staff. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard sustained a calf injury during the matchup against Baltimore, while cornerback Shavon Revel suffered an injury to his right knee. Both players await medical imaging results to determine their status for the upcoming Week 4 game against the Houston Texans.
Meanwhile, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury sustained in Week 1, working toward a potential return to the field. The team hopes to reintegrate Malik Hooker into the defensive backfield this week to help offset the sudden losses.
Front Office Evaluates Roster Options at Safety
With two key safeties facing extended recovery timelines, the Cowboys’ front office is actively reviewing external options to supplement the position. Jones noted that the organization initially kept six safeties through final roster cuts rather than the traditional five due to the group’s strength, a decision that now proves critical as depth is tested.
“We’ll definitely be looking to see if there’s any way to bolster that safety position while those two are out,” Jones said. “The good news is that was one of our deepest positions, and we actually kept an extra one when we cut down to 53. We kept six instead of five because of the quality of the players, and now we’re going to need every single one of them because of the injuries.”
