Dallas Cowboys: Corner concerns following Chidobe Awuzie injury

The injury bug continues to plague the Dallas Cowboys, this time at cornerback

The lack of a proper offseason training program and the cancellation of all preseason games is a possible culprit for a rash of injuries sweeping across the NFL for the last two weeks. And the Dallas Cowboys have suffered more than most.

Entering Week Three of the regular season, and several key names are missing from the Cowboys’ starting lineup. Some of the more prominent names include linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, right tackle La’el Collins, and tight end Blake Jarwin.

Now, starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie can be added to that growing list. According to head coach Mike McCarthy per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, Awuize suffered a hamstring injury in the comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

Awuzie’s absence places the cornerback position in an even more precarious position with fellow starter Anthony Brown current on Injured Reserve due to a rib injury.

This leaves the Cowboys with rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis in the starting roles. The latter having just returned last week from an ankle injury that forced him to miss the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

Down two starting cornerbacks, you can also expect veterans Daryl Worley and Brandon Carr to play more significant roles in Week Three. Special teams ace C.J. Goodwin and fourth-round rookie Reggie Robinson II could also find themselves filling in.

Dallas may also look to promote one of the many cornerbacks currently on their expanded practice squad. Defensive backs like Deante Burton, Saivion Smith, Chris Westry, Rashard Robinson, and Steven Parker. In fact, both Burton and Robinson were chosen as two of the team’s four protected practice-squad players for this week.

While the Dallas Cowboys may have several bodies available to cover the loss of both Chidobe Awuize and Anthony Brown, there will more than likely be a downgrade in play. And that’s a scary proposition considering the team is set to face the Seattle Seahawks and red-hot quarterback Russell Wilson this Sunday. Wilson has thrown for nine touchdowns in his first two games this season, the most in the NFL so far.