The Bengals have one of the worst defenses in NFL history. Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones has decided to add a player from that defense.
The Cowboys have agreed to acquire linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals, according to multiple reports.
Wilson sat out Sunday’s game with a calf injury, but even when he was playing, he was not playing well. A starter for most of his career, Wilson has recently been taken out of the Bengals’ starting lineup and played more on special teams than on defense.
In response to that, Wilson requested the trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Cowboys are on their bye this week, and that will give Wilson some additional time to get himself prepared to contribute. Unless Wilson has agreed to a pay cut, he’s not a cheap option for the Cowboys: He is on a four-year, $36 million contract that still has two more years on it after this season. That’s the kind of money teams want to be paying starters, not special teamers.
The Cowboys have had some disappointing outcomes during the 2025 season, but Monday night’s loss to the Cardinals might have taken the cake.
While playing at home against a 2-5 team missing its starting quarterback, the Cowboys’ continued struggle to get off the field on defense were matched with an offense that couldn’t reach its usual level thanks to an inability to slow down the Arizona pass rush. The result was a 27-17 loss that sent them into the bye week and trade deadline with a 3-5-1 record.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spent the day hemming and hawing about a trade, and quarterback Dak Prescott said after the loss he’d be in favor of adding “a big value guy.” Prescott also said that “as important as anything is us getting some answers to these issues that we have” because the team has reached the point where they need to go on a long winning streak to salvage the season.
“Every game is a must-win going forward,” Prescott said, via the team’s website. “I know you say that, and you feel that in the NFL, and you should feel that, but when you put yourself in a position or behind like we have, it’s even more so that case. We’re fortunate right now that, in the league, there’s a lot of teams with multiple losses. . . . You can catch a hot streak and be right there in the mix. That’s great, but you gotta get a streak going. And if you don’t get a streak going, you’re just putting yourself more and more behind the eight ball. It’s now or never.”
The Cowboys haven’t won consecutive games yet this season. Whether they make a trade or not, that makes the idea that they’re about to rattle off several in a row a tough sell.
The Cowboys might or might not make a trade before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
After the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss to the Cardinals, owner Jerry Jones walked back his talk of the team having a trade in place. The trade he referred to pregame is not finalized, and he said he still has a decision to make.
“No, there is no trade right now,” Jones said. “We wouldn’t have to make anything happen tomorrow. I want to be real clear about that. But there is one I can do. Without question, there is one I can do, and I’m leaning toward doing it.”
If the Cowboys make a trade — a big if after Monday night’s result — they will be buyers, not sellers, despite the 3-5-1 record.
“I like our nuts and bolts a lot,” Jones said of the Cowboys’ current roster. “I don’t like what’s happening to the nuts and bolts, but I like them a lot.”
The Cowboys entered Monday ranked 31st in total defense, trailing only the Bengals. They are not one player away from improving the defense enough to compete for a playoff berth.
“I would hate to say I wouldn’t make a deal and get the deal of a lifetime tomorrow and cover a lot of bases for us,” Jones said. “I don’t really have a problem leaving it open until it’s over. Now, I’m being very realistic. We’ve won three ball games, and here we are at this juncture. I do know how to add.”
On the ESPN broadcast on Monday night, Troy Aikman said Jones should “cancel that trade” that Jones talked about with Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM Radio. Jones was asked about Aikman’s evaluation and whether the result of Monday night’s game would change his mind.
“I hear opinions,” Jones said. “You can rest assured that at least in my mind, all those considerations are there. It was there before this game. It was there when we started the season about whether you make a trade or not. . . . We’ve either got to [shit] or get off the pot by tomorrow afternoon.”
The announced crowd at AT&T Stadium was 92,211. There were a lot of empty seats when the game started, and only Cardinals remained midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals led from start to finish, blowing out the Cowboys 27-17.
Arizona improved to 3-5, ending its five-game losing streak, while Dallas fell to 3-5-1.
The Cowboys had 333 yards. They punted only once in nine possessions, but twice turned it over on downs across midfield, lost two fumbles, threw an interception and missed a 68-yard field goal. Dallas was 1-for-3 in the red zone.
The Cardinals gained 340 yards on Dallas’ 31st-ranked defense.
Jacoby Brissett, subbing for injured starter Kyler Murray, completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
Marvin Harrison Jr. caught seven for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Michael Wilson had three receptions for 61 yards. Emari Demercado had 14 carries for 79 yards.
The Cardinals had five sacks of Dak Prescott, including two each by Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell, and they forced fumbles by Jake Ferguson and George Pickens in Arizona territory. Denzel Burke intercepted Prescott’s final pass of the night when the game was already decided.
Prescott was 24-of-39 for 250 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Javonte Williams ran 15 times for 83 yards. CeeDee Lamb caught seven passes for 85 and Pickens six for 79.
The Cardinals needed only three plays and 2:12 of the second half to increase their lead over the Cowboys.
Arizona opened the second half with Michael Wilson’s 50-yard, catch-and-run to the Dallas 24. Zonovan Knight then ran for 17 yards.
After an illegal formation penalty, Jacoby Brissett hit tight end Trey McBride for a 12-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals lead 24-7.
Brissett is 17-of-24 for 220 yards and two touchdowns. He also has run for a touchdown.
The Cardinals have 269 yards.
