Juanyeh Thomas started for Dallas in place of Malik Hooker and piled up nine tackles as the Cowboys defeated the Jets 37-22. The moment stretched beyond the field: he reunited with his younger brother Azareyeh, a Jets rookie corner, with a long embrace after pregame chatter and tears from their mother Stephanie, who helped craft matching shirts and cleats for a once-in-a-lifetime family moment.

The scene underscored an NFL dream realized: two brothers on opposite sidelines sharing a field moment and a win, while Juanyeh carried the game-day load in his second career start and Dallas moved forward in a season turning on depth and resilience.

Week 5 features Dallas visiting East Rutherford to face the winless Jets as the Cowboys chase momentum. A string of injuries has Dallas thin at multiple spots: CeeDee Lamb, KaVontae Turpin, Tyler Guyton, and Tyler Booker are out; Malik Hooker lands on IR. Six additional players are listed as questionable, led by Tyler Smith and Miles Sanders. Rookie Jaydon Blue debuts, giving the offense a potential spark behind a battered line. Defensively, Dallas must tighten up after recent lapses while navigating a tough road test.

Malik Hooker is on IR with a left toe injury, out at least four games. Alijah Clark was signed from the practice squad to start at safety against the Jets.

Hooker’s absence tightens Dallas’ safety depth and will test Clark early. Dallas also faces an OL setback, with Tyler Smith questionable and Beebe, Booker, Guyton out, setting up a tougher run and pass protection challenge versus New York.

Jettisoned by injury, the Cowboys’ Week 9 odds hinge on how Clark stabilizes the back end and how well Dallas’ reserve linemen hold up against pressure and gaps in the run game.