The Cowboys are already facing a defensive headache right out of the gate, with defensive end Charles Snowden officially suspended for the first three games of the 2026 season. This is a tough pill to swallow for a team looking to hit the ground running.
Snowden's Suspension Hits Hard and Early
Commissioner Roger Goodell dropped the hammer, announcing the ban, though without specifying the exact violation. But let's be real, it's tough to ignore that Snowden was arrested for a DUI back in December 2024 when he was playing for the Raiders. You gotta figure that played a huge role in this decision. It's a rough start for a player trying to make a fresh impact. The good news? Snowden can still hit the practice field and even play in preseason games this summer. So he'll be staying sharp, but that doesn't help Dallas when the real games kick off. They're going to feel this absence right where it hurts.What Dallas Is Missing
This stings even more for the Cowboys because they just inked Snowden to a one-year deal in June. They brought him in for a reason, hoping he'd contribute! He put up decent numbers over the last two seasons with the Raiders, racking up 67 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 31 games. That's solid depth and pass-rushing ability, and now they're missing it for the start of the season. Dallas is without a key defensive end for a quarter of their early season slate. You know their defense is going to feel that absence. They'll need someone to step up big time to fill that gap while Snowden sits out the first three games.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.