FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys defense has to account for Jayden Daniels on every down Sunday, Rashan Gary said Tuesday, two days after a 28-20 loss to a New York Giants quarterback who ran 11 times.
Jaxson Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions at MetLife Stadium. He added 54 rushing yards.
Washington’s receivers are part of the problem for Gary, on top of Daniels himself.
“We’ve got to lock in on him,” Gary said. “He’s a playmaker, on top of the guys that they got on the outside. Understand that’s the type of guy that it doesn’t matter what the down and distance is, he’s going to try to extend plays, and we’ve got to make sure we account for him.”
Daniels went 18-of-34 for 164 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions in the Washington Commanders’ 24-22 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday. He ran 5 times for 31 yards. Stefon Diggs caught 4 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Terry McLaurin caught 2 for 14.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that Dallas lost contain on Dart with multiple players at multiple times, and that the discipline has to improve with Daniels coming in.
Rashan Gary Says The Cowboys Are A Couple Plays Away
Sunday was the first time the group played together under the lights. Dallas starters did not play in the preseason, and the defense had a new coordinator and a long list of new players.
Every mistake from the opener can be fixed, according to Gary.
“Shoot, we’re a couple plays away, man,” Gary said. “It could be this game coming up, but being able to have all 11 on the same page, understanding where [we] went wrong, understanding what needs to be fixed.”
“But we’ve been taking steps in the right direction, and that was our first time underneath the lights,” Gary continued. “Everything and every mistake that was made is fixable, and we can look ourselves in the mirror and make sure that we do what we got to do to come back.”
Gary was glad the starting 11 finally got live action together.
“I don’t know how to give it any type of words,” Gary explained. “But I’m happy that we got our first action together, all 11 on the field. And like I said, the mistake that was made is fixable.”
Dallas acquired Gary from the Green Bay Packers in March for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Green Bay drafted him 12th overall in 2019, and he recorded 46.5 sacks in seven seasons there. He made the Pro Bowl in 2024. Last season, he started 15 games and had 7.5 sacks.
Defensive coordinator Christian Parker was on the Packers staff during Gary’s rookie season. Gary finished Sunday with 2 tackles.
Rashan Gary And Dallas Cowboys Carry Urgency Into NFC East Game
Going 0-1 in the division is on Gary’s mind this week.
“Very urgent, very urgent,” Gary said. “Understand it’s a division game, understanding that we just went 0-1. Can’t do that going into this week, but urgency is up for sure.”
The Giants and the Eagles are 1-0 in the NFC East. Dallas and Washington are 0-1.
Dallas will be without linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker for one to two weeks. Hooker had surgery Tuesday on a fractured forearm, and Overshown has a hamstring strain.
Kickoff against Washington is 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday at AT&T Stadium on FOX.
