Cowboys Cut Ties With Former 17-Game Starter
The Dallas Cowboys are continuing to shake up their defense in whatever ways they possibly can — trades, bringing back players from injuries or, now, even cutting lose former starters.
The Cowboys parted ways with former 17-game starter and inside linebacker Damone Clark on Tuesday, November 18, just one day after a 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in which the defense looked competent for the first time this season, and with Clark out of the lineup.
Clark was one of 3 players released by the Cowboys on November 18 along with center Wesley French and tight end John Stephens.
Clark was in his fifth season with the Cowboys, who drafted him in the fifth round (No. 176 overall) out of LSU in the 2022 NFL draft. He started 26 games in his time in Dallas, including all 17 regular-season games in 2023, when he had a career high 109 tackles.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer sent Clark away with an encouraging message, which was probably cold comfort for the 25-year-old free agent.
“I told him your career is just getting started,” Schottenheimer told Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. “Sometimes change is good. I really believe that. It’s not bull (expletive) … he means a lot to me and this gives Damone a chance to find a new home.”
LB Additions Market Corrected Clark
The Cowboys had the 31st ranked defense in the NFL headed into Week 11 and you could make an argument that no position group on the entire roster was worse than inside linebacker.
All of that changed over the last few weeks, which ultimately led to Clark getting his walking papers.
First, the Cowboys traded a 2026 seventh round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for inside linebacker Logan Wilson.
“A deal for Dallas: Cowboys are finalizing a trade to acquire Bengals MLB Logan Wilson, sources tell me and Todd Archer,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on November 4. “Earlier Monday, Jerry Jones told Stephen A. Smith that the Cowboys have made a trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline. It is expected to be for Wilson, for whom the Bengals have been seeking a sixth-round pick. Wilson signed four-year $36 million extension in July 2023 that still has two years remaining on it after this season.”
Then, the Cowboys brought heralded inside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown off of injured reserve ahead of schedule. Overshown, who missed his entire rookie season in 2023 with a torn ACL, had a breakout season in 2024 before tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL in Week 14 against the Bengals.
Overshown wasn’t expected back until a Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead he was on the field for the win over the Raiders, making 1 TFL loss in a limited amount of snaps.
With Kenneth Murray Jr., rookie Shemar James and Marist Liufau essentially a 3-headed inside linebacker at the third spot along Overshown and Wilson, the Cowboys now, suddenly, seem like they’re on solid ground.
Moving forward, don’t be surprised to see James take Murray’s spot as the starter alongside Wilson and Overshown.
Mike Tomlin Reacts to Possibility Steelers Replace Darius Slay With Ex-Undrafted CB
The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary has undergone quite the transformation to begin November. The team has made several changes to the unit, including at both starting safety spots. Another key factor to the improvement in Week 11 was the strong performance from cornerback James Pierre, who replaced an injured Darius Slay in the starting lineup.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Pierre posted six combined tackles, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery. Pierre returned the fumble for a touchdown.
However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin dismissed the idea that Pierre is about to take Slay’s job.
“[Slay] steps back in and plays,” Tomlin said Tuesday when asked whether Slay would retain his starting role. “We’re certainly going to continue to play James. He’s deserving of that. But if healthy, Slay is going to play.”
Slay has struggled at times this season. The 34-year-old is two years removed from his last Pro Bowl campaign.
A former 2020 undrafted free agent, Pierre is arguably coming off the best two games of his career. In Week 10, he registered five combined tackles and two pass defenses against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Slay exited that game and didn’t play Sunday because of a concussion. Tomlin, though, sounded optimistic Tuesday that Slay would be available for the Chicago Bears matchup on November 23.
James Pierre Emerging as Quality CB Option for Steelers
Although he was an undrafted free agent during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made it very difficult for undrafted players to earn roster spots, Pierre has managed to stay around the Steelers for six seasons. He’s been on and off the team’s roster and practice squad over the years.
Sunday marked the sixth time Pierre has dressed for at least 10 contests in an NFL season. Barring injury, he could be on the Steelers roster for 15 games for a sixth season as well.
In those 10 contests this year, Pierre hasn’t played a high volume of defensive snaps. He has averaged 17.5 defensive snaps per game.
But according to Pro Football Focus, Pierre is Pittsburgh’s top performing defender this season. He’s earned a 90.9 overall grade, which is slightly higher than edge rusher Nick Herbig and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
Pierre has shined the most in coverage, which is what the Steelers were sorely lacking from their cornerbacks in October. Pierre has posted a 90.7 PFF coverage grade this season.
Slay has submitted a 57.2 overall grade and 57.9 coverage grade at PFF.
Those grades have to be taken with a grain of salt. However, it’s rather clear that, in his small sample, Pierre has outperformed Slay, who is playing a large amount of snaps as a starter.
Steelers to Stick With Darius Slay in Starting Lineup
Tomlin was clear to reporters Tuesday that Pierre has earned more playing time. But the Steelers head coach also reminded reporters why Pierre is considered a bench player.
“He’s done a nice job, but again, usually when you’re a backup man, you get targets, and so when you get targets, you generally get breakups,” said Tomlin on why Pierre is second on the team in pass deflections.
“We have not been displeased with his efforts. We’ve been quite pleased with his efforts. We’re certainly interested in continuing to use him as we move forward.”
Slay only has three pass deflections this season despite playing 303 more defensive snaps than Pierre. But clearly, Tomlin is opting to stay with the more proven player as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks.
Slay has earned six Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro nomination in his 13-year NFL career. Last season, Slay started for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Pierre is a career backup on a hot streak. That’s not good enough to replace Slay, according to Tomlin.
