10 potential replacements for Parsons includes Randy Gregory among candidates

Things might be getting testy for Dallas’ defense in the very near future. While the team performed much better in their 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night, one shouldn’t confuse the performance with a flag planting. Facing Daniel Jones was certainly part of the equation in the bounce-back defensive performance after being mauled for two straight weeks by Derek Carr and Lamar Jackson’s groups.

Jones missed several receivers with underthrows and the Giants receivers themselves dropped five passes. So despite limited the Giants to 1.1 yards a carry and separating themselves for a game from the historically bad run defense they had against Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry, there’s still plenty to improve on. The question is, will Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence avoid major injury to be part of the immediate solution?

If not, Dallas will need to consider looking outside the organization for help, as their troops have already been depleted. After seeing Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, Jr. follow Dan Quinn to Washington during free agency, the Cowboys also lost third-year up-and-comer Sam Williams to an ACL injury this summer.

The club added Carl Lawson to the practice squad and he’s been elevated the last two games. Chauncey Golston is a fourth-year pro who hasn’t made much impact on the edge and second-year pro Tyrus Wheat hasn’t seen much defensive action in his career.

They may need to go outside the organization to get help.

One name in particular is Randy Gregory, who was drafted by Dallas back in 2015. Gregory had been suspended multiple times for running afoul of the league’s marijuana policy before those bylaws were lifted. He was recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was released after an extended unexcused absence from the team.

Gregory famously spurned the Cowboys’ contract offer in 2022 free agency to sign a similar deal with the Denver Broncos.

Here’s a list of players who are available in free agency, after Yannick Ngakoue signed with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday.

• Marquis Haynes
• Shaq Lawson
• Kemoko Turay
• Austin Bryant
• Randy Gregory
• Rasheem Green
• Shane Ray
• Elerson Smith
• Rasheem Green
• Frank Clark

The club could also look through other club’s practice squads to see if there’s a player they’d like to poach.