The 2024 Dallas Cowboys have been one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams, entering Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a 5-7 record that has them in third place in the NFC East and pretty much out of the NFC playoff race barring an improbable stretch run.
Despite that, one of the team’s biggest stars wants to see the team run it back next season with largely the same group.
Including head coach Mike McCarthy.
Parsons made that very clear in an interview with ESPN ahead of Monday’s game, arguing that the injuries the team dealt with this season — especially on the defensive side of the ball — made it almost impossible for the team to compete.
Parsons himself missed several weeks.
Here is part of Parsons’ comments via ESPN.
“I think I would like a fair shot with everyone back — players, coaches — because the injuries kind of struck of what this season could really be,” Parsons said in an interview with ESPN that will air before the Cowboys’ Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. “The injuries have been terrible. And, you know, it really sucks. Seeing Zack [Martin], D-Law [DeMarcus Lawrence] not having the year I know he planned to have. He had such a great start. It really sucks.
Parsons also spoke highly of McCarthy and his relationship with the head coach.
“In terms of coaching, man, Coach Mike, me and his relationship has always been really good. He always took real good care of me. I just don’t know how the how the business side of it’s going to go, you know? [Owner and general manager Jerry Jones] has his own mindset about who he wants to coach. This is his team. I’m kind of just, like, a pawn in this business.”
Along with the injuries on defense, the Cowboys are also without starting quarterback Dak Prescott, who is going to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Cooper Rush is the team’s current starter for the rest of the season.
Parsons might be correct that the injuries have played a negative role in the team’s performance, but it was also a team that entered the season with some serious question marks after a shockingly quiet offseason by ownership and the front office.
This is McCarthy’s fifth year as the Cowboys head coach, and before this season had three consecutive 12-win seasons. For a normal organization, it might be an overreaction to fire a coach with that sort of recent track record due to just one bad year where several of the team’s best players missed significant time due to injury.
But the Cowboys are not a normal organization, and given the way last year’s postseason ended (with a blowout loss at home in the Wild Card round) and the number of times they have been dominated at home this season, McCarthy might very well be on the hot seat.
If Dallas can finish strong and get closer to .500 (or above), given the injuries, it might be enough to bring McCarthy back. If they do not finish strong, it is hard to know what Jerry Jones might do if they finish with six or seven wins.
