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FRISCO, Texas — Nothing other than injuries kept George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. out of the Dallas Cowboys’ win at Indianapolis, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday. A host on 105.3 The Fan’s Shan & RJ show raised fan speculation, citing agents and past contract tactics, that something else was behind the two sitting out.
Jones answered during his weekly Tuesday appearance on the station, five days before Dallas hosts San Francisco with both players’ status still open.
“100% pure injury related. Put it to rest,” Jones said.
Pickens (hamstring) and Porter (foot and ankle) were ruled out about 90 minutes before kickoff of Sunday’s 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts after being limited in practice throughout the week. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring and back) was also ruled out.
Pickens’ injury is now more hamstring than shoulder, and Porter’s involves his heel, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game. All three will go through the same process this week, with their status for Sunday decided late in the week.
“Friday they did some stuff, and then Saturday a little bit sore,” Schottenheimer said. “We weren’t sure, but again, at the end of the day, just they weren’t able to go, and that’s what this business is about, next man up. I told you guys Friday would be a big day, and it was. Really proud of the guys that stepped in their place, but hopefully we’ll get them back this week.”
Jerry Jones Calls Joey Porter Jr. A Shutdown Corner
Jones put both players among the top handful on the roster, and said Dallas has missed Porter every time he has been off the field.
“Well, it’s been a disappointment because we know what a difference he makes,” Jones said. “He easily is a shutdown corner, and so when he’s out there, it’s a big difference. We have missed him when he’s not out there, so we hope he’ll be out there this week.”
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 amid a contract stalemate.
Porter, the 32nd overall pick in 2023, has played four games for Dallas. He has 8 tackles and 3 passes defensed in that span. An illness kept him out of the Oct. 8 loss to Tampa Bay, and he hurt his ankle late in the Nov. 1 loss to Arizona.
George Pickens Among Cowboys’ Top Handful Of Players
Pickens’ absence goes without saying for Jones, who pointed out that another receiver made the biggest catch of the day at Indianapolis.
“Secondly, Pickens. Well, it goes without saying,” Jones continued. “And although we did have a pretty good receiver make a big play at the end of that game that contributed mightily to the ultimate win. Having said all of that, both those players you’re talking about are right there in the top handful of players that we have. You miss that, boy, when you don’t have them on the field.”
That receiver was Ryan Flournoy. With Indianapolis ahead 23-20, Flournoy caught a 46-yard pass from Dak Prescott on the first play of the ensuing drive. Javonte Williams scored the go-ahead touchdown from 1 yard out with 1:08 left.
Schottenheimer liked the matchup for Flournoy on that snap, with CeeDee Lamb moved inside to the slot.
“[Flournoy] is a really good player too,” Schottenheimer said. “The world doesn’t talk enough about Ryan Flournoy and what he does, the type of player he is, the special talent, special young man. Like I said, I liked the matchup.”
Lamb finished with 10 catches for 195 yards without Pickens on the other side. Pickens had 533 receiving yards through the season’s first eight games. Dallas acquired him from Pittsburgh in May 2025.
The Cowboys (4-5) host the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
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