Dallas Cowboys DT Jordan Phillips on why he was placed on IR: 'That's a question for them'

FRISCO — In Dallas Cowboys defensive line news on Wednesday: one defensive lineman may potentially be hurt, and another is headed to the injured reserve with an injury he says insinuated might not be worth the IR designation.

Wednesday started with a simple set of transactions.

The Cowboys placed veteran defensive tackle Jordan Philipps on injured reserve with a wrist injury. They also signed former defensive tackle Carlos Watkins from the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. Phillips will be eligible to return from injured reserve after four weeks.

Phillips’ injury made sense. He had surgery last season on a dislocated wrist. It would make sense that Phillips re-injured it.

Phillips, when asked if if his wrist was “good” said “yes.”

Phillips, when asked why he was going on injured reserve then, said, “That’s a question for them.”

When asked specifically if he was hurt, Phillips said, “Yeah, I’m on IR.”

When asked if he was frustrated, Phillips said, “It is what it is, I guess.”

The Cowboys acquired Phillips from the New York Giants on Aug. 14. Dallas received Phillips and a 2026 seventh round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. That compensation was conditional on Phillips playing two games for the Cowboys — a condition he met this past weekend against the New Orleans Saints.

Phillips, like the majority of the Cowboys’ defensive line, has struggled this season.

Cowboys defensive tackles Linval Joseph, Phillips, and former first round pick Mazi Smith have three of the six lowest overall defensive grades among defensive linemen in the NFL.

Joseph has a 31.7 grade, Phillips has a 29.6 grade, and Smith has a 28.9 overall defensive grade, according to PFF.

Speaking of Smith: he left Wednesday’s practice early with a team trainer. He was listed officially with a back injury.

Smith also had a moment during Sunday’s 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints where he was holding his back and appeared to be in pain. It’s unclear if that’s related specifically to why he left Wednesday’s practice.

Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks was asked how potential injuries to the defensive line affect the linebackers.

“We’ve just got to buck up,” Kendricks said. “It’s the NFL. People have to step up, take control and do their own job.”

Staff writer Joseph Hoyt contributed to this report