The Dallas Cowboys got their first win of the season against the Washington Commanders, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb leading the offense. Among the rookies, Jaishawn Barham provided the biggest moment, while Caleb Downs contributed on defense and special teams.
There is still work to do defensively, particularly with tackling and finishing opportunities in the backfield. But here is how each rookie who played fared this week, listed in draft order, and any undrafted players worth noting after
that.
Caleb Downs
(Tackles: 9 | TFL: 0 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0 | PD: 1 | Special teams: 2 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
Downs contributed in two phases, including a breakup on a pass intended for Terry McLaurin. His special-teams production added value beyond his defensive duties. The forced fumble did not produce a Dallas recovery, but it was another opportunity created by the rookie showing his playmaking skills on defense.
Malachi Lawrence
(Tackles: 1 | TFL: 0 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0 | PD: 0 | QB hits: 1)
Lawrence reached Marcus Mariota for a quarterback hit, although Washington completed the pass for 18 yards. That captures the distinction between affecting the quarterback and ending the play. The contact was encouraging, but Dallas still surrendered a substantial gain, and in Lawrence’s defense, there was a lot of “almost” moments by the entire Cowboys pass rush unit and not a single sack by any of them.
Jaishawn Barham
(Tackles: 7 | TFL: 1 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0 | PD: 0 | Pressures: 1 | Forced fumbles: 1)
Barham was the standout rookie this week. He started at middle linebacker and wore the green dot, taking responsibility for communicating the defensive calls and getting teammates aligned, and looked comfortable doing it. His biggest contribution came with Dallas protecting a seven-point third-quarter lead by creating a forced fumble recovered by Dee Winters, which gave the offense a short field and helped set up another Jake Ferguson touchdown.
There is still plenty to work on with Barham, his day included a crucial missed tackle, but Barham handled a considerable assignment in only his second NFL appearance. His communication earned praise from veteran teammates, and he supplied the kind of turnover that can change a close game.
Drew Shelton
Shelton participated and reported as an eligible extra blocker. There’s nothing else more to report on his performance.
LT Overton
(Tackles: 1 | TFL: 0 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0 | PD: 0 | QB hits: 0)
Overton’s tackle limited a second-quarter run to one yard. That was a useful contribution against the run, although his recorded production offered little evidence of a disruptive afternoon overall.
