Injuries are a storyline every week in the NFL, but you'd be hard-pressed to name a team that's had worse injury luck this season than the Dallas Cowboys. Somehow, their Week 11 injury report was the longest of the year.
A whopping 19 players featured on the Cowboys' final injury report. We learned that cornerback DaRon Bland still isn't ready to make his season debut. The team insists that Bland is getting closer, but you have to wonder if they should shut him down for the year.
Additionally, nickel corner Jourdan Lewis is out with a neck injury. Lewis got dinged up in las week's loss to the Eagles. He has arguably been Dallas' defensive MVP this season, so he is a huge loss against a Houston Texans offense that will welcome back star receiver Nico Collins.
Even more alarming is that CeeDee Lamb popped up on the injury report late in the week with a back injury. Lamb is questionable, but NFL Network insider Jane Slater reported Lamb is trending in the direction of playing on Monday Night Football.
Cowboys' Week 11 inactives
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
DaRon Bland | CB | Foot |
Jourdan Lewis | CB | Neck |
Hunter Luepke | FB | Calf |
Damone Clark | LB | Healthy scratch |
Jalen Brooks | WR | Healthy scratch |
K.J. Henry | DE | Healthy scratch |
Matt Waletzko | OT | Healthy scratch |
The Cowboys made a flurry of roster moves on Monday, including officially putting Dak Prescott on injured reserve. In a corresponding move, they signed cornerback Josh Butler to the active roster and elevated CB Kemon Hall and tight end Princeton Fant for the game.
READ MORE: Cowboys make most predictable QB signing ever after Dak Prescott injury
It's no surprise that fullback Hunter Luepke is inactive. Luepke did not practice all week due to a calf injury and was listed as doubtful. The second-year pro has played 98 special teams snaps and 192 offensive snaps this season.
The Cowboys also listed guard Zack Martin as questionable with a shoulder. Martin has battled this injury seemingly for weeks. The All-Pro didn't practice Thursday, but was a limited participant Friday and Saturday, but he is good to go.
If there's a positive takeaway, it's that Micah Parsons (ankle), DeMarvion Overshown (knee) and Trevon Diggs (calf) were all removed from the injury report.
Texans' Week 11 inactives
Player | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Will Anderson | DE | Ankle |
Foley Fatukasi | DT | Foot |
Blake Fisher | OT | Concussion |
Kamari Lassiter | CB | Concussion |
Steven Sims | WR/KR | Healthy scratch |
Jamal Hill | LB | Healthy scratch |
The Texans' defense will be without two starters in edge rusher Will Anderson and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, but they promoted cornerback Jeff Okudah from injured reserve.
The 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Anderson compiled 7.5 sacks and 37 pressures in nine games before his ankle injury. His absence means Dallas can focus more attention on Danielle Hunter, who ranks ninth in the league with a 18.2 % pass-rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Injuries notwithstanding, the odds are stacked against the Cowboys tonight. The Texans have been up and down this season, but the return of Nico Collins should make all the difference for quarterback C.J. Stroud as they look to extend Dallas' losing streak at AT&T Stadium.