The Dallas Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention after the Commanders beat the Eagles on a last-second touchdown. That takes some of the intrigue out of Dallas' Sunday Night Football matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Regardless, the Cowboys will still compete at a high level. Beating the Bucs will be no small feat. Surrounded by a bevy of weapons, Baker Mayfield playing the best football of his career. Mayfield entered the week top five in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completion percentage.
It's a difficult matchup for Dallas' defense, which won't have Trevon Diggs. The team moved Diggs to injured reserve this weekend. The star cornerback is set to undergo bone draft surgery on his knee. His recovery could bleed into the start of next season.
In other star news, Micah Parsons was listed as questionable late in the week after coming down with an illness. It gave Cowboys fans a scare, but a bug is not going to prevent Parsons from taking the field in primetime.
Even though Dallas has a handful of key players on IR, their injury report this week is prtety clean all things considered.
Cowboys' Week 16 inactives
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Jalen Brooks | WR | Knee | Out |
T.J. Bass | OL | Thigh | Out |
Eric Kendricks | LB | Calf | Out |
Juanyeh Thomas | S | Knee | Out |
Deuce Vaughn | RB | - | Out |
Tyrus Wheat | DL | - | Out |
Justin Rogers | DT | - | Out |
The Cowboys will be without their leading tackler in Eric Kendricks. The veteran practice in limited fashion this week and did not get cleared after testing his calf pregame. Already down DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas' linebacker play might be shaky in this one.
Dallas will at least get Cooper Beebe back after he missed last week with a concussion. In addition, Bass, who was a DNP on Friday, is out with a thigh injury suffered in Carolina. The offensive line will look as follows Sunday night (from left to right): Chuma Edoga, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Brock Hoffman and Terence Steele.
Juanyeh Thomas returned to practice this week. It looked on Thanksgiving that he suffered a serious knee injury, but he seemingly isn't far away from returning.
Buccaneers' Week 16 inactives
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Antoine Winfield | S | Knee | Out |
Cade Otton | TE | Knee | Out |
K.J. Britt | LB | Knee | Out |
Jose Ramirez | OLB | - | Out |
Royce Newman | G | - | Out |
Earnest Brown IV | DL | - | Out |
Winfield is a huge loss for the Bucs' defense. He was a first-team All-Pro last season after racking up 122 tackles, six forced fumbles, 12 passes defended and six sacks. Injuries have limited Winfield to nine games in 2024.
Otton is another big absence, though Tampa has plenty of playmakers leftover, including Mike Evans. The five-time Pro Bowler needs 254 receiving yards in the final three games to tie Jerry Rice's record with 11 consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards.