As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for their crucial Week 3 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, concerns about injuries hover over the team. Following a disheartening loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys are hoping for a turnaround, but the health of several key players remains uncertain.
Injury Concerns Cloud Cowboys' Preparations
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs, both pivotal to the Cowboys' game plan, missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. However, there was a glimmer of hope on Thursday as both players made a limited return to practice. Diggs, though, only participated in stretching exercises and worked primarily with Britt Brown, the Cowboys' director of rehab.
“Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday],” Lamb reassured fans and the media alike.
Diggs, a cornerstone of the Cowboys' secondary, still has an uncertain status for the upcoming game against the Ravens. His performance in practice over the next couple of days will be crucial to determine his availability. The team's head coach, Mike McCarthy, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “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.”
On a more positive note, tight end Jake Ferguson, who missed the Saints game due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, was able to participate in practice in a limited capacity on both Wednesday and Thursday. His potential return could provide a much-needed boost to the team's offense.
“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 noted, highlighting Ferguson’s importance to the squad.
Challenges Ahead for the Cowboys
The Cowboys’ defense was exposed in their loss to the Saints, allowing touchdowns on each of the first six drives. Saints running back Alvin Kamara had a field day, rushing for 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns, underlining the vulnerabilities in the Cowboys' defensive setup. Trevon Diggs aptly described the defensive performance as “unacceptable.”
Adding to their woes, rookie defensive tackle Mazi Smith left the practice field on Wednesday with a back injury and missed Thursday’s practice. This further complicates the Cowboys' defensive preparations against a potent Ravens offense.
Bright Spots Amidst Adversity
Despite the challenges, there were some promising performances, particularly from tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who caught all six of his targets against the Saints, amassing 43 receiving yards. Dak Prescott acknowledged the effort of the young tight ends, saying, “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.”
Ravens Dealing with Injuries Too
The Baltimore Ravens are not without their own injury concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in practice on Thursday due to a neck and concussion injury. Meanwhile, safety Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited fashion after dealing with a back injury, which gives the Ravens hope for their secondary’s strength against the Cowboys.
Both teams will be looking to their medical staff and the players' resilience as they head towards the weekend’s pivotal game. With key players on both sides nursing injuries, the encounter promises to test the depth and adaptability of each roster.
For the Cowboys, the focus will be on tightening their defense and hoping their star players can suit up. A win against the Ravens could set the tone for the remainder of their season and help erase the memory of the demoralizing loss to the Saints.