The Dallas Cowboys’ defensive unit is facing an early roadblock.
According to details captured in the NFL’s transactions wire, defensive playmaker Charles Snowden will be benched for the initial three games of the 2026 season.
Snowden reached a plea agreement concerning a January 2024 DUI arrest. Despite resolving the legal matter, the incident contravened the NFL’s personal conduct rules, resulting in his suspension, as reported by NFL Network.
He will remain sidelined until the Cowboys’ Week 4 clash with the Texans, although he is permitted to join in both training camp and the team’s trio of preseason matchups.
At the age of 28, Snowden is set to miss the contests against the Giants, Commanders, and Ravens.
Before joining the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Snowden spent four years at Virginia, where he tallied 15 sacks and 191 tackles.
Snowden made his NFL debut in December 2021 with the Bears and joined the Buccaneers practice squad in 2022, but couldn’t carve out much of a role.
The pass rusher then found a spot with the Raiders in 2024, recording 1.5 sacks and 39 tackles.
Last year with Las Vegas, Snowden played in 15 games, tallying three sacks while grabbing his first career interception.
Snowden was waived by the Raiders on May 2 and signed with the Cowboys on June 18.
While Snowden might not be a star player, the Cowboys’ pass rush is relatively thin.
Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku make up the rest of the Cowboys’ unit, one that’s still searching for an adequate Micah Parsons replacement.
Ezeiruaku had two sacks in 2025 while Gary had 7.5 with the Packers.
Despite an electric offense, the Cowboys’ defense hindered them from making the playoffs last year, leading Dallas to take safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 in the NFL draft.
The Cowboys kick off the regular season on Sept. 13 at the Giants.