Disgruntled Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson is relocating to Dallas in a deal that sends Cincinnati a seventh-round draft pick in 2026.
Two weeks after Wilson, a team captain, requested a trade due to a reduction in playing time, the 29-year-old got his wish.
He will be going from the NFL’s worst defense to the second-worst in the Cowboys, who are giving up 30.8 points and 397.4 yards per game. Cincinnati is No. 32 in the league in both categories, allowing 426.6 yards and 33.3 points per game.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones teased a trade that was all but a done deal on Monday before the Cowboys lost to the Arizona Cardinals.
“We certainly have made a trade, and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline. We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more, and I’m going to wait and let you read about that when we send the papers in tomorrow,” Jones said in a pregame interview on Sirius XM radio.
Tuesday morning, speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, the 83-year-old Jones said he is focusing on improving the team now.
“I have a natural urgency. Because of my age. My immediate tomorrows are a big thing to me,” he said. “I’m satisfied that I can make good decisions. I’ve made some bad decisions, obviously, being trite. I am supremely responsible for where we are right now. There is no question about that. I accept that. That doesn’t deter me from wanting to get it done and get it done now this year.”
The Cowboys have only seven takeaways this season. They’ve given the ball away 11 times.
Wilson’s 11 interceptions since entering the league is best among all linebackers. He also forced seven fumbles.
Wilson was perturbed by rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter cutting into his role on the defense after he played at least 97 percent of the total defensive snaps the previous three seasons. He had 100-plus tackles in each of the past four seasons.
Wilson played just 19.7 percent of the defensive snaps in the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
He has two years remaining on a four-year, $36 million contract extension he signed in 2023.
