Jerry Jones' Painful Reaction to Concerning Cowboys News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Dec 4, 2025 8:29 PM ET

Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys are looking to make it four straight wins on Thursday as they face the Detroit Lions in a Week 14 matchup. The result of this contest will have major implications for both teams’ playoff hopes, as the Cowboys and the Lions fight to secure a postseason spot in the NFC.

The Cowboys, however, were at the center of an unfortunate development in the buildup to the “Thursday Night Football” contest. This was after the team announced the status of three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) during pregame warm-ups against the New York Jets. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Clowney, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Cowboys during the offseason, is coming off a big performance in Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day win against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. The 32-year-old registered six tackles (five solo) and 2.0 sacks as he helped lead the Cowboys to a crucial 31-28 win.

Clowney, however, missed practice this week due to a hamstring injury. He entered Thursday’s contest with a questionable tag, and the team announced before kickoff that Clowney would be inactive for the game.

Jones spoke to reporters ahead of the Lions game to share his reaction to the unwanted turn of events.

“That hurts,” said the Cowboys owner and general manager, via ESPN reporter Todd Archer. “He’s been playing outstanding the last few games.”

As Jones indicated, Clowney has been pivotal to Dallas’ recent run. The former No. 1 overall pick has made nine appearances this year, logging 4.0 sacks, 27 combined tackles (15 solo), five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three passes defended and one fumble recovery.

With Clowney out, Sam Williams is expected to play an important role in Dallas’ pass rushing against Jared Goff and Co.

The Cowboys entered this matchup with a 6-5-1 record. They are second in the NFC East behind the defending champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and ninth in the conference.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: