Todd Archer

ESPN NFL Nation reporter, covers the Dallas Cowboys. Covered NFL since 1997

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

The Cowboys have 20 players set to be unrestricted free agents in 2027 and six are represented by David Mulugheta: George Pickens, Joey Porter Jr., DeMarvion Overshown, P.J. Locke, Broderick Jones, Malik Hooker.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Could the deal for Joey Porter Jr. be a 13- or 14-game rental with him being a free agent after the year? Potentially, but there's always the possibility of a prime 2028 compensatory pick if they don't re-sign him.

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The Cowboys now have four picks in the 2027 draft: first, second, fourth and seventh.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

This is the third trade between the Cowboys and Steelers in the last two years. In May 0f 2025, the Cowboys sent a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh for wide receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

The sixth-round pick the Cowboys got for Pickens is now going back to the Steelers.

In August, the Cowboys acquired tackle Broderick Jones and a 2027 fourth rounder for third and sixth round picks in 2027.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

From a source: the Cowboys are giving up a sixth-round pick in 2027 and a second rounder in 2028 for Porter.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Source confirms reports by @TomPelissero and @Schultz_Report that the Cowboys are trading for Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Source confirms reports by @TomPelissero and @Schultz_Report that the Cowboys are trading for Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

First practice report of Cowboys-Texans week

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Safety Malik Hooker was back to practice for the first time since fracturing his forearm in the opener. He was wearing added protection but it looks like he could play Sunday if all goes well in practice.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) is looking at missing Sunday’s game, but has Jaishawn Barham earned the middle linebacker role regardless of when Overshown returns?

“We're going to play that by ear,” Brian Schottenheimer said. “I think Jaishawn's earning those opportunities though right now with how he's playing. And I do think that the good thing for him has been with the green dot, it does settle him down a little bit. I think it helps him get into the focus and flow of the game … We'll discuss it. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to be flexible because of the fact that multiple guys have to wear it. But I'm very, very pleased with Jaishawn and his development.”

Asked if Overshown could move back to the weak-side, Schottenheimer said, “I think it goes back to what we did all training camp, all offseason, cross training those guys in different spots. And again, for us right now, it's more about just finding the best balance of those guys. But based on formations, the Mike versus the Dime, as we call it, is based on formation. So that's where the cross-training comes in that we've worked so hard on.”

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Shavon Revel on the practice field doing some work despite some knee/ankle issues. He wasn’t moving great.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Both Thompson and Bullard carry the designated to return label. Cowboys have one spot open on their 53-man roster, which they will likely fill by end of the week internally.

[Dallas Cowboys Public Relations @DallasCowboysPR]

The @dallascowboys made the following transactions:

Reserve/Injured:
S Jalen Thompson
DT Jonathan Bullard

Signed to the active roster from practice squad:
DT Elijah Garcia

Signed to practice squad:
DB Alex Austin
DB Tyrek Funderburk
DB Juanyeh Thomas

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Brian Schottenheimer on the team’s response to being back to work today: “This team is resilient. They’re on to Houston.”

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Safety Jalen Thompson (hamstring) and Jonathan Bullard (calf) are going on injured reserve and will miss at least the next four games.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

The Cowboys are signing S Juanyeh Thomas and CB Alex Austin to the practiced squad.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Despite being off Monday and Tuesday after the long flight from Brazil, Brian Schottenheimer said there was a good turnout by players at The Star, beyond those in "sick call."

"Guys came in to get lifts, guys came in to get massages," he said. "The guys are ready to get back to work. And long way to go, man, so it's all part of the process. And like I said, we will be better."

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

One positive note for the Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer seemed to hint Tyler Smith (thumb) could return in Week 5 against Tampa Bay, despite the short week. He is currently on IR/DTR.

"He's been great, condition looks great," Schottenheimer said. "He's one of those guys that we'll look at after this game that potentially could be ready to go for Tampa. I think he's probably at the head of the list, if you will, because I know he's ready to get back out there. I know he's really good at football and I know that he's wanting to play."

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Brian Schottenheimer on his discussions with Jerry Jones after the Baltimore game:

“I'm man enough to take mistakes. I make a lot of mistakes. I'm certainly not perfect. And I know one thing, Jerry and I had a very good conversation about it. I explained it. He understands. He understands that there was a mistake that was made and he was terrific. Great, sound advice. I value him. He's been around the game a long time, just like I have, and he's seen a lot of stuff and so to me, that shows that he and I are aligned very closely. This will make me better. I'll be better. And again, I'm looking forward to lining up and playing this week against the Texans.”

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Brian Schottenheimer on what bothered him most about how he handled the third down call where Dak Prescott threw the pass away in order to guarantee the tying FG.

“I trust Dak Prescott completely, so it was the word that I chose, which I'm not going to give away. The words that we say have meaning, and when I said the word, it put him into a mindset that he doesn't play with. He doesn't play that way. He doesn't play the game that way. And so that's what I would change.”

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

Brian Schottenheimer said the communication between special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen and game management coordinator Ryan Feder was not good before the final kickoff. He said the kickoff should have been short and forced a return.

He took the blame for that too, because he was still upset over the third-down pass call.

"My dad had a rule, one play at a time. He talked a lot about, because it happened to him, he made a decision on a play. It didn't go good. He was pissed off about it and it affected another decision," Schottenheimer said. "I think that's kind of what happened to me. So I'll take accountability for it. It's football and life, it's what happens.

"But I hurt our chance to win that game, and I'll be better and I'm better than that. I'm better than I performed in the last 28 seconds.

[Todd Archer @toddarcher]

The first down call was a run play with a tag that allowed Dak Prescott to throw the fade to George Pickens, according to Schottenheimer.