Cowboys put Thompson and Bullard on IR, add four defensive options

The Cowboys placed safety Jalen Thompson and defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard on injured reserve Wednesday, turning their reported recovery estimates into confirmed reserve-list absences. Dallas promoted defensive tackle Elijah Garcia from the practice squad to its active roster and signed defensive backs Alex Austin, Tyrek Funderburk and Juanyeh Thomas to the practice squad.

Thompson injured his hamstring and Bullard his calf during Sunday's 34-31 loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro. Each injured-reserve placement requires a minimum four-game absence. That minimum does not guarantee either player will be ready to return immediately afterward.

The moves follow Stephen Jones' earlier estimate that Thompson would be out four or more weeks. The prior possibility of injured reserve is now an official transaction. Garcia's promotion gives Dallas another active defensive lineman as Bullard leaves the available group.

Thomas returns to an organization he played for from 2023 through 2025. He, Austin and Funderburk join the practice squad, rather than immediately taking active-roster places. Their signings add defensive-back options without establishing that any has been elevated for Sunday's game against Houston.

Dallas' Wednesday report also lists Malik Hooker as limited with a forearm injury. Cobie Durant, DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel did not practice, with hamstring injuries listed for Durant and Overshown and knee/ankle injuries for Revel. These are participation levels; the Cowboys have not established Sunday's availability for those players through this first report.

The confirmed change is two injured-reserve placements and four additions across the active roster and practice squad. Later practice reports and any game-day elevations will show how Dallas fills the remaining defensive assignments against the Texans.