There’s no hiding it, Week 6 is about to get tricky for the Dallas Cowboys. Because right in the middle of the Carolina Panthers’ defense sits a quiet storm wearing No. 95. And coach Brian Schottenheimer knows it. Carolina may be 1–4, but that defense? It’s got teeth. And that’s why the coach warned Dak Prescott and co. about him.

Brian was talking about Carolina’s defensive end, Derrick Brown. When asked about him, Schottenheimer explained Brown as a “dominant interior player.”

“We’re going to see guys like this…Elite run defender…pushing the pocket, knocking people back into the quarterback…They played him at defensive end some last week, and…trying to ask tight ends to block him is a tough…job…He’s a guy that…there’s no real way of game planning around him because he’s so close to the football… good player,” He added. The coach had this conversation in the Global Life studio. And judging from Brown’s gameplay, Schottenheimer isn’t wrong.

Brown’s ball rush is something. He’s like a wrecking ball in the pocket, giving QBs nowhere to hide. Sure, his sack numbers might not be eye-popping, but the disruption he causes is off the charts. He’s intimidating to face, and forces more hurried, bad throws, and sacks. That’s why Dak Prescott has to be careful. Though he couldn’t play in 2024 due to his knee injury, Brown was amazing in 2023. He recorded over 100 tackles, which is unheard of for an interior defensive lineman.

Through five games, he has had nine solo tackles, seven assists, and one sack. But those numbers don’t tell the full story. Watch closely and you’ll see him take on two players, holding his ground, and still finding the ball. Brown has that balance between power and technique. But Brown is not the only thing to look out for.

Why check your opponent’s team when you have injuries lined up?

Dak Prescott loses another key player as injury list grows

Dak Prescott and co were good in Week 5, taking down the Jets 37-22. It was a game where Prescott looked sharp, completing 18 of 29 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns. And he did it without his go-to guy. With CeeDee Lamb out nursing an ankle sprain, George Pickens stepped up as Prescott’s top target, helping Dallas even their record at 2-2-1 to start the season. But now, things get a little tougher.

Miles Sanders, a big part of that backfield rotation, is out for the year. According to Stephen Jones, Sanders suffered knee and ankle injuries that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. Through four games, he logged 20 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, quietly becoming a steady hand. Now, rookie Jaydon Blue will be the backup behind Javonte Williams, a big leap for a player just getting his footing. But the injuries keep stacking up.

In Week 4 against the Packers, KaVontae Turpin hurt his foot. A big miss for the Cowboys as he had 11 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown, plus 23 rushing yards to boot, before injury. His burst gave this offense an extra layer of danger. But the question now is, how will Dak Prescott and the team approach Week 6?