The Cowboys’ pass rush faced a setback in Week 4 when Micah Parsons sustained an ankle injury, and DeMarcus Lawrence was already on injured reserve.
The Cowboys were hit hard by injuries in Week 4, with both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence getting hurt during their win over the New York Giants.
Parsons is attempting to play through a high-ankle sprain, while Lawrence, due to a knee injury, has been placed on injured reserve. Despite being a veteran, the four-time Pro Bowler remains a crucial part of the Cowboys’ pass rush. In the first four games, the Boise State alum had tallied three sacks, 14 tackles, five QB hits, and a forced fumble.
With Parsons unlikely to perform at his best due to the ankle issue, the Cowboys need someone like Lawrence on the defensive line. Since they may lack suitable internal replacements, exploring trade options is a possibility.
With head coach Mike McCarthy in the final year of his contract and needing a deep playoff run to secure his job, finding someone to fill in while Lawrence recovers is critical. The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are potential trade candidates.
Cowboys Could Trade With Saints, Panthers After DeMarcus Lawrence Injury
The New Orleans Saints are reportedly looking to trade edge defender Cameron Jordan. A first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Jordan was once one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2017.
However, the California alum began to show signs of decline in 2023 and has taken on a backup role in 2024, behind Carl Granderson and recent free-agent addition Chase Young. While Jordan is no longer at his peak, he could still serve as a capable replacement while DeMarcus Lawrence recovers from injury.
After spending 14 seasons in New Orleans, a new environment might rejuvenate Jordan’s game. The Cowboys will miss Lawrence, but they still have dependable options like Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland. Jordan wouldn’t need to be the star—his role would be to rotate in and help generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Buying or Selling?
The Cowboys played on Thursday Night Football, giving them more than a week to search for a possible replacement for DeMarcus Lawrence.
This extra time is fortunate, as Carolina’s outlook for the season hinges on the results of Week 4. After struggling with rookie quarterback Bryce Young and looking like one of the worst teams in the league, veteran Andy Dalton led the Panthers to a commanding win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
Now only a game behind in the division race, the Panthers need to determine if Dalton can sustain this success or if it was a one-off performance. If they manage to upset the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina could attempt an unlikely playoff push.
On the other hand, a loss could prompt the Panthers to trade a player like Jadeveon Clowney to the Cowboys. Carolina signed the former number one pick as a short-term solution after trading Brian Burns, but at 31 years old, his presence doesn’t make sense for a team that’s not poised to win immediately. Clowney could be an ideal replacement for the injured Lawrence and might even be an upgrade for a Dallas team looking to make a deep playoff run.
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