Cowboys lose breakout defender for season due to injury

Josh Butler had a breakout performance in Week 12 for the Dallas Cowboys but was lost for the season with an ACL injury in Week 12.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Thanksgiving Day was a lot of fun for Dallas Cowboys fans who finally got to see their team put together a winning streak. After knocking off the Washington Commanders in Week 12, they made it two in a row as they defeated the New York Giants in Week 13.

Forgotten amidst all the celebration was the injuries suffered by two defensive backs. Both Juanyeh Thomas and Josh Butler had to leave the game with apparent knee injuries and each had an update on Friday.

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Thomas received positive news and should be back within a few weeks. For Butler, the prognosis was much worse as the Week 12 breakout star will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL.

Josh Butler is done for the season with an ACL injury (torn) that will require surgery to repair, per SJ to 105.3 The Fan.

Juanyeh Thomas has a meniscus issue but dodged the worst-case scenario — his prognosis at "2-3 weeks".

CeeDee Lamb is expected to be a go for #Cowboys vs.…

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) November 29, 2024

It's a terrible blow for Butler, who was one of the feel-good stories of the season. Butler, who lost both his parents while playing for Michigan State, endeared himself to fans when he brought his dogs with him for Senior Day in 2019.

He then spent time acting and working on his music career. In 2023, he received his first shot at pro football, signing with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL. He turned that into an opportunity with Dallas and was starting in place of Trevon Diggs against Washington.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Josh Butler / Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Butler finished with 12 tackles, three pass break ups, and one sack. He appeared to be a star in the making but sadly, we'll have to wait until 2025 to see if he can continue to shine.

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