Detroit Lions fans are very familiar with the name James Houston. The linebacker was a sixth-round pick of the Lions in 2022 and had an outstanding rookie season, where he had eight sacks in seven games. They thought they found a diamond in the rough with Houston, but he struggled to replicate that success in his next two seasons in Motor City
Houston was eventually waived late last season before joining the Cleveland Browns, where he didn’t make a huge impact. The former Lions pass rusher has since rejuvenated his career with the Dallas Cowboys to start this season and is looking like the guy we saw in Detroit a few years ago.
In Sunday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers, Houston had a strip sack on Packers QB Jordan Love (h/t @NickHarrisFWST), which helped flip the momentum in Dallas’ favor. The Cowboys proceeded to score a touchdown, giving them a three-point lead at halftime.
James Houston Shining with Dallas Cowboys to Start 2025 Season
The 26-year-old pass rusher played a season-high 22 defensive snaps in Week 4, but Dallas fans want to see more of Houston on the field. Dating back to Week 1, the former Lions pass rusher has been playing hard and making plays in the backfield.
In Sunday night’s tie, Houston had two combined tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble, which is an impressive stat line in limited playing time. Furthermore, he was Dallas’ highest graded defensive player in Week 4 with an 89.3 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus.
The Cowboys have to be thrilled with Houston, who is exceeding all expectations after being signed to a one-year deal in July. No one knew if the former Lion would make the 53-man roster, and now his play is demanding more playing time.
The former Jackson State star currently leads Dallas in sacks (2.0) and is tied for first in tackles for loss (3). Cowboys fans likely thought that Dante Fowler Jr. or Sam Williams would lead the team in sacks, but the ex-Lion? It's a surprise, to say the least.
Credit must be given to Houston for making the most of his opportunities. He might be looked at as an undersized defensive end, but it hasn’t stopped him from making an impact, whether that’s forcing a turnover or making a stop in the backfield.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out for the former Lions defender. If he continues to make plays, Houston might play a crucial role when the Cowboys visit Ford Field for an NFC clash in Week 14.