Everything that could’ve gone wrong for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday went wrong. Not only did they lose to the Los Angeles Chargers and were officially eliminated from playoff contention, but they also lost one of their most promising wideouts.
Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman got WR Ryan Flournoy with a big hit. Flournoy was already on the ground when Perryman got him from behind with his helmet. He had to leave the game, and while it initially seemed that he had suffered a concussion, he was later diagnosed with a knee injury instead.
Perryman reportedly reached out and apologized to him after the game. Nevertheless, that didn’t do much to help his case with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Apparently, he will now be suspended for two games without pay.
Perryman reportedly plans to appeal his suspension. Then again, given that he’s a repeated offender, it’s hard to believe his appeal will be successful. Per Spotrac CEO Michael Ginnitti, he’s now looking at a loss of half a million dollars:
“LB Denzel Perryman’s 2-game suspension (multiple player safety violations) will cost him $268,854 in 2025 salary & per-game active bonus with the Chargers. It will also lower his total snap percentage under 50%, costing him a $200,000 incentive,” Ginniti wrote on X.
Fortunately for Flournoy and the Cowboys, it seems like the injury wasn’t severe. But with the team already eliminated from playoff contention, there was simply no incentive to get him back on the field and put him in harm’s way.
While not the most well-known pass catcher on Brian Schottenheimer’s team, Ryan Flournoy has been quite impressive this season, stepping up when CeeDee Lamb was out with a devastating injury. He has 35 catches on 49 targets for 405 yards and four touchdowns. He also has a couple of 100-yard performances for the season.
With the Cowboys likely letting Jonathan Mingo go, Ryan Flournoy could be a candidate to start next to CeeDee Lamb. They also need to sort things out with George Pickens, who’s looking at a big raise in his next contract.