As the Dallas Cowboys lost 28-20 to the New York Giants, a clip from the sideline went viral. It showed new defensive coordinator Christian Parker talking sternly with rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham on the bench, right before Barham stood up and brushed Parker’s hand off his shoulder.

Now, Parker has finally addressed the interaction during Thursday’s press conference.

“He was frustrated. This is his first NFL game, and things aren’t going to be perfect. This isn’t a fairy tale at all. Jaishawn cares as much as anybody in that locker room about us winning, number one.” Parker said during the presser.

Despite firing Matt Eberflus and hiring Parker in his stead and overhauling the defensive unit, the new group struggled to make an impact against the Giants’ offense.

Although rookie defensive back Caleb Downs finished with eight tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one QB hit, Malachi Lawrence and Barham were both quite forgettable.

Barham saw just six total tackles, including three solo and three assisted, along with one tackle for loss (TFL) in 34 defensive snaps, and was understandably upset, according to Parker.

“But number two, our defensive performance. So, he was a little frustrated with himself and frustrated with our side of the ball as we played,” Parker added.

The third-round rookie had an impressive college career, recording 193 defensive tackles and 12.0 career sacks across 48 games. He also made an impression during the Cowboys’ training camp and preseason, with the coaching staff praising his explosiveness and ability to disrupt backfield plays. However, those qualities failed to make an appearance during the first game where it mattered. 

Still, Parker brushed off the meltdown as the player getting a taste of his NFL game and believed that Barham would improve his game in the coming weeks.

“I don’t think anybody in our building has any doubt of what he’s going to do, coming real soon. So we don’t have um any reservations about his mentality,” Parker added. “We welcome that passion. Have to channel it better, and that’s something that young players have to go through. It’s a natural progression. We have a lot of confidence in Jaishawn.”

While Parker is standing by his rookie’s passion, his focus now shifts to fixing the broader issues that plagued Dallas’ defense in the season opener.

Christian Parker Admits Flaws in The Cowboys’ Week 1 Defense

Christian Parker admitted that the team’s defense failed in the fourth quarter and spoke about how he planned to better streamline the group ahead of their Week 2 game against the Washington Commanders.

“Getting back to work. It’s one poor performance. It’s one loss that does not equal two,” Parker told reporters on Thursday. “We’re not trying to make excuses for anything, and we’re not trying to act like it didn’t happen. We got to look in the mirror. We got to be accountable for what we did wrong and what we did right.”

Dallas’ defense struggled immensely during the Week 1 loss. It gave up 394 total yards and allowed the Giants to convert nine of 11 third-down attempts. It sure was a disappointment and brought back bad defensive memories from last season, when the Cowboys ranked dead last in yards allowed.

Parker, a first-time DC who made history as the youngest coach in franchise league to hold that position at just 34, understands accountability.

However, Jaishawn Barham, in particular, must fix his shortcomings and get his head in the game sooner rather than later, since he will likely see more action in the Cowboys’ upcoming game.

Jaishawn Barham to See More Action in Week 2, With Overshown Sidelined by Injury

Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown sustained a hamstring injury during the Giants game on Sunday and ended up on the team’s injury report. The linebacker, who was designated ‘DNP’ on Wednesday, is unlikely to play in Week 2.

According to a report by Sports Illustrated’s Zach Dimmitt, Barham might be the one to be saddled with green dot responsibilities on Sunday, September 20. But leading a yet-unproven defensive unit is no walk in the park. Coupled with the way he handled his Week 1 frustration, giving him the responsibility of communicating defensive signals could be a risky move for Dallas.

However, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s assessment of the rookie, he might also be the answer to Parker’s communication woes.

“He’s [Barham] very loud when he communicates,” Schottenheimer said, per Sports Illustrated.

Both Schottenheimer and Parker have expressed their confidence in Barham’s abilities and his passion for winning. So, if Barham earns the green-dot duties in just his second NFL game, the real test will be turning that passion into production on the field.