Cowboys Sign Ex-Packers Cornerback Corey Ballentine Ahead of Critical Sunday Night Clash
Seems as though the Dallas Cowboys are still probing for more intel about the Green Bay Packers ahead of their Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 4.
According to the NFL’s official transaction wire, the Cowboys signed former Packers veteran cornerback
Ballentine made seven starts and appeared in 37 games for the Packers over the past three seasons, logging 581 defensive snaps and 415 special-teams snaps in that span. While he initially signed with the
Ballentine did not, however, make the Packers’ initial 53-man roster cut.
Whether the Cowboys will extract any useful information from Ballentine about the Packers’ defensive schemes or tendencies remains unclear, but he could at least help them on special teams — if they are willing to elevate him to the game-day roster.
The Packers (2-1) will kick off against the Cowboys (1-2) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Kenny Clark Has Insider Knowledge About Packers
The Cowboys might not learn much from Ballentine about the Packers, but they do have someone else on their roster who spent considerable time in Green Bay:
Clark, a 2016 first-round pick, spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Packers and was in line to do so again in 2025 until early September, when the team traded him and two first-round draft picks to the Cowboys for All-Pro pass rusher
Naturally, Clark has some insider information on how the Packers operate defensively. He also knows the tendencies of several of their offensive linemen, which he has said he is more than happy to share with his new Cowboys coaches — even though he feels it will be more valuable in his one-on-one matchups with his former teammates.
“Yeah, there’s a lot you can take out of that,” Clark said this week about using his history with the Packers to his advantage in Week 4’s matchup. “I know them in and out. They know me. I’ve been going against those guys for a long time, know how they like to block and all that kind of stuff. As far as scheme and that kind of stuff, that’s a little tougher. As far as just me versus the guy, knowing how they’re going to block me, knowing the sets. They know what I’m gonna do, I know what they’re gonna do.”
Could Corey Ballentine Return to Packers in 2025?
Ballentine is now with the Cowboys until they either decide to cut him loose or another team comes along and signs him from Dallas’ practice squad to their 53-man roster.
With somewhat shaky cornerback depth, though, it is not out of the question to think that the Packers might consider re-signing him at some point in the 2025 season.
Ballentine played extensive defensive snaps (488) for the Packers in 2023 when they had a particularly rough run-in with cornerback injuries, but he was also regularly used as a special teams asset over his three seasons. That dual-purpose ability could tempt the Packers to bring him back, especially if they continue to struggle in the third phase.
Then again, the Packers already gave Ballentine a chance to win a roster spot in camp and ultimately decided to leave him off their initial 53-man roster. The depth situation in their cornerback room has also only improved since then, slimming his return odds.
Ex-Lions HC, Browns DC Reacts to Subtle Detroit DC Trash Talk Before Week 4
As the saying goes, what a difference a week can make in the NFL. Entering Week 4, that’s particularly true for coordinators John Morton and Jim Schwartz.
Feeling good about themselves and their units after strong Week 3 performances, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator have exchanged subtle trash talk this week.
Morton fired the first shot,
The Browns defensive coordinator responded in a respectful but strongly direct way Thursday.
“I mean, we’ve faced some good running offenses,” Schwartz said to the media,
The game within the game in the Detroit-Cleveland Week 4 matchup could very well be the Lions rush offense against the Browns run defense.
Entering Sunday, the Lions are fourth in the NFL with 149 rushing yards per game. The Browns own the No. 1 run defense, giving up just 57.3 yards on the ground per contest.
Jim Schwartz Shares What Browns Are Prepared to Stop With Lions Run Game
Schwartz didn’t just offer the typical coaching clichés about how his unit has to stop the Lions run offense. The Browns coordinator shared specifics on what his defense will try to do versus Detroit running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
“Two different running backs, you got to protect your edges. You got to defend all 53 and [a] third [yards], particularly with [Jahmyr] Gibbs,” Schwartz said. “And then there’s a lot of passes that are just extensions of the run game. A lot of screen game, a lot of quicks. Even the checkdowns are sort of an extension of the run game.
“So, our ability to play run defense, our ability to tackle in the open field, you know, that’s a major part of this game plan going forward.”
Schwartz’s run defenses have often been one of the best in the league over the years. In 2017, his Philadelphia Eagles defense was No. 1 against the run.
Last season, the Browns were 11th in run defense under Schwartz. Cleveland was also fourth in passing yards during 2024. Behind those marks, the Browns allowed the fewest yards in the entire league.
The Lions, though, have been one of the best rushing offenses for the past few years. They were ranked in the top six in rushing yards during both 2023 and 2024.
Detroit has continued that success early this season despite a coordinator change with Morton.
Lions Have Opportunity to Defeat Old Head Coach
It’s been more than a decade since Schwartz coached in Detroit. So, the storyline is a bit old.
But Schwartz will return to Ford Field on Sunday, where he was Detroit’s head coach for five seasons. He led the Lions to their first playoff berth in 12 years during 2011.
Overall, though, Schwartz was 29-51 as the team’s head coach. The Lions parted ways with Schwartz after the 2013 season.
Since then, Schwartz has not received another head coaching opportunity. He’s served as defensive coordinator for the Browns, Eagles and
