Cowboys Smash the Panic Button for Joey Porter Jr. While Packers Lose Jayden Reed
Ian Rapoport reports a massive NFL news dump: the Cowboys trade for Joey Porter Jr., the Packers lose Jayden Reed for the season, and the Rams get Puka Nacua back.
HotTakes Editorial TeamUpdated 1 min read
Finding live odds…
Ian Rapoport just dropped a news dump that reads like a fantasy football group chat having a collective meltdown. We have a blockbuster trade, a season-ending injury, and a star receiver returning, all packed into one breath.
The Dallas Cowboys are trading for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Giving up 34 points in a 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week is apparently the exact threshold required for Jerry Jones to smash the emergency glass. Porter brings immediate lockdown potential to a secondary that looked like it was playing two-hand touch against Lamar Jackson.
"Ian Rapoport reported the news via Good Morning Football, noting the Porter trade, Reed's injury, and Nacua's return."
On the darker side of the timeline, the Green Bay Packers are officially shutting down wide receiver Jayden Reed for the season. The Packers just got boatraced 35-14 by the Atlanta Falcons, and losing your most electric playmaker right after a blowout is the kind of math that ruins a season. Green Bay now has to completely rewire a passing attack that suddenly lacks a pulse.
Out in Los Angeles, the Rams are finally getting a lifeline. Puka Nacua is slated to play. After dropping a frustrating 30-26 game to the Denver Broncos, getting their target monster back is massive. Rapoport also mentioned the Rams getting some clarity on a pass interference call, which is great for the officiating nerds, but Nacua returning is the only thing that actually moves the needle for this offense.
If you are holding futures tickets on any of these teams, the market just violently shifted. Dallas is signaling they are all-in on fixing a broken defense, while Green Bay bettors are left staring at a depth chart that suddenly looks incredibly thin.
The Cowboys will throw Porter into the fire immediately to see if he can plug the leaks. The Packers have a long week of practice to figure out who absorbs Reed's target share, and the Rams are about to feed Nacua until his arms fall off.
Key stats
Key statsThe Cowboys allowed 34 points to the Ravens in their last game.
The Packers lost 35-14 to the Falcons in their previous matchup.
The Rams dropped a tight 30-26 game to the Broncos.
What's next
The Cowboys will immediately integrate Porter into their secondary, the Packers must find a new primary target, and the Rams will look to feature Nacua heavily in their next game.
