Falling to 2-4 would not be a death knell for the Dallas Cowboys' season, but at some point, this team has to string together wins. Why not start against a Green Bay Packers team that looked like one of the worst in football just a few weeks ago?
It would help to get some players back from injury, and Dallas will have had 10 days of rest between their last game and Sunday night. That was much-needed after they played three games in 12 days, including a trip to South America and a road game in Houston.
Cowboys' final Week 6 injury updates
CeeDee Lamb, WR
Let's start on a positive note. Lamb (thigh) practiced in a full capacity all week and won't have any restrictions against Green Bay.
Lamb suffered a thigh bruise in Week 4, but played through it. He aggravated it against the Bucs, which is why he was on and off the field throughout the game and ultimately why he was held in check to the tune of two catches.
The mini-bye came at the perfect time for Lamb, who says his thigh is fully healthy now.
“As far as the extra days, I took advantage immediately," Lamb said. "Got a lot of time to rest. Got a lot of time to get some rehab. So, kind of back to square one now.”
Barring a defensive statement (lol), Dallas will need to score a lot of points to hang with Green Bay. Having Lamb back without any limitations should help tilt the scales.
DeMarvion Overshown, LB
Overshown (hamstring) got in limited sessions on Thursday and Friday after being a DNP to start the week, making him questionable. His return to practice was an encouraging step, but Brian Schottenheimer poured cold water on his Week 6 availability Friday when he called the fourth-year linebacker a "long shot" to play.
Hamstring injuries -- and soft-tissue injuries in general -- are fickle. It's better to treat them with kid gloves than to expedite a recovery.
Having said that, Cowboys fans have every right to be frustrated.
Coming out of Week 1, Brian Schottenheimer downplayed Overshown's injury, putting his recovery timeline at one to two weeks and emphasizing that it wasn't a long-term issue. It's now Week 5, and per Schottenheimer, there hasn't been a setback.
Joey Porter Jr., CB
Joey Porter Jr. missed Week 5 with an illness that prompted the Cowboys to send him home after he arrived at AT&T Stadium last Thursday. He popped up on this week's injury report with an ankle injury and was limited on Wednesday, full on Thursday, and limited on Friday. He's officially questionable, but the team has not expressed any concern about him missing the game.
The bigger news is that Porter has recovered from his illness, and "the plan" is for him to be a full go on Sunday.
Exactly what the doctor ordered for a Dallas defense that will face a quarterback in Jordan Love who loves to take shots downfield, along with two receivers in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden who have the speed and ball-tracking ability to make any secondary pay.
Cobie Durant, CB
Durant will miss a fourth straight game with his hamstring injury. He still hasn't logged an official practice, but Schottenheimer said this week he's "getting closer" to returning despite being a "long shot" for Sunday night. The veteran corner has progressed to individual drills, but he hasn't participated in team work, which explains the continued DNPs.
The rest of Dallas' injury report:
- All-Pro guard Tyler Smith (thumb) is playing. He was a full participant all week. It’s only his second week back. He’ll be off the injury report sooner than later.
- Tyler Guyton (back) is also playing following a full week of practice. His back needed treatment during the Week 5 loss, but he showed up on Monday at 100 percent.
- Shavon Revel (knee) also got in a full week of practice. He’s another player who has benefitted from the 10-day layoff.
- Rookie OT Drew Shelton (hamstring) is OUT for the second week in a row.
- Safety Alijah Clark (hamstring) is good to go.
- Cornerback Ameer Speed (knee) is questionable after logging a full practice on Friday. He was limited the previous two days.
- James Houston (shoulder) has shown up on the injury report in recent weeks, but hasn't missed any practice time.
- Von Miller was back to a full participant on Thursday after getting a veteran rest day to start the practice week.
Note: Rookie defensive tackle LT Overton (foot) was a surprise DNP on Friday. He was not on the injury report Wednesday or Thursday, suggesting this injury cropped up late in the week.
Notable Packers injuries
Note: The Packers won't have linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and defensive tackle Javon Hargarve, who suffered Achilles tears in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively.
Micah Parsons, EDGE
When the schedule was released, this game was widely circled as Parsons' most likely return from ACL rehab. In retrospect, we probably got lost in the revenge-game sauce. It was wishful thinking that Parsons would be back in Week 6 from a major knee injury suffered last December.
Parsons is getting closer, but the Packers have not opened his practice window. Expect the All-Pro to play a major role in the second half of the season, but he won't be suited and booted against his former team.
Keisean Nixon, CB
Nixon hasn't missed a game in five years with Green Bay, and that streak will continue despite sitting out Wednesday with a groin injury.
Despite his reputation as a volatile cornerback, he rarely comes off the field for this Packers defense, having played 332 defensive snaps over the first five weeks. The Cowboys would be smart to test out that groin on a deep shot (or two) to George Pickens.
Jonathan Ford, DT
The Packers ruled out Ford with a calf injury. The 28-year-old has logged 117 snaps this season. He's a big loss for a defense that has struggled to stop the run, ranking 20th in EPA per rush and 25th in total rushing yards allowed.
Skyy Moore, WR/KR
Moore is out with an ankle injury. He is Green Bay's top specialist and has provided a legitimate spark in that department, averaging 27.5 yards per kickoff return (tied for 13th) and 16.0 yards per punt return, which is second-best among all players.
Benjamin St-Juste, CB
St-Juste aggravated a hamstring injury in the Packers' win over the Bears last Sunday. He did not practice this week and will not face Dallas, forcing Green Bay to dig deeper into their cornerback depth for a matchup against a prolific passing attack.
Green Bay listed 5 players as questionable:
- Aaron Banks, G (Knee/Toe)
- Anthony Campbell, DT (Ankle)
- Brandon Cisse, CB (Hip)
- Jacob Monk, C/G (Quadricep)
- Savion Williams, WR (Ankle)
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