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Unbelievable Self-Own: Cowboys Try to Fix Glaring Hole Created by Parsons Trade, and the Internet Is Having a FIELD DAY

Posted on October 19, 2025 - 5:31 am by

In a move that has NFL fans across the internet doubled over with laughter, the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly scouring the trade market for defensive help—mere months after shipping off their star pass rusher, Micah Parsons, to the Green Bay Packers. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini dropped the bombshell on Saturday, revealing that the Cowboys have “let the league know they are open for business” ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, specifically targeting reinforcements for their beleaguered defense. The irony? Fans are gleefully pointing out that Dallas created this mess themselves by parting ways with last season’s team sacks leader.

Packers Cowboys Football
Packers Cowboys Football

Parsons, now thriving in Green Bay, has already notched 2.5 sacks through five games this season and ranks fourth among edge defenders with an impressive 29 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ defense is crumbling without him. Heading into Week 7, Dallas ranks dead last in the NFL in passing defense, surrendering a whopping 269.5 yards per game through the air. Their run defense isn’t faring much better, sitting at 29th with 142.2 yards allowed per game. To top it off, the Cowboys are one of only three teams—alongside the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals—allowing opponents to pile up at least 30 points per game. Ouch.

Social media has been merciless, with fans and analysts alike roasting Dallas for what many are calling a self-inflicted wound. “The Cowboys trading Micah Parsons and then saying they need defensive help is like burning your house down and asking for a fire extinguisher,” one X user quipped. Another chimed in, “Jerry Jones out here trying to fix a defense he broke. Masterclass in chaos.” The internet’s field day shows no signs of slowing down as the trade deadline looms.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, never one to shy away from bold moves, recently hinted at the team’s willingness to shake things up. “If there is a trade that would help the defense, we’re in position to make that trade,” Jones said earlier this week, per DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “Doesn’t mean we’re going to make one, but we certainly had in mind when we started this season that we were going to have ammo to be more flexible.” Translation? The Cowboys knew their roster might need a midseason overhaul, but few expected they’d be scrambling to replace the production of a player they willingly let go.

One name floating as a potential trade target is Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, whose expiring contract makes him an intriguing candidate for a deadline deal. Hendrickson could bring some much-needed juice to Dallas’ pass rush, but whether he—or anyone—can fill the void left by Parsons remains to be seen.

For now, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is left to work with what he’s got. The Cowboys face a critical test in Week 7 when they host the Washington Commanders on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. Eberflus will need to coax a better performance out of his current unit, or the calls for reinforcements will only grow louder—and the internet’s memes will only get spicier.