The Dallas Cowboys were without several key players against the Indianapolis Colts, but they should not have needed a touchdown in the final minute to escape with a win. A better team would have made Dallas pay for not pulling away.
Well, the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers are set to visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday. Not only will the Cowboys have to play a cleaner brand of football, but they'll also need to get some players back from injury.
It's difficult to put too much stock in the first injury report of the week, especially with Wednesday marking such a quick turnaround from game day. Thursday and Friday's reports will paint a clearer picture of Dallas' overall health, but that doesn't mean Wednesday's initial listing should be overlooked.
Cowboys' Week 10 injury report brings good and bad news
Joey Porter Jr. logs a DNP to start the week
Porter was at practice with a helmet on. Normally, a positive indicator. However, he was a bystander as the cornerbacks went through individual drills. He did not participate in the portion of practice that was open to the media, and he was officially a DNP on the Wednesday report.
That's not ideal, but the fact that Porter had a helmet and wasn't working with Britt Brown or the resistance cords is encouraging. He doesn't look like a guy who's far from returning, but whether he can get his foot/heel right before Sunday is unclear at this juncture.
The little chance that Dallas has at topping the Niners would take a hit if their shutdown CB can't go.
George Pickens returns
Pickens practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday. Unlike Porter, Pickens participated in wide receiver drills at the start of practice. A limited designation means he was involved in team drills. That's great news, but the All-Pro is working back from a hamstring injury.
The Cowboys will be diligent with Pickens' workload after he missed Week 9. He doesn't need every practice rep at this point in his career, but he needs to show he can participate in team drills at full speed before Dallas can feel comfortable putting him back on the field.
Wednesday was a positive step.
Jalen Thompson remains on IR
Thompson has missed the last six games with a hamstring injury. He was put on injured reserve following Dallas' Week 3 loss in Brazil and given a 4-6-week timeline. We've reached the end of that, but the veteran safety still isn't ready.
The Cowboys did not open Thompson's 21-day practice window on Wednesday. Why is that notable? Because they opened rookie cornerback Devin Moore's practice window, who has been on IR with a groin injury since roster cutdowns.
This is particularly concerning ahead of Sunday's game against San Francisco.
P.J. Locke has already been ruled out after suffering another concussion in Week 9. That not only forces Markquese Bell or Alijah Clark into a bigger role, but it also limits Christian Parker's ability to deploy Caleb Downs the way he did against the Colts.
Not good.
DeMarvion Overshown returns
Overshown began Wednesday's session stretching on the resistance cords, but then worked into individual drills. Like Pickens, he was officially limited.
The fifth-year linebacker was ruled out of Week 9 with hamstring and back ailments. He had previously missed five games with a hamstring injury. Getting him back would be a big boost against a 49ers offense that loves to attack the middle of the field.
Donovan Ezeiruaku sidelined with an ankle injury
Brian Schottenheimer said beforehand that Ezeiruaku "probably won't do much" on Wednesday, so his DNP designation wasn't a surprise.
Ezeiruaku suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter against the Colts and briefly exited the game, but he was able to return and finish with 32 defensive snaps.
With Malachi Lawrence on IR with his own ankle injury, the Cowboys' defensive front cannot afford to be without Ezeiruaku. He'll have a few more practices to get back on the field.
Jake Ferguson and Tyler Goodson log DNPs
No surprises here. Ferguson and Goodson both suffered knee injuries in Indianapolis and face "multiple weeks" on the sideline.
Ferguson was spotted wearing a large brace on his left knee Tuesday while speaking at an event at the National Medal of Honor Museum, per Mike Leslie of WFAA.
Brevyn Spann-Ford and Luke Schoonmaker will have to pick up the slack. Both tight ends logged full practices despite battling respective shoulder and groin issues.
Goodson, meanwhile, is dealing with a sprained MCL and ACL, per ESPN's Todd Archer. The Cowboys signed free agent running back Kendre Miller, who was at practice Wednesday, to potentially assume the RB2 role in Goodson's stead if he can get up to speed quickly.
Other footnotes worth monitoring:
- KaVontae Turpin (rib) was a limited participant after missing the last three games. His return would be ideal with backup kick returner Tyler Goodson now on the shelf.
- Malik Hooker (NIR-Rest) was a DNP
- Jonathan Mingo (ankle) was a DNP
Add us as a preferred source on Google