It’s been a next-man-up mentality for the Dallas Cowboys early in the 2025 NFL campaign. They’ve gotten some pleasantly surprising contributions from several players on their roster, though the hits keep coming; this time, it’s safety Donovan Wilson.

Wilson wasn’t spotted at the Cowboys’ first Week 6 practice ahead of their matchup with the Carolina Panthers, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The seventh-year pro exited late in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ 37-22 win over the New York Jets after suffering an unspecified injury.

For whatever it’s worth, a veteran sitting out a Wednesday session normally shouldn’t stir up much cause for concern. He was listed on the injury report with knee and elbow ailments, which is concerning. Not to mention, his availability (or lack thereof) complicates matters for a Cowboys squad that was down four starting offensive linemen against the Jets.

Donovan Wilson is the latest victim of Cowboys’ injuries piling up

Wilson will have two more chances to take the field and show the Cowboys’ medical staff he’s healthy enough to suit up in Carolina. Already without his defensive backfield mate Malik Hooker, who’s out at least the next three games with a toe injury, Harris notes that Dallas will turn to Markquese Bell or Alijah Clark if he can’t play.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer may have to pull another rabbit out of his visor for the team’s upcoming clash with the Panthers. Bell has logged only 10 defensive snaps this season and has made little impact with an even smaller workload. Meanwhile, Clark has been active for just one of Dallas’ first five contests and was relegated to special teams duties.

Bell has minimal experience in an expanded role, though he was productive when given a chance. In 2023, he logged 94 tackles (three for loss), four pass deflections, and two forced fumbles across 17 games and eight starts as a converted linebacker. Nevertheless, his presence would be a marked downgrade from Wilson.

Clark is an undrafted rookie. While seeing him get increased opportunities would be a fun story, his scarcity of reps makes a vulnerable, depleted Cowboys secondary even more exploitable. Dallas is allowing the most passing yards per game (284.6) and net yards per attempt (7.5), plus the second-highest opponent passer rating (117.2).