I understand if Dallas Cowboys don’t even want to talk about the loss to the Denver Broncos, but life goes on in the NFL.

That’s why I’m doing another Cowboys’ snap count review. Film will reveal most things about the team’s 44-24 loss but for now, there’s a thing or two we can take away from the outing by simply looking at playing time.

Starting with a new pecking order at wide receiver and ending with a former starter saving his job through special teams, let’s dive in.

Ryan Flournoy appears to be the new WR3

It appears the Cowboys have finally promoted Ryan Flournoy to WR3. Following a 124-yard performance in Week 5, many expected the second-year wide receiver to be given a chance to compete for a starting spot but week after week, it didn’t happen. Jalen Tolbert remained the No. 3 behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

Now, however, Flournoy got the third-most snaps at WR with a 46% snap count. KaVontae Turpin closely followed at 41% but it was much higher than Tolbert’s 19%. Flournoy didn’t capitalize a lot from the coaches’ decision as he only caught one of two targets for a seven-yard gain.

But the Cowboys shouldn’t put too much stock into his statline with the way the entire offense was playing. If they thought Flournoy deserved a shot to be WR3, they should give him another opportunity again in a better situation.

CB Caelen Carson still not playing on defense

Surprisingly, down Trevon Diggs again, Carson was yet again limited to special teams playing time. On defense, he had zero snaps despite the Cowboys starting Kaiir Elam and Trikweze Bridges outside. Dallas was so hurt at safety that it played cornerbacks at the position. Not even that bought Carson playing time.

Carson was activated to the roster last week. It’s only fair to wonder about Matt Eberflus’ stance on the former fifth-rounder, who was drafted before Eberflus’ arrival this year.

CB Caelen Carson: A puzzling absence on defense

If Flournoy’s rise is the week’s good-news story, then Caelen Carson’s continued absence from the defensive rotation is the head-scratcher.

With Trevon Diggs sidelined again, many expected the rookie corner to finally see some action on defense. Instead, Carson was confined exclusively to special teams snaps — zero on defense. Meanwhile, the Cowboys started Kaiir Elam and Trikweze Bridges outside, and when injuries piled up in the secondary, they even slid cornerbacks into safety roles. Still, Carson never saw the field defensively.

That kind of exclusion raises eyebrows, especially considering Carson was activated to the 53-man roster just last week. Typically, such a move signals readiness for defensive duty. Yet the coaching staff clearly isn’t ready to trust him there.

The question now becomes what head coach Matt Eberflus really thinks of the former fifth-round pick. Carson was drafted before Eberflus’ arrival, which can complicate things. New regimes often prefer “their guys,” and rookies from the previous administration sometimes fall through the cracks unless they make a loud case on the field.

For now, Carson’s only contributions come through special teams, and while that’s valuable, it’s not where he expected to make his mark. The Cowboys’ secondary depth issues make his continued absence even more puzzling — and perhaps telling.

If Carson can’t crack the lineup under these circumstances, his long-term outlook in Dallas becomes uncertain.

LB Damone Clark saving his job through special teams

With multiple roster moves ahead for the Cowboys—be it activations from Injured Reserve, trades, or signings—I’ve given lot of thought into who which roster moves will be made. A player that constantly comes to mind as a potential cut is LB Damone Clark, who has clearly been demoted from defense.

Since Week 4, Clark has played three linebacker snaps. That doesn’t bode well for anyone. However, Clark is finding a way to stick around. On Sunday, he played on 87% of the Cowboys’ special teams snaps, a season high. He might not be headed elsewhere anytime soon.