Is the Dallas Cowboys locker room losing trust in its leadership?

In his postgame availability after the Cowboys’ 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, defensive end Micah Parsons was asked about how he handles questions surrounding the job status of head coach Mike McCarthy and if the coach will return for a sixth season despite being on an expiring contract.

He could have easily deflected or poured support into the only head coach he’s known in his NFL career. Instead, he was honest – maybe too honest.

“That’s above my pay grade for if I think Mike is coaching next year,” Parsons said. “Mike can leave and go wherever he wants. The guys I kind of feel bad for are guys like Zack Martin who might be on their last year or on their way out, because that’s who I wanted to hold the trophy for.”

“You want to win games and do great things with those types of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did. Those are the kind of guys that I have so much sympathy and hurt for.”

To start, this quote will need some clarification from Parsons later this week. But from the surface, this is not a good look for a locker room that has previously been pretty consistent in showing support for McCarthy despite a season that is spiraling downhill at 3-6.

At the very least, Parsons let on that McCarthy – despite being in a contract year with the team – is not someone he wants to win for nor is he someone he has “sympathy and hurt for” after the team suffered its fifth consecutive lopsided loss at AT&T Stadium.

On the flip side, there’s also a level to Parsons’ quote that could explain away his comments in a better light. Because he is right, McCarthy can go wherever he wants next season and continue his career. Guys like Zack Martin cannot. Does that mean McCarthy is not someone that Parsons wants to “hold the trophy for” when it’s said and done? That is what his quote left us to wonder.

Parsons was noticeably upbeat in the locker room following the loss. He made his return to the field after six weeks away and recorded two sacks including a strip sack of Jalen Hurts in the first half. For a pass rush that has seemed dormant at times this season, it came alive with Parsons leading the charge.

Shortly after making his comments about McCarthy, he walked away from his locker screaming for the entire locker room to hear, “Be the light! Be the light!”

“We had a great message in chapel this week,” Parsons said. “You got to be the light. Even when other sides aren’t shining – our offense isn’t shining as hard and we needed their juice to bring us up – we got to be the offense’s light this time.”

He also expressed his frustration around the offense not being able to punch it into the end zone despite having that forced fumble on Hurts inside the Eagles 10-yard line. Parsons has seen growth in the defensive unit and is now seeing that there isn’t anyone that can help that unit other than itself.

“Overall, I’m happy for these defensive guys and how they played,” he said. “It’s one of those years where it’s challenging, but we got to be the light for everybody.”

Frustration has paved the way for acceptance for Parsons. His upbeat mood means he isn’t questioning what’s happening around him anymore, it means he’s accepted it and is moving forward accordingly.

For an offense under McCarthy’s leadership that could muster only 146 yards of production while turning the ball over five times in the 28-point loss, Parsons has every right to question the leadership that his coaching staff is putting forward.

But that’s it in and of itself, he’s no longer questioning it. He’s accepted it.