The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, but injury concerns loom large for the team. Coming off a frustrating loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys are looking to bounce back, even as they navigate a spate of injuries to key players.
Injury Woes Continue
CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs were sidelined during Wednesday's practice due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. However, both made limited returns on Thursday, providing a glimmer of hope for Cowboys fans. Lamb seemed optimistic about his condition, stating, “Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday].” Meanwhile, Diggs' situation remains more uncertain, as he participated in stretching but had to work with the director of rehab, Britt Brown. Head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned, "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, who missed the game against the Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, was also a limited participant in both Wednesday and Thursday sessions. McCarthy expressed cautious optimism, “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.” Dak Prescott echoed this sentiment, “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.”
Saints Loss Stings
The pain of the previous loss to the Saints has yet to fade. The Cowboys defense was notably porous, allowing the Saints to score touchdowns on each of their first six drives. Alvin Kamara ran riot, rushing for 115 yards and finding the end zone three times. Reflecting on this defensive collapse, Trevon Diggs didn't mince words: “Unacceptable.”
Despite the disheartening result, there were some bright spots. Luke Schoonmaker was a reliable target, catching all six of his passes for 43 yards. Still, Prescott acknowledged the void left by Ferguson's absence: “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. 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 Their Own Injuries
The Baltimore Ravens are not without their own injury concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion issue. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton made a limited return to practice following a back injury, and their participation against the Cowboys is still up in the air.
Looking Ahead
The Cowboys' practice sessions in the coming days will likely determine the availability of these key players for the game against the Ravens. The team is undoubtedly eager to move past their defensive debacle and put forth a stronger showing against Baltimore. Their success will hinge significantly on the health and readiness of players like Lamb, Diggs, and Ferguson, making each practice session critical as they gear up for a challenging Week 3 matchup.