Cowboys' Caleb Downs does the impossible against Derrick Henry
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Cowboys' Caleb Downs does the impossible against Derrick Henry originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The odds were against him and he still prevailed.
Caleb Downs, rookie safety, standing at 6 feet tall and 210 pounds soaking wet, stopped Derrick Henry.
Henry, listed at 252 pounds with a reputation that would make him seem double that weight, had the ball on a 4th and 1.
Derrick Henry needing a yard? That's automatic, right?
But Caleb Downs reminded everyone there are no guarantees in football.
#Cowboys rookies Caleb Downs and Jaishawn Barham stopping Derrick Henry on 4th and 1.
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) September 27, 2026
Great stand by the Dallas defense.#DallasCowboyspic.twitter.com/U6WgZ1rcI3
Henry first ran into his offensive lineman which gave Downs (#13) enough time to make contact. The rookie out of Ohio State got his arms around Henry and, like a spider, didn't let him out of the web.
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Downs and his teammates pushed the burly Henry behind the line of scrimmage until the whistle echoed finality over an improbable play.
Why Caleb Downs stopping Derrick Henry matters for the Cowboys future
Cowboys fans will be pleased to see not just Caleb Downs, but fellow rookie Jaishawn Barham making the play on Derrick Henry.
Dallas has been sorely craving physicality on its defense. Coming off a year when they were bottom of the league in almost every defensive category, the Cowboys need more of these big moments to build confidence.
Caleb Downs stuffs Derrick Henry 😮 pic.twitter.com/1ddszuGy9Z
— Arrogant Dak Prescott (@ArrogantDak) September 27, 2026
Downs, who was the 13th overall pick in the 2026 draft, could be a leader on that side of the ball.
His courage to take Henry head on shows the rookie has a selfless mentality. He's also willing to get his hands dirty even from the safety position.
The Dallas defense needs improvement but they found a star in Caleb Downs.
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