The Dallas Cowboys may have got their season back on track in Week 2, but they must quickly turn the page to Sunday, when they will lock horns with the Baltimore Ravens (also 1-1) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
DeMarvion Overshown headlines Dallas' injury list, and Malik Hooker (forearm), Cobie Durant (hamstring), and P.J. Locke (foot) will join Overshown on the sidelines this week.
Those absences loom large, but the Ravens are equally banged up, if not more. Zay Flowers missed last week with a hamstring injury and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Just as notable for Dallas? Pass rusher Zion Young and safety Malaki Starks have both been limited by quad and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Ravens' Week 3 injury report bodes well for the Cowboys
Player | Position | Injury | Wednesday (9/23) | Thursday (9/24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Zay Flowers | WR | Hamstring | DNP | DNP |
Ronnie Stanley | OT | Toe | DNP | DNP |
Trey Hendrickson | OLB | Finger | DNP | Limited |
Calais Cambell | DL | NIR-Rest | DNP | Full |
Zion Young | OLB | Quad | Limited | Full |
Malaki Starks | S | Hamstring | Limited | Limited |
John Simpson | G | Groin | Limited | Full |
Chris Moore | WR | Ankle | Limited | Limited |
Teddye Buchanan | LB | Knee | Full | Full |
Nnamdi Madubuike | DT | Neck | Full | Full |
A list longer than the number of Cowboys passing records Dak Prescott has rewritten.
Simply put, Flowers was uncoverable in Week 1 against the Colts before exiting with a hamstring, catching five passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, with 83 of those coming after the catch.
Flowers is Lamar Jackson's go-to target. He's one of the shiftiest and craftiest slot receivers in the league. The Ravens love to send him in motion, and we've all seen how poor Dallas' communication has been on defense. He'd likely have a field day against this defense.
Baltimore is also without budding rookie Ja'Kobi Lane, who's on IR after undergoing wrist surgery. If Flowers doesn't go, the Ravens will be down to Rashod Bateman, tight end Mark Andrews, Chris Moore, who's dealing with an ankle injury, rookie Elijah Sarrat, Devontez Walker, and LaJohntay Wester. Not exactly a scary assortment of pass-catchers.
Jackson and Derrick Henry could still give the Cowboys fits, but Flowers is the centerpiece of the passing game. It would be huge for Dallas if his hammy needs another week.
Ronnie Stanley would be another huge loss for Baltimore
Stanley seems to be up in the air for Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowl tackle aggravated a toe injury in Week 2 that he suffered in the season opener. He was able to start last week, but left in the third quarter and did not return, thrusting Carson Vinson into the lineup to protect Jackson's blindside.
A 2025 fifth-round pick, Vinson has allowed two pressures on just 13 pass-blocking snaps while filling in for Stanley in the opening two games.
Even if Stanley suits up, he'll be at less than 100 percent, putting Donovan Ezeiruaku, who's been disruptive off the right side, in a potentially advantageous matchup. And if Vinson has to start, the Ravens' protection plan would be ripe for exploitation.
Malaki Starks' injury is something to watch
It doesn't seem like Starks is in danger of missing this matchup. However, he was one of Baltimore's most criticized players in the Week 2 loss to the Saints. And he wasn't much better in Week 1.
According to PFF, the 2025 first-round pick has allowed a perfect 158.3 passer rating in coverage while surrendering 12.3 yards per reception. And even if he suits up, he'd be trying to turn those struggles around on a less-than-100-percent hamstring.
The Ravens should get back Nnamdi Madubuike and Teddye Buchanan
It's not all bad news for Baltimore, as Nnamdi Madubuike and Teddye Buchanan are tracking to return after lengthy absences.
Madubuike has not played in a full year due to a neck injury, and there was real concern about whether he'd ever play football again.
At his best, he's one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the league. Even if he needs a few weeks to rediscover his Pro Bowl form, simply having him back in the trenches will present a serious challenge for T.J. Bass, Cooper Beebe, and Tyler Booker.
Buchanan, meanwhile, has not played since tearing his ACL last December. Trent Simpson is playing great football and Roquan Smith is still Roquan Smith, but the Ravens would love to get Buchanan back in the linebacker rotation.
All in all, the Ravens' injury report is a promising development for Dallas. Games aren't won and lost on the injury report, of course, but the uncertainty surrounding Flowers and Stanley could give the Cowboys a significant advantage in two crucial areas.
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