Cowboys inactives list for Monday Night Football game against Bengals
By Jerry Trotta
Once again, the Dallas Cowboys' season is on the line when they battle the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. While there is still a path to the playoffs for Dallas if they lose, winning out remains their best chance.
Don't be fooled by the Bengals' 4-8 record. Joe Burrow is playing perhaps the best football of his career and their offense is putting up incredible numbers. There is a reason teams like the Chiefs and Bills don't want Cincinnati to weasel their way into the postseason.
The Cowboys will need all hands on deck for this primetime clash, but like seemingly every week this season they are battling injuries.
We'll start with the good news.
CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) is good to go and Jake Ferguson (concussion) will return from a two-game absence. However, Dallas has already ruled out Zack Martin, who will undergo season-ending ankle surgery. Safety Juanyeh Thomas is also out with a knee injury.
Cowboys' Week 14 inactives
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Juanyeh Thomas | S | Knee | Out |
Trevon Diggs | CB | Knee/groin | Active |
Tyler Guyton | OT | Ankle/knee | Active |
Nick Vigil | LB | Foot | Active |
Andrew Booth | CB | - | Healthy scratch |
Damone Clark | LB | - | Healthy scratch |
Deuce Vaughn | RB | - | Healthy scratch |
Jalen Brooks | WR | - | Healthy scratch |
Tyrus Wheat | DL | - | Healthy scratch |
Both Diggs and Guyton have missed the last two games with that designation. It is worth noting, though, that executive VP Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Monday that the team is "optimistic" that Diggs and Guyton will be active.
Diggs playing means the Cowboys would have their top three cornerbacks - Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis - all active for the first time this season.
That would be some great timing as Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase is the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year. He leads all pass-catchers in receiving yards and touchdowns. In the last three games, Chase has 24 catches for 425 yards (!) and six touchdowns. Oh, and No. 2 wideout Tee Higgins might get paid WR1 money in the offseason.
As for Guyton, the Cowboys need him to be healthy the rest of the season. His evaluation is one of the most important storylines over the final five games. Though growing pains were expected, the No. 29 overall pick has not looked like the long-term answer at left tackle.
Bengals' Week 14 inactives
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Orlando Brown Jr. | OT | Fibula | Out |
Sheldon Rankins | DT | Illness | Out |
Charlie Jones | WR | Groin | Out |
Daijahn Anthony | S | - | Healthy scratch |
Tanner McLachlan | TE | - | Healthy scratch |
The Bengals won't have starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. That means Micah Parsons, who's been unstoppable since returning from injury, will go up against a backup left tackle. Expect defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to both hunt that matchup and deploy Parsons all over the line to get Carl Lawson and others 1-v-1 matchups against Cincy's backup.
Rankins, meanwhile, is a big loss for the Bengals' D-line. They will rotate McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins and Jay Tufele next to start B.J. Hill.
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