The Cowboys interior defensive line woes have taken another hit as the team is placing tackle Jordan Phillips on injured reserve with a wrist injury. Phillips will miss at least the next four weeks of the season. Dallas acquired the 11th-year defender from the division rival New York Giants for a 2026 sixth-round pick. In return, Dallas received Phillips along with a 2026 seventh-rounder.

The Cowboys next four opponents are the Ravens, Giants, Steelers, and Lions. Phillips could be eligible to return prior to the Cowboys October 27 game against San Francisco.

Phillips was supposed to shore up the Cowboys run game woes yet his 26.1 PFF grade against the New Orleans Saints was among the many things that went wrong for Dallas in the blowout home-opener loss.

The Cowboys worked quickly to fill his roster spot, bringing back a familiar face in defensive tackle Carlos Watkins.

Watkins played for Dallas from 2021 through 2022. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Texans.

After Dallas suffered an exodus of free agents leaving for Washington to follow their new head coach Dan Quinn, Dallas struck back,  poaching Watkins off the Commanders practice squad.

Questions about the Cowboys run defense will continue to be asked until the team can consistently find a way to slow opponents down.