Given the extra-long break to sit with their- yes, we'll say it- embarrassing loss to the previously-winless Buccaneers, the Cowboys' Week 5 snap counts will likely receive a great deal of scrutiny as the team attempts to figure out what went so terribly wrong in the 24-16 letdown. Much of the debate will be about a handful of players who clearly looked unprepared and out of their depth.
Injuries forced some key personnel changes during the game and even before it; new cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was scratched due to a sudden illness. As a result, Reddy Steward got heavy action for the second week in a row, but it was regular starting veteran DaRon Bland who got torched by the Bucs' passing game, seemed to take several plays at half-speed, and even dropped
a surefire pick-six late. There will be plenty of talk about how the former fifth-round draft selection hasn't been the same since his breakout 2023 season... or the $92 million extension he signed last August. Should Bland- the Cowboys' snaps leader through five games- be getting 100% of the work once Porter and Cobie Durant can take the field together? Certainly not based on his showing Thursday night.
Rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham continues to acquit himself well, seeing over 70% of the unit's snaps for the third straight week. How the team uses him and assigns the green-dot playcalling duties once DeMarvion Overshown can return will be interesting to see.
On the offensive side, CeeDee Lamb missing time late was of considerable concern. He and George Pickens had been nearly identical as far as their snap counts, but Lamb's quadriceps issue Thursday night left Pickens with no bookend threat for 19 crucial snaps as the Cowboys attempted to mount their comeback. Pickens's touchdown did come with Lamb standing on the sideline, but a full gameplan without both of them would change how teams can defend the Dallas pass.
Tyler Guyton also missed eight offensive snaps after being in on 100% of them for the season; the back injury he suffered late will be a situation to watch over the mini-bye week. Next to him, though, Tyler Smith took every snap in his 2026 regular-season debut.
And in what could become a legitimate debate around Dallas, Jake Ferguson is bringing the wrong kind of attention to the tight end spot. He's always been a safety valve for Dak Prescott, and his 83% offensive usage Thursday was among the highest of his career, but of his three egregious drops in Week 5, two were bounced into the air and intercepted. Couple that with his known fumbling history, and it's fair to wonder- despite a $52 million extension signed last summer- what's going on with him.
But after that humiliating loss to Tampa Bay, the same can be said of this entire Cowboys squad.
Here's a full look at the snap counts in their Week 5 loss.
These snap count figures were disseminated to the media shortly following the game and are considered unofficial. They are subject to change after further film review.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Instead of benched, attacked DB is Cowboys snap count leader in Week 5
