Jerry Jones shakes up free agency: Two new defensive players to help the Cowboys
Juanyeh Thomas is back in Dallas, while Alex Austin joins the practice squad
The Dallas Cowboys have reached the point where depth in the secondary is no longer a luxury. Injuries have stripped away several of the team’s preferred options at safety and cornerback, forcing Dallas to search for immediate help.
That search led to a pair of moves Tuesday, with the Cowboys agreeing to terms with Juanyeh Thomas and Alex Austin after working out multiple defensive backs.
Thomas returns to an organization he already knows well, while Austin gives Dallas another experienced cornerback to develop on the practice squad. The additions come with the Cowboys trying to stabilize a defensive backfield that has been hit from almost every direction.
Malik Hooker is recovering from a fractured forearm, P.J. Locke is on injured reserve because of a foot injury and Jalen Thompson is expected to join him after suffering a hamstring problem. Shavon Revel and Cobie Durant are also dealing with injuries at cornerback.
Juanyeh Thomas gives Dallas much-needed familiarity
Thomas may be the more immediately useful addition because he already understands the organization and has spent significant time in a Cowboys uniform.
The former Georgia Tech safety originally joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2022, spent time on the practice squad and eventually worked his way into the defensive rotation. He has appeared in 36 NFL games, totaling 62 tackles, five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
His role gradually grew during his first stint. Thomas played 190 defensive snaps in 2023, added 94 more in 2024 and then logged 266 snaps across seven games with three starts last season.
Special teams were also a major part of his value, with Thomas recording more than 700 snaps in that phase from 2023 through 2025. That versatility could be particularly useful for a Cowboys team trying to cover multiple absences at once.
Dallas allowed Thomas to leave during the offseason after declining to tender him as a restricted free agent. He signed with Indianapolis but was released in August after migraine problems affected him during training camp.
Alex Austin adds more depth
Austin brings a different profile but valuable NFL experience. A seventh-round pick by Buffalo in 2023, the cornerback has played 29 games with six starts while spending time with New England and Houston .
He has recorded 31 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception during his career.
The Cowboys also evaluated Shemar Bartholomew, Tyrek Funderburk and linebacker Germaine Pratt during Tuesday’s workout as they looked for ways to reinforce a defense dealing with a growing number of injuries.
Thomas and Austin don't erase those problems, but they give Dallas more options at a point when the depth chart has become increasingly fragile.
Thomas offers familiarity, special-teams experience and previous starting snaps in Dallas, while Austin gives the Cowboys another cornerback who has already played meaningful NFL football.
The immediate challenge is simply getting through the next stretch without the secondary unraveling.
These moves are less about making a splash and more about survival, and with so many defensive backs unavailable, that may be exactly what Dallas needs most right now.
