‘Meeting Of The Minds’: Jerry Jones Doesn’t See Dallas Cowboys Trade Coming As George Pickens Sits vs. Indianapolis Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — About 34 minutes before kickoff Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he did not see a trade coming together, with the NFL trade deadline two days away.
From the owner’s box, Jones spoke with Cowboys Radio Network’s Kristi Scales on the 105.3 The Fan pregame show before Dallas played the Indianapolis Colts. The deadline falls Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. Dallas entered the afternoon at 3-5, and Indianapolis was 2-6.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was among the Cowboys’ inactives with an ankle injury. Jones left room for something to happen before Tuesday, though a deal has to be substantive before anyone knows it can get done.
“Not really, but that doesn’t mean that something could happen,” Jones said. “But actually, you almost have to say that. If anything would be considered or working, you really don’t know until if it’s substantive for sure. You don’t have any idea that it can happen until you have a meeting of the minds and it’s done. So at this point, I don’t see it.”
In an appearance on the same station Friday, Jones said the Cowboys were much more likely to add than subtract at the deadline. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan that Dallas had not seen a lot of movement in trade talks and that a pressure player could help.
Dallas acquired Porter from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1 for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. He had sat out Pittsburgh’s first three games in a contract stalemate before the deal.
George Pickens, Joey Porter Jr. Inactive Against Indianapolis Colts
Roughly 90 minutes before kickoff, the Cowboys ruled out wide receiver George Pickens. He had been listed as questionable with a hamstring injury that limited him in practice all week, and he has also dealt with a shoulder issue this season. Sunday marks the first game Pickens has missed in 2026.
Through eight games, Pickens had 39 receptions for 533 yards and 2 touchdowns on 62 targets. He is playing this season on the franchise tag.
With KaVontae Turpin also out with a rib injury, CeeDee Lamb, Ryan Flournoy, and Jonathan Mingo lead the receiver group. Lamb entered Week 9 leading the NFL with 92 targets.
Porter missed his second game since the trade. He left the Nov. 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals early with the ankle injury and was limited in practice Thursday and Friday. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, outside linebacker Tyrus Wheat, guard Ajani Cornelius, and tight end Luke Schoonmaker were also inactive for Dallas.
Arizona won that game 33-30 in overtime at AT&T Stadium. Dallas led 17-3 when Gardner Minshew II entered for the Cardinals with 1:35 left in the third quarter. Chad Ryland kicked the winning field goal in overtime after missing an extra point with 6 seconds left in regulation. The Cowboys were outgained 467-261 and averaged 2.4 yards per carry, a week after rushing for 204 yards.
Jones counted the loss to Arizona as a disappointment, and he wants the Cowboys to turn it into additional energy in Indianapolis.
“If I have my wish, you’re going to see a resolve from our offensive line to not only protect Dak, but also really, really do a good job of opening holes and winning the battle in the front,” Jones explained. “That’s very doable, and we’ve got to do that. We all were a little disappointed last week.”
“Then we’ve got to recognize our opportunities when they overloaded up there,” Jones continued. “We’ve got to be able to [recognize] the opportunities and get the ball to those receivers. But what a disappointment last week was. Hopefully, we will use that as additional energy to rebound from that loss last week to playing at highest level, one of our most efficient levels.”
Against Arizona, Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score. Dallas went three-and-out on its overtime possession.
Jerry Jones On Charlotte Jones And Dallas Cowboys Fans In Indianapolis
The Colts have been run by Jim Irsay’s three daughters since his death in May 2025. Carlie Irsay-Gordon is the owner and CEO, Casey Foyt is executive vice president, and Kalen Jackson is chief brand officer.
In Dallas, Jones’ daughter Charlotte Jones is the Cowboys’ executive vice president and chief brand officer. Early in his life, Jones did not see women working in marketing or banking, and his mother worked.
“Charlotte, since she was the size of your nieces over there, small, I’ve always thought she could be the president of the United States, and she got to hear that a lot growing up,” Jones said. “And so I have such belief. When I [was] early in my life, you didn’t see women in marketing, or you didn’t see them banking. I didn’t see them so many places.”
“My mama was the original working mom and [original] professional mother,” Jones continued. “And so, frankly, women get down to business a little more than men do, and that’s why we have about half of our employees that are women.”
Sunday was the Cowboys’ first trip to Indianapolis since Dec. 16, 2018, when the Colts won 23-0. The Colts billed the game as a White Out.
Lucas Oil Stadium also hosts the NFL Scouting Combine, where Jones spends three or four days each year.
“From the looks of things, we’re going to be right at home, and that’s a good thing,” Jones said. “This is the place they have the combine, and so we spend three or four days, which is unusual for me in a stadium. So in driving up, all the times that we’ve been here for the combine went away when I thought how important today is for us to play these Colts.”
“So it’s a, it’s a good place,” Jones continued. “Obviously, we are going to have a lot of fans here. So no excuse from that standpoint.”
The Cowboys beat the Colts 54-19 at AT&T Stadium in 2022, the last time the teams met. Dallas hosts the San Francisco 49ers at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 15 at 3:25 p.m. CT.
