Cowboys Face Uncertainty Amid Injuries Ahead of Week 3 Matchup
The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a crucial Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, but injury concerns loom large over the team. After a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints, where the Cowboys' defense faltered, allowing touchdowns on the first six drives, the team is now focused on regrouping and overcoming a slew of injuries.
CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs have been under the spotlight as both missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. While Lamb felt soreness that kept him out initially, he made a limited return to practice on Thursday, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]."
On the other hand, Trevon Diggs' return to full fitness is less certain. Although he participated in stretching exercises, he still had to work closely with Britt Brown, the Cowboys’ director of rehab. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed caution regarding Diggs' participation against Baltimore, noting, "He's going to start off in the pre-practice and then we'll evaluate from there. Hopefully, he can get through the whole practice and see how it goes. This is the first time giving it a chance.” Diggs himself labelled the team's defensive performance against the Saints as "unacceptable."
Adding to the roster’s injury woes, Jake Ferguson, who missed the game against the Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, returned in a limited capacity to practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Ferguson is a pivotal figure in the squad, both on and off the field. Reflecting on Ferguson, quarterback Dak Prescott shared, "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great. He looked great last week. You tried me last week, too. I think if it's a different game last week, more important game later in the season type of deal, that Jake probably could have went then. But he's obviously been out there. He's looked good.” McCarthy echoed this sentiment, explaining, "Jake's a big part of the heart and soul of that locker room. No question about it. I was told he had a good workout today. That's good news. But we'll see how he comes in tomorrow and so forth. I'm hopeful he can play."
Another concern for the Cowboys is rookie Mazi Smith, who left Wednesday's practice field with a back injury and missed the subsequent practice on Thursday. Smith's condition will need to be monitored closely as the team prepares for the Ravens.
The injuries aren’t limited to the Cowboys. The Baltimore Ravens are also dealing with their own player fitness issues. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a neck/concussion injury. Kyle Hamilton, another crucial defensive player, made a limited return after a back injury kept him sidelined.
On a brighter note for the Cowboys, Luke Schoonmaker delivered an impressive performance against the Saints, catching all six of his targets to amass 43 receiving yards. Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford both stepped up, filling some of the void left by Ferguson's absence. Prescott praised their efforts, saying, "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends [Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford] did a good job. Simply, they did a good job. As I've said throughout the week, Jake's more than just a tight end on Sunday. He's an aggressor. He brings a physical nature to this group. He's got a mentality that other guys feed off of, that's very contagious, but those other guys did play well. They did their job and stepped up. They made some plays, but [the game] just got away from us."
The upcoming game against Baltimore will be a true test of resilience for the Cowboys, who must navigate their injury-ridden lineup while seeking to bounce back from their recent defensive deficiencies. The return of key players like Lamb, Diggs, and Ferguson could make a pivotal difference. Otherwise, the onus will be on the backups to continue stepping up and filling those critical gaps.