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By Max Dible
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Dallas Cowboys have scrambled early in the season to add defensive talent to a roster in desperate need of it after trading away superstar defensive end Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in late August.
Interior defensive lineman Kenny Clark came over to Dallas in that trade, along with two first-round picks. The Cowboys also subsequently added edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney to the mix via a one-year deal worth just shy of $3.5 million.
Trading Parsons also allowed Dallas to extend 26-year-old cornerback DaRon Bland on a four-year deal worth $90 million just before the start of the regular season. However, Bland suffered a foot injury during a practice session following Week 1 and has sat out the last two contests.
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He returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, which provides hope that the former All-Pro could get back on the field in full capacity by the time the Cowboys host the Packers on "Sunday Night Football" this weekend. But even if Bland is back and somewhere close to 100%, Dallas may still be missing his counterpart in CB Trevon Diggs, who sat out practice on Wednesday with a knee injury, per Yahoo Sports.
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The Cowboys have surrendered a league-worst 900 passing yards through three contests, giving up seven touchdowns through the air and accounting for just a single interception. Dallas (1-2) has surrendered nearly 31 points per game to its opponents and must address the pass defense if it has any hope of competing in the NFC East Division, where the Philadelphia Eagles have jumped out as the clear NFC East frontrunner after a 3-0 start.
Luckily for the Cowboys, one option has presented itself in the unexpected free agency of defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The Houston Texans released the seven-year pro on Tuesday in a move that surprised many around the NFL.
Gardner-Johnson has extensive experience as both a safety and a slot cornerback, and could potentially add depth and toughness to a Cowboys secondary in clear need of both. Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today dubbed Dallas among the three top fits for Gardner-Johnson on Wednesday.
"The Cowboys are another team that has struggled to defend in the early part of this season. Dallas' defense had its soul zapped after the Micah Parsons trade and has never shied away from players like Gardner-Johnson," Brinkerhoff wrote. "Parsons isn't walking through that door again, so Gardner-Johnson's blend of attitude and skill might just be what the Cowboys need to get their swagger back."
Gardner-Johnson started 16 regular-season games for the Eagles last year during their run to a Super Bowl title, tallying 59 tackles, 12 pass breakups, six interceptions, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown.
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