Before the start of the Dallas Cowboys 2026 season, there was no question that Christian Parker was hired to replace Matt Eberflus as defensive coordinator to over haul, revamp and fix an abject unit that was not only one of the worst in franchise history but ranked among the worst in NFL history.
One game into the season, Parker is not worried about fixing last year’s unit.
His focus is on fixing what ailed the 2026 version of a Cowboys defense that looked eerily similar to the mess the team put on the field a year ago in the 28-20 season opening loss to the New York Giants.
The Cowboys couldn’t stop the run. They didn’t didn’t to the quarterback. They couldn’t get off the field on third down. They did not bow up on the red zone.
“It’s one poor performance,” Parker said. “ It’s one loss that does not equal two. We’re not trying to make excuses for anything. We’re not trying to act like it didn’t happen. We got to look in the mirror. We got to be accountable for what we did wrong and what we did right. Correct it and then move on to the next opponent. Because there can’t be a hangover and it can’t linger.”
More importantly, they were confused, undisciplined and looked lost at times, largely because of poor communication.
But this was recurring problem from 2025. This is a 2026 matter that Parker plans on fixing before Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders
“That’s not our business,” Parker said when asked about last year’s defensive woes. “We weren’t here. This is the 2026 defense. It’s our responsibility to fix our performance on Sunday, not performances from 2024, 2025. I think everybody has been accountable and responsible for that. We had a good day at practice (Wednesday). We’re going to have another good one (Thursday).
“Our preparation has to tick up in terms of us having urgency to get those things fixed. But nobody is walking around hanging their heads. Guys know what we have to do. We look forward to being able to respond.”
Seemingly complicating their ability to respond is presence of rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who still start against Washington in place of DeMarvion Overshown, out 1-2 weeks with a hamstring injury.
Barharm had some coverage breakdowns against the Giants. He was also seen visibly frustrated while talking to Parker on the sideline in a now viral video.
“I think he was frustrated,” Parker said of the interaction. “It was his first NFL game. Things aren’t going to be perfect. This isn’t a fairytale at all. Jaishawn cares as much as anybody in that locker room about us winning, No. 1, but No. 2 our defensive performance.
“He was a little frustrated with himself and frustrated with our side of the ball (with how) we played.”
Nobody is beating Barham up over the sideline interaction.
Most of the Cowboys saw it on social media.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb said its part of the learning curve for rookie and young player.
Barham, and CeeDee Lamb also loved what he saw in this exchange:
“As a player, in what we do for a living, when you put your all into this game, and then you still kind of feel like you’re coming up short as far as doing your job, or you miss an assignment, or something just not falling your way, you get tough on yourself,” Lamb said. “You feel what I’m saying?
“And having CP, I saw it, just checking in on him, checking on his mental, making sure he’s straight. Obviously, everybody got to take a minute to gather their thoughts before anything is even said, but for him to even check on him knowing that he was going through a tough time at that moment, like, I mean, it’s good to see that’s what we need. [It helps us] In that moment, just being able to listen.”
Parker wouldn’t confirm whether Barham would replace Overshown as the defensive play caller against the Washington like he did when he replaced him against the Giants.
That would seem to be a tall order for a rookie who still learning the scheme and suffering from his own breakdowns.
But Parker said they full confidence in Barham, a third-round pick from Michigan who was one of the bright spots in training camp and had already forced himself into the rotation with Overshown and fellow starter Dee Winters at inside linebacker.
Barham oozes with potential.
“I don’t think anyone in our building has any doubt about what he’s gonna do coming real soon,” Parker said. “We don’t have any reservations about his mentality. We welcome that passion. Have to channel it better. That’s something that young players have to go through. It’s a natural progression. We got a lot of confidence in Jaishawn.”
