The Dallas Cowboys, like many other teams, are dealing with injuries to significant players heading into Week 8. While the franchise quarterback returned last week, Dallas was not able to escape the game without accumulating some new injuries. It’s an unfortunate but expected part of the season. It’s also why quality depth is crucial for any team wanting to make a push into late January.
The Cowboys will have their own depth tested heading into their matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday; a Bears team fresh off a primetime beatdown of the New England Patriots, no less.
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The Dallas Cowboys Face Multiple Key Injuries Heading Into Week 8
The injury report for Friday looks a mile long, with 13 names on the list. With the bye week around the corner, Dallas will be looking to get through this week without adding more to it. Luckily, players like Quinton Bohanna, Jayron Kearse, and newly activated Damone Clark head into the weekend without an injury designation.
Conversely, key players like Ezekiel Elliott, Malik Hooker, and Noah Brown have not practiced all week—never a good sign. Jourdan Lewis was moved to IR this week as well, creating a hole in the starting lineup. While no one has been officially ruled out for Sunday (yet), all the injuries could mean the Dallas Cowboys will need to utilize their roster depth in one way or another on Sunday.
Changes at Slot Cornerback
Jourdan Lewis injured his foot making an interception during last week’s game. The injury is reported to be a Lisfranc fracture, meaning Lewis will be out for the remainder of the season. Lewis has been a cornerstone of this defense, as Coach McCarthy affirmed. His contributions have gone largely unsung, but sometimes the life of a quality corner means not hearing your name called.
While it truly is a blow to the defense, with it comes an opportunity for rookie DaRon Bland. A fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, Bland was an immediate standout at training camp. He took that hype directly into a quality preseason showing. While he has not had much playing time in the regular season, he stepped in during the Washington game and immediately corralled his first career pick.
Daron Bland First Career INT
— Sidelines – FresnoState (@SSN_FresnoState) October 2, 2022
There is little doubt that Bland will continue to see his snap count tick upward in light of Lewis’ injury. If the rookie can keep momentum going forward, he could quickly become a standout contributor. The injury could also mean a bump in playing time for Nashon Wright, who has yet to crack the active lineup this season. He and fellow draftmate Kelvin Joseph have not progressed as quickly as the team would have hoped, though Joseph is finding a quality role on special teams. This could be an opportunity for Wright in particular to solidify a roster spot on this team moving forward.
Running Back Worries
Ezekiel Elliott appears to have a significant knee injury after taking a hard hit in last week’s game. As of Friday, the reports are still unclear regarding his status for Sunday even though he is listed as doubtful. While he hasn’t practiced at all, he has maintained his own intention to play. Likewise, the Cowboys have refrained from ruling him out. Still, unless Elliott gets practice time in on Saturday, the odds are he will be sidelined.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (knee) not expected to play Week 8 vs. Bears, per @TomPelisserohttps://t.co/yi5UFsYMMQ pic.twitter.com/gf1ej9JEx0
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 26, 2022
For his own part, Tony Pollard lacks no confidence in his ability to step into a full-time role if necessary. Pollard has already seen his touches go up over the season with encouraging results. There are still uncertainties regarding how Pollard might handle a full game workload, so this may be the opportunity to see.
Even if Elliott does play, it will undoubtedly be on a regulated snap count. This could mean the elevation of Malik Davis from the practice squad for the game. Davis flashed all throughout preseason, so the coaching staff may want to get a look at him in regular season action this week. Depending on how Saturday goes, what they want may not matter. In Prescott’s absence, the running game was a heavily emphasized portion of the offensive attack. Coaches have claimed this strategy will not waver now that Dak has returned. If Elliott sits or is less featured against the Bears, it will be up to Pollard and the reserves to ensure this gameplan remains viable and effective on Sunday.
Is the Pass Rush in Trouble?
To the shock of many, both Micah Parsons and standout rookie Sam Williams popped up on the injury report Thursday. Parsons was listed as limited, but Williams was a full DNP. While both practiced in limited capacity Friday, both are also listed as questionable.
There should be little doubt that Parsons takes the field on Sunday. Unless catastrophe strikes, there is little that will keep him sidelined. The question is whether he will be compromised against the Bears, and the risk factor of his playing hurt. Rushing the quarterback with a shoulder injury is never an easy thing and can cause lingering issues. Depending on the injury, the Cowboys could decide to give Parsons two weeks of rest with the bye upcoming.
Williams has emerged quickly, adding a stellar performance last week to his early-season highlight reel. His ascension just adds to the plethora of pass rush options Dallas already has. Mike McCarthy did not show much concern regarding his status for Sunday even though he has a questionable designation. As with Parsons, the real question lies in his effectiveness if he is dealing with a knee injury. He only played fourteen snaps last week but ended with two sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovery. If he can continue to make these limited snaps count, he will certainly get more because he jumps off the screen when he makes plays.
Cowboys rookie DE Sam Williams is still nowhere near his developmental ceiling, and that is what excites team most. His 14 defensive snaps in Sunday's win over Lions included his first two career NFL sacks with a body slam (no penalty) in between. pic.twitter.com/ilZevnzBAu
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 24, 2022
Even with injuries, the Dallas Cowboys pass rush is still one of the team’s biggest strengths. Part of what keeps the rush so ferocious is the team’s ability to continuously throw fresh bodies at the opponent. Even if Parsons and Williams were both to miss, there is an abundance of quality rushers on the roster. Tank Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Chauncey Golston all have sacks of their own. The dominant presence of Parsons is always welcome, and Williams has been flashing in key moments as well, but the Dallas Cowboys will be planning on Sunday being a sack party either way.
Looking Ahead
The Dallas Cowboys have to be ready for next week and a chance to heal some of these injuries. The second half of the season features notable games against other NFC leaders like the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants—the latter two being divisional rematches. A chance to recharge and reload the roster will help the team as they begin the fight for the playoffs. This week’s game against the Chicago Bears will be a test of the depth of this team. Yet, if the Dallas Cowboys continue to show they can win games regardless of injuries, their odds and confidence for a late-January push will only continue to rise.
