FRISCO, Texas — Quinnen Williams graded his own season opener as decent. The Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle said Wednesday at The Star that he expects to be dominant every week, and that he was not against the New York Giants.
Williams made 2 tackles, forced a fumble, and hit the quarterback once in the 28-20 loss Sunday night. He played 53 of 69 defensive snaps.
He can be more disruptive in the backfield, Williams said, and so can the group around him.
“I think I did decent, man. But the player I am, man, I could do more. The group that we have, we can do more. The player I am, I can do more. I could be more disruptive in the backfield. I can be more disruptive when it comes down to … making plays and different things like that,” Williams said. “So, like I said, I just watch the film, learn, and grow from it.”
Quinnen Williams Says Nobody Critiques Him More Than He Does
The pressure to dominate does not come from outside expectations, Williams said. It comes from him.
“No, not at all, man. Can’t nobody in this world hold me accountable more than I hold myself. Can’t nobody in this world critique me more than I critique myself,” Williams explained. “So I expect to be dominant every single week. I expect to be a playmaker, a game changer every single week. And I wasn’t that, and I got to do better.”
Dallas acquired Williams from the New York Jets at the 2025 trade deadline for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The Jets took Williams with the third overall pick in 2019.
Quinnen Williams On Dallas Cowboys’ Accountability After Week 1
After Sunday’s game, Williams said the Dallas defense had a lot of mental errors and busts and needed to take constructive criticism. He said Wednesday that the players have been holding each other accountable.
“I think it’s unbelievable, man, when it comes down to holding each other accountable, when it comes down to leaning on each other for what we can do better, how we can do it better, what we need to do better,” Williams said. “And like I said, just moving on.”
New York converted 9 of 11 third downs. Williams said the fix is executing whatever defensive coordinator Christian Parker calls, with communication behind it.
“I think the biggest thing, like I said, executing the communication. We gotta execute the play that CP call and we gotta communicate and make sure all 11 on the same page and go,” Williams said.
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 23-of-29 passes for 230 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. New York ran for 165 yards on 37 carries.
Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
