Whether Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons tuned in to watch his former team, the Dallas Cowboys, face the Philadelphia Eagles in Thursday’s season opener at Lincoln Financial Field remains uncertain. What is certain is that Parsons dominated conversations that night, with even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones weighing in on his absence.
After the game, Jerry Jones admitted he tracked players who could step into the role Parsons left behind when the Cowboys traded him to the Packers after a long contract standoff. The 82-year-old owner praised defensive end Sam Williams, even if he briefly forgot his name.
“I was specifically watching some of the guys who could pick up the slack. (No.) 54 had some really significant impact,” said Jones in a video posted byNFL insider Mike Garofolo on X (formerly Twitter).
Jerry Jones asked about whether the #Cowboys missed Micah Parsons tonight. Notes Sam Williams had a “significant impact.” pic.twitter.com/2iS1xBMhK1
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 5, 2025
Williams, 26, recorded five combined tackles against the Eagles and now steps into a larger role with Parsons gone. He missed all of last season after tearing his ACL and MCL in training camp, and in 2023, he played just 11 games, logging 17 tackles off the bench. Heading into this year, Williams kept his composure despite the expectation of increased playing time.
Jerry Jones on the Cowboys
Even though the Cowboys dropped a 24-20 road battle to the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles, Jones still credited head coach Brian Schottenheimer. “He had this team ready to play,” Jones told reporters after the game.
In one sense, Schottenheimer’s head-coaching debut opened perfectly. Calling plays for the offense, he orchestrated scoring drives on all four first-half possessions, starting with two touchdowns and then capping the next two with field goals.
The Cowboys’ defense, without Micah Parsons, struggled to contain the Eagles. Philadelphia marched down the field for touchdowns on three straight first-half drives and tacked on the only second-half points with a field goal.
“All in all, this group adjusted, made the adjustments, we stepped up in the second half on defense, (although) we didn’t quite get it done despite a strong performance in the first half,” Jones continued.
“I’m pretty proud of this team.”
The Cowboys are set to open at home on September 14, when they host the New York Giants.
