Editor's note: After publication, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to acquire linebacker Logan Wilson in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones walked back his trade talk from Monday following a dismal 27-17 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
"We have options and one of the biggest options is whether to do it or not," Jones said of a trade, via the team’s official website. "You ask, does tonight, does this win or loss tonight [change anything], I don't know. I don't know. We could conceivably see something that we ought to do in spite of tonight.
"The answer to your question? No, there is no trade right now. We would have to make anything happen tomorrow. I want to be real clear about that. But there is one that I can do. Without question, there is one I can do. There is not one, but there is one that I can do and I'm leaning toward doing it."
During his pregame media rounds, the Cowboys owner hinted that a trade was already on the way, saying at the time, "We've made one. We possibly could make two more."
Now he sounds less sure.
It's unclear whether that "made" trade was potentially contingent on the Cowboys winning Monday night. The totality of the loss to the Cardinals, in which they got outplayed on both sides of the ball by a hungrier, more prepared team, could have Jones rethinking making a move.
However, if Dallas does do anything on Tuesday before the trade deadline, they'll be buyers, not sellers.
"No, not at all," Jones said. "I like our nuts and bolts a lot. I don't like what's happening to the nuts and bolts, but I like them a lot."
The Cowboys got manhandled by an Arizona club that ran through their defense like hot butter. The Cards' defense did enough to disrupt Dak Prescott, forced three turnovers, and made seemingly every pivotal play.
Getting outplayed so convincingly by a fellow three-win team at home might have Jones rethinking any moves before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
"You can rest assured that at least in my mind, all those considerations are there," Jones said. "It was there before this game. It was there when we started the season about whether you make a trade or not. ... We've either got to [s---] or get off the pot by tomorrow afternoon."
The Cowboys fell to 3-5-1 on the season. They take their bye in Week 10.
