Cowboys 'still in it,' says Jones, who is open to defensive trade - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is not ready to concede anything about what the 2025 season can be even with his team's 2-3-1 record.

Disappointed with Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers, Jones was buoyed by the Washington Commanders loss to the Chicago Bears that keeps the Cowboys in the chase in the NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles lead the division with a 4-2 record but have lost two straight games. The Commanders are 3-3 and visit AT&T Stadium Sunday.

«It just reminded me that we are still in it,» Jones said at an announcement that the East-West Shrine Bowl will be played at Ford Center on Jan. 27, 2026, adding, «I see much parity and then you factor in that these teams get compromised with injury — and we can have and may (have it too) — but if we should have some good go of it here over the next weeks ahead with our injury situation and return of injury and we can get some wins,» before adding how «encouraged» he is for his team's prospects given the stellar play of quarterback Dak Prescott so far this season.

«The last thing that I'm thinking about is in any way being out of the hunt.»

The NFL trade deadline is three weeks from today. The Cowboys have extra first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 from the trade of Micah Parsons and $31 million in salary-cap space, according to NFLPA figures.

In 2018, the Cowboys were 3-4 and scuffling offensively, which led to a trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Raiders for a first round pick. The Cowboys won seven of their last nine games and made it to the divisional round of the playoffs.

Is there an Amari Cooper-type trade to help a defense that is last in the league in yards per game (411.7) and second to last in points per