Kearse recorded 77 tackles (55 solo), including two sacks, while adding five passes defended with an interception, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games in 2022.
The veteran safety posted strong numbers, but they paled in comparison to his 101-tackle campaign from the year before. Instead, it was Donovan Wilson who took a lead role in defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme among Cowboys safeties, with Kearse and Malik Hooker delivering more modest IDP production. Wilson is a free agent this offseason, however, and if he heads elsewhere, Kearse again could be in a position to take a run at triple-digit tackles in 2023.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Officially active
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Kearse (knee) is active for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers.
Kearse sprained his MCL during Dallas' wild-card win over Tampa Bay and was officially listed as questionable, but his status for Sunday was never really in doubt after he told reporters at the beginning of the week that he was going to play. He'll presumably operate in his usual role as the starting safety alongside Malik Hooker and will play a key role in attempting to slow down the 49ers' prolific offense.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Officially questionable
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Kearse (knee) is questionable for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Kearse sprained his MCL during the Cowboys' wild-card win over Tampa Bay and was limited at practice Wednesday through Friday. He doesn't sound concerned about his availability for Sunday's playoff matchup, but it appears the team will wait until game day to make an official decision.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Limited at Wednesday's walkthrough
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Kearse (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's walkthrough, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse was diagnosed with an MCL sprain following Dallas' wild-card win over Tampa Bay on Monday Night. A similar issue caused him to miss three games during the regular season, but it appears the veteran safety isn't concerned about missing Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers. Kearse was limited during the Cowboy's walk-through practice to start prep, but he'll have two more chances to log a full session before the team needs to make a decision on his status.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Diagnosed with MCL sprain
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Kearse was diagnosed with an MCL sprain following Monday's wild-card win over Tampa Bay, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse said after the win that he would be fine, but he suffered a similar injury in Week 1 and was sidelined for three games. However, the playoffs are in full swing now, so the veteran safety may be able to clear the issue faster than he did at the beginning of the season. Kearse's participation at practice this week should provide further clarity on his status for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the 49ers.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Officially cleared
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Kearse doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against Jacksonville, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Kearse was limited Wednesday and Thursday due to shoulder and back injuries, but he logged a full practice Friday and is cleared for Sunday. Across 10 appearances, the seventh-year safety has totaled 57 tackles, three pass defenses, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Looks poised to play Sunday
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Kearse, who appeared to suffer a left leg injury in pregame warmups, was announced as a starter in the Dallas secondary ahead of Sunday's game against the Texans, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
After requiring assistance to the locker room less than an hour earlier, Kearse was back on the sideline ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff in full uniform and was seen walking under his own power. Per Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Kearse is okay and appears set to play Sunday, though Dallas will have Israel Mukuamu ready to go at safety if Kearse is unable to finish the contest.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Back on injury report
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Kearse (shoulder) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kearse was limited to start Week 13 prep due to a shoulder injury as well, but he still suited up and played 59 defensive snaps. Barring a setback, the Cowboys' starting safety should be available again in Week 14.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Seven stops Week 13
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Kearse recorded seven solo tackles and one pass defended in Sunday's 54-19 victory versus the Colts.
Kearse played his typical share of the Cowboys' defensive snaps despite missing each practice during Week 13 prep with a shoulder injury. The 28-year-old also finished with the team's third-most tackles behind cornerback DaRon Bland (eight) and fellow safety Donovan Wilson (eight). Kearse came close to forcing his first fumble of the season by jarring the ball free from wideout Alec Pierce late in the fourth quarter, but this initial ruling of a fumble was overturned. Kearse has put up consistent stats when healthy, logging 54 tackles, two sacks and two passes defended over nine games, and he'll once again look to run roughshod over a dismal Texas offense Week 14.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Suiting up in Week 13
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Kearse (shoulder) is active for Sunday's contest versus the Colts.
A shoulder injury didn't allow Kearse to log a full session during Week 13 prep, with all three practice reports listing him as a limited participant. Still, the issue won't stop him from suiting up Sunday, when he'll be aiming to add to his 47 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery in eight previous appearances on the campaign.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Leads team with five tackles
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Kearse recorded five tackles (four solo), including one sack, and one pass defensed in Sunday's 40-3 win over the Vikings.
It's unheard of when a player leads his team with five stops, but that's just what Kearse did in Sunday's contest against Minnesota. Perhaps due to the lopsided score, the 28-year-old was the only Dallas defender to play every single defensive snap this past weekend. Kearse will look to maintain his prominent role in the Cowboys' secondary when the team hosts the Giants on Thanksgiving.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Questionable for Sunday
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Kearse (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports reports.
Kearse suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee during the season opener and has remained sidelined since. However, he's listed as questionable for the first time since the injury, so he appears to be trending in the right direction. Last year, he totaled 101 tackles and two interceptions, so his potential return would be a huge boost to Dallas' secondary.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Kearse (knee) was listed as a limited participant during Dallas' walkthrough practice Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse has been sidelined since suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee during Week 1, so his ability to participate in Wednesday's limited practice is an encouraging sign for his potential return in Week 4. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy did not give any definitive statement on the safety's game day availability, though he did say that the team would "give [Kearse] the full complement" during practice Thursday. Kearse recorded 101 tackles, 10 passes defended and two interceptions last season, and he should reprise this productive role when healthy.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Won't play Monday
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Kearse (knee) is listed as out for Week 3 at the Giants, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kearse sustained a sprained MCL in Week 1 versus Tampa Bay, and he'll now need to sit out a second consecutive week as he recovers. He'll probably need to practice in some capacity next week if there's to be any hope of him suiting up for Week 4 versus Washington, but in the meantime, Malik Hooker will continue to start alongside Donovan Wilson in Kearse's absence.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Out Week 2
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Kearse (knee) will be sidelined for the Cowboys' Week 2 matchup with the Bengals, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Kearse is still recovering from an MCL sprain in his left knee that occurred in the team's Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. He was originally given a 2-to-4 week recovery timetable, so it's no surprise he has been ruled out this week. Israel Mukuamu is the prime candidate to replace him at strong safety.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Ruled out for Week 2
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Kearse (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Bengals, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
As expected, Kearse will be sidelined for at least one game after being diagnosed with an MCL sprain. In his absence, expect Israel Mukuamu or Malik Hooker to step into a starting role next to Donovan Wilson.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Doesn't practice Friday
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Kearse (neck) is questionable for Sunday's season opener against the Buccaneers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kearse didn't practice Friday due to a neck injury, putting his status for Sunday in question. The severity of the issue is unclear, but if he can't suit up, Israel Mukuamu, Donovan Wilson and Markquese Bell are candidates for increased roles next to Malik Hooker.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Activated by Dallas
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The Cowboys activated Kearse (hamstring/undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Kearse was ruled out for Saturday's Week 18 win over the Eagles due to a hamstring injury before landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. While he'll now be able to rejoin the team, it's unclear whether his hamstring injury will impact his availability for Sunday's wild-card matchup against San Francisco.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list
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Kearse (hamstring) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
The safety did not travel with the team this weekend for its matchup with the Eagles on Saturday, and he will now enter league protocols surrounding COVID-19 and try to get ready for the Cowboys' playoff game next week. In Kearse's absence Saturday, Israel Mukuamu will draw the start in his place against the Eagles.
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Cowboys' Jayron Kearse: Another productive outing
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Kearse notched six tackles (five solo) during Sunday's win over the Panthers.
Kearse hasn't reached double-digit stops since Week 1, but he has combined for a total of 17 tackles in the Cowboys' last three games. As long as Donovan Wilson (groin) remains sidelined, Kearse will be in the mix as a potential IDP starter.
