Cowboys Lose DT Jonathan Bullard 3-5 Weeks — Rookies LT Overton, Tommy Dunn Next Up
A calf strain sidelines Dallas DT Jonathan Bullard for 3-5 weeks, opening snaps for fourth-rounder LT Overton and UDFA Tommy Dunn.
Dallas is quietly stuffing starting RBs inside — tougher matchup than it looks.
- Bullard: calf strain vs Ravens, out 3-5 weeks
- Henry: 1,595 rush yds, 16 TD in 2025 (17 games)
- Henry ranks #8 at RB in our board
- Rookie LT Overton: 33 1/4-inch arms, 4th-round pick
- Dallas has allowed 50+ rush yds to all 3 starting QBs
Buried under the Cowboys' secondary injuries is a quieter one on the interior: veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard strained his calf against the Ravens on Sunday and is expected to miss three to five weeks. For a defense that leans on a deep rotation up front, that's a real subtraction — even if the starting trio is still intact.
And that trio is the reason panic isn't warranted. Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and low-cost free-agent find Otito Ogbannia all looked sharper against Baltimore, with Ogbannia continuing to shed blockers and wall off running lanes. Williams and Clark have taken early heat for their contracts, but the big three held up — which is exactly why Dallas can absorb a Bullard-sized hole.
Why Bullard Still Matters
Don't wave this off entirely. Bullard's been the perfect fit — smart, tough, and a set of heavy hands for coordinator Christian Parker's rotation. He's coming off one of the defense's biggest plays of the year: a fourth-down stuff where he and Ogbannia refused to budge, dropping Derrick Henry in the backfield for a turnover on downs. That kind of gap discipline against double-teams is the whole point of Parker's scheme.
The rushing numbers look ugly on the surface, but they're skewed by quarterbacks — Dallas has surrendered 50-plus rushing yards to each starting QB through three games. Against starting running backs, the interior has actually been stingy and trending up. Fresh bodies every series are a big part of that.
The Rookies Up Next
Fourth-round rookie LT Overton is the obvious beneficiary of Bullard's absence — strong at the point of attack, relentless motor, 33 1/4-inch arms that give him range. Undrafted rookie Tommy Dunn could factor in too; the 305-pounder was a preseason darling with disciplined hands and quick get-off before landing on the practice squad. His debut may come soon.
The fantasy read here is less about any Cowboy and more about who's running at them. Derrick Henry — #8 at the position on our board and coming off a 1,595-yard, 16-TD 2025 season (17 games) — has run hot lately, averaging four fantasy points above his season mark over his last five games. But if you're eyeing a future RB matchup against this Dallas front, temper the ceiling: they're stuffing starting backs even shorthanded inside. Treat the matchup as neutral-to-tough and start your studs anyway — just don't chase a Henry-type explosion here. WATCH how the rookies hold up before downgrading anyone.
