The Dallas Cowboys are heading into Week 3 with a mix of determination and uncertainty as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens. The team is grappling with injuries to several key players, a factor that could influence the outcome of the upcoming game.
Injury Concerns Loom Large
Among the notable absentees from Wednesday's practice session were CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs. Lamb was dealing with an ankle issue while Diggs had sustained a foot injury. The two made a limited return to practice on Thursday, injecting a glimmer of hope into the Cowboys' preparations. "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]," said Lamb, indicating a cautious optimism about his participation.
Trevon Diggs' status, however, remains uncertain. Though he was seen participating in stretching exercises, he spent significant time with Britt Brown, the director of rehabilitation. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed a wait-and-see approach: "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."
Jake Ferguson also missed the previous game against the New Orleans Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain. However, he's made limited practice appearances both on Wednesday and Thursday. "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great," said quarterback Dak Prescott, adding that Ferguson could have potentially played the previous week if the stakes had been higher. "He's looked good," Prescott reaffirmed.
McCarthy echoed Prescott's sentiments on Ferguson: "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."
Baltimore's Injury Report
The Ravens are also managing their own injury issues. Nate Wiggins, the rookie cornerback, was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton, who was dealing with a back injury, returned in a limited capacity.
A Tough Game Ahead
The Cowboys' defense will need to tighten up after allowing the Saints to score touchdowns on each of their first six drives in their previous outing. Alvin Kamara had a field day against the Cowboys, rushing for 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Reflecting on the team's defensive lapses, Trevon Diggs simply labeled the performance as "unacceptable."
One bright spot in the loss to the Saints was Luke Schoonmaker, who caught all six of his targets, amassing 43 receiving yards. Despite the solid individual performances, McCarthy acknowledged the contributions of the younger players: "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."
Prescott also highlighted the significance of Ferguson’s presence: "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."
Adding to the team’s injury woes, Mazi Smith left practice on Wednesday with a back injury and subsequently missed Thursday’s session. His availability for the Ravens game is another question mark that the Cowboys will have to address.
With a mix of returning players and those still on the mend, the Cowboys face a challenging test this weekend. As McCarthy and his team keep a close eye on their injury list, the focus remains on making necessary adjustments and coming out stronger against a competitive Ravens squad.