The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for a pivotal Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, but the team is grappling with a myriad of injuries to key players. After suffering a demoralizing defeat to the New Orleans Saints, where the Cowboys allowed touchdowns on each of the Saints' first six drives, Dallas is eager to bounce back, albeit in the face of adversity.
Injury Woes for the Cowboys
Standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has been dealing with an ankle injury that sidelined him for Wednesday's practice. Lamb commented on his condition, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]." Fortunately for the Cowboys, Lamb made a limited return to the practice field on Thursday, easing some concerns about his availability for the upcoming game.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs is another critical player nursing injuries, specifically to his foot. Diggs participated lightly in practice on Thursday, focusing more on stretching and working with the director of rehab Britt Brown. Head coach Mike McCarthy remains cautious but hopeful. "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," McCarthy explained.
Despite his limited participation, Diggs' recent comments make it clear that he is frustrated with the team's defensive performance against the Saints, calling it "unacceptable." Whether Diggs will suit up against the Ravens remains uncertain, but his presence would undoubtedly be a morale boost for the struggling defense.
Challenges on Offense
On the offensive front, tight end Jake Ferguson missed last week's game due to a bone bruise and an MCL sprain. However, Ferguson has been able to participate in practices, albeit in a limited capacity. Quarterback Dak Prescott is optimistic about Ferguson's recovery. "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 assured.
McCarthy also reiterated Ferguson's 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 said, highlighting the tight end's physical and emotional impact on the squad.
One bright spot from the previous game against the Saints was the performance of Luke Schoonmaker, who caught all six of his targets for a respectable 43 receiving yards. Prescott praised the young tight ends, including undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford. "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends [Schoonmaker and 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," Prescott said, reflecting on the resilience of the younger players.
Ravens' Injury Concerns
Similar to the Cowboys, the Ravens also have their share of injury issues. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck and concussion injury. In another critical update, Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited fashion after dealing with a back injury. These injuries could impact the Ravens' ability to contain the Cowboys' offense, especially if players like Lamb and Ferguson are able to perform at a high level.
Adding to the Cowboys' injury list, defensive tackle Mazi Smith left practice with a back injury on Wednesday and missed Thursday's session entirely. With each injury, the depth of the Cowboys' roster will be tested against a formidable Ravens team.
As the Cowboys look to rebound from their heavy defeat against the Saints, overcoming these injury hurdles is crucial. Their performance, particularly on defense, needs significant improvement to compete effectively. The upcoming game against the Ravens will undoubtedly test the resilience and depth of the Cowboys' roster as they strive to change their fortunes in Week 3.