The latest Gameday Accountability verdicts from the NFL are here. And following the Week 4 battle between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, only one Dallas Star has found himself on the list of those being fined. Defensive end Sam Williams.

Sam Williams’ fine comes from unnecessary roughness with 10:38 left in the third quarter against Green Bay. With this, Williams now faces a whopping $11,002 fine heading into Week 5. But what’s more, this fine has now taken away the only sack he had logged for this season. Interestingly, no one from the opposing ‌Packers has been fined.

Williams had missed his entire 2024 campaign with a torn ACL. Coming back from it, he had put up an impressive performance in their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 1, he earned an 80.9 PFSN EDGE Impact score with 5 pressures, a 20% pressure rate, and wrapped it up with 5 tackles.

Now, as the Cowboys gear up to face the New York Jets in Week 5, Sam Williams’ fine is not the only worry for the Dallas defense. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has received a major blow to his roster that’s already reeling from injuries.

Injury report shakes up Brian Schottenheimer’s schemes

On Saturday, October 4, the Dallas Cowboys placed their safety Malik Hooker on the injured reserve. Hooker notably injured his left toe going up against the Packers’ offense in Week 4. The injury came in the first half of their clash. Following the IR placement, he will now miss at least four weeks, with a possible return to action in Week 9 or beyond. So far in the season, Hooker had logged a total of 20 tackles, with 12 solo and 8 assists. Following his exit in Week 4, Juanyeh Thomas became the next man up in the game.

While Thomas now stands to gain more spotlight, the Cowboys have also added some depth to their active roster by upgrading safety Alijah Clark from the practice squad. In the meantime, the Cowboys have also had to pivot on the other side of the ball.

With CeeDee Lamb recovering from a high-ankle sprain, fellow wideout KaVontae Turpin has also sprained his foot in Week 4. Lamb, for one, has shown up back on the practice field, and Brian Schottenheimer is excited for his eventual return.

Without their two dependable targets sidelined, the Cowboys have elevated Jalen Brooks and Jalen Cropper from the practice squad. The Jets are going 0-4 into Week 5, while the Cowboys are going 1-2-1. Will the Cowboys be able to notch their second win of the season in Week 5? Or will the Jets’ squad finally see some daylight?