After a close season-opening loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys picked up their first win of the season in another tight matchup against the Giants. While Dallas’ offense, as Dak Prescott explained, has not been up to the mark, the defense has been a big issue for America’s team. But this was always coming after owner Jerry Jones traded away the Cowboys’ best defensive playmaker, Micah Parsons, just ahead of Week 1.

In Week 2, overtime win against the Giants, the defense just couldn’t stop Russell Wilson. The veteran torched them for 450 yards and three touchdowns. And an unapologetic Jerry pinned the blame on Matt Eberflus’ defense. “You’ve got to handle your responsibilities,” JJ said about the Cowboys’ defense. Now, while Dallas is preparing to face the Bears this Sunday, Jones addressed his honest take on defensive needs in the system.

Recently, the Cowboys’ owner stopped by 105.3 The Fan, where he was asked if Dallas is open to adding defensive help via trade. Jones agreed. “Absolutely, I’m open for business period relative now that we have those extra picks. We should be,” he said. While Parsons’ void is clearly visible, the Cowboys owner made it clear that they do not need Micah to play better defense.

He said that there are always ways to play defense that don’t necessarily depend on a certain player. “There are 30 other teams, other than the Cowboys, playing without Micah,” JJ added during his interview with 105.3 The Fan on Friday.

Now, after sending Micah to Green Bay and securing the 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, he’s laser-focused on making another blockbuster deal a reality. But the question is: Can he actually do that? For the time being, Trey Hendrickson’s contract dispute with the Bengals has finally been resolved, given that the edge rusher has agreed to a restructured contract.

The new terms will provide him with a $14 million raise, but his agreement will expire after 2025. That means Hendrickson will have a chance to become a free agent. With Micah gone to Green Bay, the Cowboys will always have a lack of a difference-maker. And Hendrickson could be an option if Jerry Jones is eyeing bolstering the team’s defense.

Meanwhile, adding a strong cornerback to the secondary could also be an option for Jerry. The reasoning is pretty simple: Malik Nabers was efficient against the Cowboys in Week 2. The second-year wideout hauled in 9 catches for 167 yards and a pair of touchdowns, fueling a Giants passing attack that piled up 422 yards. With that being said, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are expected to make changes to their defense via trade. When will that happen? That remains to be seen.

Why does Jerry Jones need defensive help?

After allowing Jalen Hurts and the Eagles just 144 passing yards in the season opener, the Cowboys’ defense was expected to build on that momentum in Week 2. Instead, it fell flat. The issue was clear: Eberflus’ zone-heavy scheme was built around Parsons disrupting quarterbacks and speeding up their internal clock. Without him, the entire foundation came undone.

The Giants tallied 506 total yards, including 422 through the air and 84 from the ground. Throughout the game, Dallas could manage to put just one good moment on the defensive side of the ball, that too, in overtime. On the first overtime possession, the Giants’ quarterback threw an interception to Donovan Wilson, and the Cowboys made them pay.

Dak Prescott hit George Pickens to get Dallas into range, setting up Brandon Aubrey to secure a 46-yard game-winning field goal. The signs were clear: The Cowboys needed one of the longest field goals in NFL history to force overtime. And they needed Wilson’s interception and another field goal to win the game. So when Jerry Jones makes it clear he’s eyeing defensive help on the trade market, it only makes sense.