Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said contemplating a change at defensive coordinator would be "premature" following a loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football.
The Buccaneers manhandled first-year coordinator Christian Parker's defense en route to a 24-16 victory. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels played efficient, turnover-free football, while running back Bucky Irving erupted for 165 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
"He's sitting there taking it on the shoulders, which goes with the territory," Jones said of Parker postgame. "But I feel that he's competent.
"... The thing that probably bothers me the most tonight is how they ran between the tackles, so to speak, and were able to have that running game up in there where we have a lot of strength."
The Cowboys ranked 28th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed entering Week 5. They've been slowly adding pieces to their defense since last year's trade deadline when they acquired Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets.
Parker was supposed to accelerate the improvement, yet the results have been similar to 2025 when they ranked last in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed under Matt Eberflus. The 34-year-old Parker came from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach.
"Extraordinarily disappointed," Jones said of Thursday's result. "We really do need to get it done when it's there to take. They basically were very physical. I thought both their fronts, (I) was really surprised at how well they ran the ball and how they ran it between the tackles. That was surprising to me."
The Cowboys tried to bolster their defense recently by trading for Pittsburgh Steelers top cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but he sat out against the Bucs because of an illness. Jones indicated he'd be open to making another move to help the struggling unit.
"If we do see an opportunity and it fits for us, we'll take a good look at it," he said. "This isn't fold the tents here."
The Cowboys will take a 2-3 record into Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.
