The Dallas Cowboys are 1-1 after two weeks, and it's safe to say that the start of the 2025 NFL season has been far from encouraging. That's especially the case with the Cowboys' defense, as they gave up a whopping 37 points to the New York Giants and are allowing 30.5 points per game so far (T-27th).
The Cowboys' defensive woes can be linked to losing their primary defensive weapon in Micah Parsons, but they should still be able to hold down the front. Adding an up-and-coming linebacker like Jacks Sanborn was supposed to help their case.
But after two games, the former Chicago Bear hasn't been as good as advertised. Missed assignments, a slow first step, and an overall apparent lack of effort have infuriated the fans.
Cowboys LB Jack Sanborn Has Been Disappointing
As shown by Pro Football Focus editor John Owning, Sanborn bought into a big fake in the win over the Giants. That led to him being caught out of position and giving up a huge gain for a first down. That was just one of several instances in which he was caught off guard.
While he wasn't a big-name signing, getting him back together with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, his former head coach in Chicago, made it seem like he would be a seamless fit for the defense. After all, the 24-year-old spent the first three years of his career in the Windy City after going undrafted out of Wisconsin
During that stretch, Sanborn amassed 110 solo tackles, five defended passes, 4.5 sacks, and an interception in 48 games (19 starts). That's to say that he's already shown that he can put up numbers, so watching him log just six total tackles in his first two games with the Cowboys is fairly disappointing.
On top of that, his 47.5 Pro Football Focus overall grade is noticeably worse than any performance he had with the Bears.
While Kenneth Murray Jr. looked like the weakest link in the linebackers corps, he's been mostly decent so far. And with Sanborn failing to look the part, Marist Liufau emerges as a potential candidate to take his spot.
Liufau has looked sharp despite playing just a handful of snaps (six in Week 1 and nine in Week 2), and he could be an option to consider if the former Bear doesn't get his act together in the game against his former team. He has a great nose for the ball, and given his youth and upside, Eberflus would be wise to give him a longer leash.
Needless to say, Sanborn's situation is one worth monitoring in Week 3.