The Dallas Cowboys don’t have many positions with a margin for error right now — on defense they might not have any.
The latest hit to the Cowboys’ depth chart on defense came on August 26 when free agent defensive lineman Payton Turner was placed on the injured reserve with broken ribs. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo was also placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury.
“The Cowboys are placing DE Payton Turner on injured reserve/designated to return with broken ribs, per sources,” ESPN’s Todd Archer wrote on his official X account. “He’d been dealing w/ rib issue since first preseason game and became worse vs. Atlanta. He will miss the first 4 games.”
Turner signed a 1-year, $2.5 million contract with the Cowboys on March 11. He was being counted on to provide depth on the defensive front, where he’s listed as a backup to Marshawn Kneeland at one of the defensive end spots.
Kneeland played in 11 games with 1 start in 2024 and didn’t have any sacks.
Former First Round Pick Struggled in NOLA
Depending on how he bounces back, Turner, the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, still might have breakout star potential after 4 disappointing seasons with the New Orleans Saints to start his career.
“Will a return to the state of Texas and a chance to work as a rotational player behind (Micah) Parsons and the Cowboys’ collection of talent allow Turner to progress after his first fully healthy campaign?” USA Today’s K.D. Drummond wrote on May 25. “Turner will enter the 2025 training camp as the likely sixth edge rusher in the Cowboys’ depth chart. The Cowboys also signed former No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler as a free agent, and he’s coming off a 10-sack season in his one year with Washington.”
Injuries Have Created Problems in Past
Turner, 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, played his way into the first round with 5.0 sacks in just 5 games for the University of Houston during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
While injuries decimated Turner’s first 3 seasons in the NFL — he played just 13 games in that stretch — those problems were for shoulder and turf toe issues and didn’t involve significant structural damage.
In 2024, Turner played in 16 out of 17 games with career highs for tackles (21), sacks (2.0), forced fumbles (2) and pass deflections (4).
Turner’s Position Future … Not Totally Clear!
Turner’s one thing he’s supposed to do well — rush the passer — hasn’t gone totally well through the preseason.
With the Cowboys staring down what could be one of the more forgettable seasons in recent memory this season, there’s no guarantee Turner is on the roster by the end of the season if he can’t distinguish himself in a meaningful way.
“Payton Turner is not a pass rusher,” The Lando Show’s Landon Holifield wrote on his official X account. “We knew that already but it’s resurfaced in light of the semi-viral James Houston clip. I swore I was going to love his run-stop ability more than I do. He leverages & sometimes OVER relies on his length. In other words, to me it often feels like he’s much more ‘patty cake’ than punch or pop but the flashes are still there. Hard to give up on a frame like 98 but the gut tells me he’s gonna need a big pre-season week 3.”
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