With Cowboys needing defensive boost, Jadeveon Clowney reiterates that he's ready to help

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FRISCO -- If Jadeveon Clowney had it his way, Sunday against the Green Bay Packers wouldn't have been his first game of the season. He thought he could go last week against the Chicago Bears.

"I was hoping," Clowney said.

"I was looking forward to it. [Coaches] told me I had a chance. I got excited. And then he downed me. I said, 'God, I could've helped,' but I'll get my chance this week."

The Cowboys could've used help last week and this Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers is no different. The Cowboys' defense is 27th in the NFL in points allowed. They're last in the NFL in third-down conversions allowed. They're coming off a game where they had no sacks, marking the first time in Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' career that he hasn't been sacked. Oh, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, too, for his four-touchdown performance.

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Just like last week, Clowney says he's ready to play -- and to help.

"It was very frustrating, but when the opportunity comes, just be ready," he said. "I guess it just wasn't my time at that point in time. My time is coming. I just have to be ready."

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Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer wouldn't put an exact timetable on Clowney's debut, but he did say he's "trending" toward playing on Sunday against the Packers.

"This is his second week, he's more comfortable with the things we're trying to do," Schottenheimer said. "We're working to get him active, but we'll see.

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"Let's see how today's practice goes. Let's see how this week at prep goes. Let's see how he is in the meetings, see how he's retaining the information, but the hope would be to get him out there, and if we can, we will. If we can, we won't."

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Schottenheimer already said Clowney was helping. After Sunday's loss, Clowney -- now entering his 12th season -- had a message for his teammates. Clowney reiterated that message on Wednesday about his new team, which sits at 1-2.

"It's a long season," he said. "Everybody knows that. You can't win a Super Bowl in Week 3. Get rid of it, like having a bad play. Put it behind you, move forward and get ready for this week and work extremely hard through the week and let your preparation go out there and show on Sunday. That's what I think we're going to do. We had a better practice today. We're just looking forward to keep improving throughout the week. You can't win the game today. You can't win the game tomorrow. You can only win it on Sunday, but you can prepare like every day for it. I think that's going to make us a better team."

As for his on-the-field contributions, Clowney said he has to knock off some rust, but he still feels like his speed and power -- the same qualities that once made the 6-5 Clowney the No. 1 overall pick -- are there. Clowney had 15 combined sacks the past two seasons.

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The Cowboys, with only three combined sacks through three games this season, could use a jolt in that area.

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