Cowboys Make 2 Roster Moves for San Francisco

We say “small” not as an insult but rather as a positive reflection of Dallas’ health … as tight end Peyton Hendershot is out and linebacker Damone Clark is dinged up, but otherwise?

This is a roster ready for a prime-time showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, the team that has knocked Dallas out of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

This Week 5 Sunday night matchup is highlighted by the Cowboys No. 1-ranked defense vs. the No. 3-ranked offense in San Francisco. The Cowboys defense excels at creating havoc and scoring (three TDs in four games this season) while the almost-bulletproof Niners offense takes great care of the ball.

San Francisco has only one turnover this season, which came in Week 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Brock Purdy hasn't thrown an interception yet in a 49ers offense that ranks third in the league for scoring (31.3 points per game).

The Cowboys defense sits atop the league in points allowed-per-game (10.3). If Dallas holds San Francisco to 10 points-or-less on Sunday, it would mark the first time in franchise history that the Cowboys held four of their first five opponents to 10 points-or-less.

San Francisco has been the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott's kryptonite in the postseason. Last time these two teams played in the regular season was 2020, a 41-33 win for the Cowboys in Dallas.

A true road test between two of the top teams in the conference ... The hopefully healthy 2023 Dallas squad hopes to improve on a 12-5 campaign of a year ago and usurp the Philadelphia Eagles as NFC East Division champions. Entering Week 5, Dallas is behind the undefeated Eagles, who sit stop the division.