The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a crucial Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, but they face significant injury concerns among key players. The team's preparation has been hampered by the absence of several pivotal contributors, leading to uncertainty about their readiness for the upcoming game.
Injury Woes Plague Cowboys
The Cowboys find themselves in a challenging situation as they look to rebound from a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints. In that game, Dallas's defense allowed the Saints to score touchdowns on each of their first six drives, with Alvin Kamara rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Reflecting on the defensive lapses, Trevon Diggs succinctly described the performance as "unacceptable."
Adding to the woes, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs both missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Although they made limited returns to practice on Thursday, questions linger about their full readiness for the Ravens matchup. Lamb remained optimistic about his condition, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]."
Diggs' participation was restricted to stretching while working under the supervision of director of rehab Britt Brown, leaving his performance against Baltimore uncertain. The team's head coach, Mike McCarthy, sounded a hopeful note, explaining, "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."
Offensive Firepower in Question
The Cowboys' offensive lineup may also be missing some key elements. Tight end Jake Ferguson, who missed the game against the Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, has been practicing in a limited capacity. Dak Prescott praised Ferguson's contributions, highlighting his importance to the team: "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 echoed Prescott's sentiments, explaining that Ferguson could have potentially played in a more critical situation last week. "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," Prescott added.
With Ferguson on a limited schedule, other tight ends like Luke Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford have stepped up. Schoonmaker had a notable performance against the Saints, catching all six targets for 43 receiving yards. Prescott commended their efforts, 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."
Ravens Also Dealing with Injuries
The Cowboys are not the only team dealing with injury woes as the Ravens have their own concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in practice on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton made a limited return to practice after a back injury sidelined him.
Looking Ahead to Week 3
The upcoming game against the Ravens is crucial for the Cowboys as they seek to get their season back on track. Injuries will undoubtedly play a significant role in determining the outcome, but the team remains optimistic. The performances of players like Lamb, Diggs, and Ferguson could very well dictate the direction of the game.
As Dallas prepares, all eyes will be on the practice field, where the status of these key players will be closely monitored. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see if the Cowboys can overcome their injury challenges and deliver a strong performance against a formidable Ravens squad.