The Dallas Cowboys received more frustrating injury news this week with safety Donovan Wilson showing up as a DNP. The report is courtesy of Dallas News' Calvin Watkins, who tweeted out the entire injury report. It's not a favorable one for a Cowboys team that has been consistently bitten by injuries this season.
However, it's also probably not a hot take to say that the defense could be better off without Wilson, considering his struggles this season. Boasting a 47.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, he ranks among the league's worst at the position. PFF doesn't always seem to nail it with these grades, but you won't find many Cowboys fans who argue against this one.
Donovan Wilson Injury Could Improve Cowboys Defense
There's a real chance that this injury kicks off the beginning of the end for Wilson's time as a Cowboys starter. Juanyeh Thomas is back at practice, and he and Markquese Bell appear to be in line to get the start at the safety position if Wilson is held out in Week 8.
Already, there is a viable argument to be made that this is the best safety duo the Cowboys can offer while Malik Hooker is on IR. Bell played well last week against the Washington Commanders and was a big piece of the defensive improvement. Thomas has looked better than Wilson in just about every game this season.
It seems that having played for the team for the last seven seasons is the only thing keeping the starter in the current lineup. If Wilson were a first-year player or a piece without any history with the franchise, there is zero question that he would already have been benched. The level of play has simply been far below any acceptable standards. Missed tackles and busts in coverage have been the only consistent traits in the defender's game. It's not an apples-to-apples comparison when he has also played the most snaps, but his numbers compared to the rest of the Cowboys' safeties really highlight these struggles:
Player | PFF Grade | Missed Tackles | Receiving TDs Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
Markquese Bell | 64.2 | 1 | 0 |
Juanyeh Thomas | 60.0 | 2 | 1 |
Malik Hooker | 58.3 | 5 | 1 |
Donovan Wilson | 47.8 | 7 | 51 |
This is why missing Week 8 against the Denver Broncos could end Wilson's time with the Cowboys. This is the final year of the defensive back's deal, making it all the easier for Thomas and Bell to steal the starting roles if Week 8 were to live up to expectations. In truth, even if the duo struggles, the bar is so incredibly low for Wilson that it is hard to see it failing to be an upgrade.
Losing your job to injuries is an unfortunate reality of the business, and it seems that this is likely going to be the case for the veteran. With that said, there is still a measure of hope that Wilson can turn back the clock to the productive player he has previously been throughout his career. This includes the 2022 season, when the defender had 101 tackles and managed to consistently get the quarterback as a blitzer from the secondary.
It seems the departure of former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn proved to be the start of Wilson's downfall. One that could be completed this weekend if the veteran misses the game and opens the door to a position change that is already very much on the table.