Cowboys star Micah Parsons gets emotional after gutting loss to Bengals

A tough season got even tougher for Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons on Monday night. The 25-year-old was visibly distressed on the sideline after the Dallas defense gave up the go-ahead touchdown to the Cincinnati Bengals in a 27-20 loss.

Ja’Marr Chase’s 40-yard touchdown catch from Joe Burrow came less than a minute after the Cowboys let a prime opportunity to take the lead slip through their fingers. With two minutes left in a tied game, Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow lined up to kick the ball away at the Cincinnati 29-yard line. Dallas linebacker Nick Vigil, who started his career with the Bengals, came barreling through to block the punt.

Amani Oruwariye, who was activated from injured reserve earlier Monday, tried to pick up the ball, even though the Cowboys would have had possession if he hadn’t touched it. But Oruwariye couldn’t corral the ball and the Bengals ended up with it.

Once Cooper Rush’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete, the game was all but officially over. Parsons was seen leaving the field a few seconds early as the Cowboys fell to 5-8.

Parsons was emotional when speaking to reporters about the loss, calling the botched punt “a huge momentum shift” after the Dallas defense had just sacked Burrow on third down.

“It seems like we’re paying a due that’s not fair. I don’t know if it’s bad luck, karma. But in terms of work ethic, everybody’s working so hard,” Parsons added.

It was the Cowboys’ fourth one-score loss of the season. They also suffered yet another serious injury, this time to Parsons’ pass-rushing mate DeMarvion Overshown. The second-year player went down in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and had to be helped off the field. He missed his rookie season due to a torn ACL in his left knee.

“I cried. That’s like my little brother, bro. He don’t deserve that either,” a tearful Parsons said.

“The year he was having, I really just don’t think that’s fair either.” Overshown has five sacks this season, ranking second on the team behind Parsons (6.5).

Parsons missed four games earlier this season with an ankle sprain. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is also out for the year with a torn hamstring, while veterans like defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and offensive lineman Zack Martin have missed significant time.

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