Jerry Jones explains faith in Cowboys coaches, makes strong George Pickens comment, reveals trade-deadline mindset

Shortly after the Dallas Cowboys suffered a stunning 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals that dropped Dallas to 3-5 this past Sunday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones revealed that he was not thinking about parting ways with head coach Brian Schottenheimer this fall. 

During a Tuesday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, Jones expanded on why he's backing Schottenheimer amid calls from Cowboys fans for big-time changes. 

Jerry Jones likes the way the Cowboys are "trending" despite loss to Cardinals

Per Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News and Jon Machota of The Athletic, Jones insisted that the loss to the Cardinals does not call for "very succinct important changes." 

"I like the way we're trending," Jones said about the much-maligned Cowboys defense. "...I think it's better by what you saw Sunday in the first part of the game. It's looking that way with the future in mind that we can get better. And we are getting better."

The Cowboys squandered leads of 17-3 and 24-10 against the Cardinals, and an Arizona team that benched starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett in favor of backup Gardner Minshew II outscored Dallas 23-13 from the start of the fourth quarter through overtime. Meanwhile, the Cowboys offense couldn't produce a scoring drive after their defense opened overtime by forcing a three-and-out.  

"The plan is dependent on that offense carrying us when we have weaknesses on the defense as we’re evolving forward," Jones explained, as shared by Hoyt.

Jerry Jones wants George Pickens to see more targets

As Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' website noted, Dallas wide receiver George Pickens was not on the field during certain "critical situations" of this past Sunday's contest. Pickens tallied just two catches for 48 yards and no scores against the Cardinals.

"He needs the ball coming his way more," Jones said about Pickens. "There’s a good case — what can you do differently than we did the other day? — that we get the ball in that direction more. We press that."

Over the Cowboys' first eight games of the campaign, Pickens recorded 39 receptions for 533 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hoyt is among those who think the Cowboys should consider parting ways with Pickens, who had his rights for 2026 retained via the franchise tag, before the NFL trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 10. 

However, Jones suggested Pickens will be staying put. 

Will Jerry Jones neither buy nor sell before the trade deadline? 

Per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones said that he won't be looking to sell players before the trade deadline. That may not change even if the Cowboys lose to a 2-6 Indianapolis Colts team that is essentially punting on the rest of the season this coming Sunday. 

For a Casino.org piece published earlier on Tuesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora linked a Cowboys side in need of a pass-rusher with Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers and Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals. 

Jones seemed to pour cold water over such chatter. 

"At this particular time, I don’t see anything," Jones said about making a significant acquisition over the next week, per Machota. 

Perhaps Jones will change his mind about that if Dallas blows Indianapolis out at Lucas Oil Stadium.