The Dallas Cowboys are heading into their Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens with a cloud of uncertainty hovering over several key players. Coming off a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys are grappling with multiple injuries that could impact their performance on Sunday.
Injury Woes for the Cowboys
Among the most prominent concerns is the status of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs. Lamb, who is nursing an ankle injury, did not practice on Wednesday but made a limited return on Thursday. "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]," Lamb said, indicating that he is cautiously optimistic about his recovery.
Diggs, on the other hand, is dealing with a foot injury. He also missed practice on Wednesday and, although he participated in some stretching exercises on Thursday, he mainly worked under the supervision of the director of rehab, Britt Brown. His status for the game against Baltimore remains a question mark. "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," head coach Mike McCarthy elaborated.
Jake Ferguson's Status Up in the Air
Tight end Jake Ferguson, who was sidelined against the Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, has been practicing in a limited capacity. Ferguson’s role as both a physical presence on the field and an emotional leader in the locker room cannot be underestimated. "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," said quarterback Dak Prescott, reflecting the team's reliance on Ferguson's contributions.
McCarthy echoed Prescott's sentiment. "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," McCarthy stated, adding another layer of anticipation around Ferguson's availability.
Baltimore Faces Their Own Challenges
The Ravens are not without their own injury concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton, dealing with a back injury, returned to practice in a limited manner. These injuries could have an effect on Baltimore's defensive capabilities, a factor that the Cowboys might look to exploit.
Defensive Struggles Continue
Defensive lapses have been a recurring theme for the Cowboys, as evidenced by their inability to contain the Saints in their previous game. New Orleans scored touchdowns on their first six drives, with Alvin Kamara rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns. The defense's failure to perform effectively is echoed in Trevon Diggs' one-word summation of their performance: "Unacceptable."
Further exacerbating the Cowboys' defensive struggles is the injury to Mazi Smith, who left the practice field on Wednesday with a back issue and subsequently missed Thursday's practice. Smith's absence could weaken the Cowboys' front line, making it even more crucial for the rest of the squad to step up.
Bright Spots Amid the Gloom
Despite these challenges, there were some notable performances. Rookie tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets against the Saints, accumulating 43 receiving yards. Dak Prescott acknowledged the effort of Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford, saying, "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends 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."
As the Cowboys prepare for their upcoming clash against the Ravens, the uncertainty surrounding their injured players looms large. The team needs to address their defensive shortcomings and hope for the swift recovery of their key contributors if they are to rebound from their recent defeat and make a strong showing against Baltimore.