The Dallas Cowboys are facing significant challenges as they prepare for their Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens. After a disheartening loss to the New Orleans Saints, where the Cowboys allowed six touchdowns on the first six drives, the team is grappling with injuries to key players.
Injury Concerns
Among the injured are star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and cornerback Trevon Diggs. Lamb, dealing with an ankle injury, missed practice on Wednesday but made a limited return on Thursday. “Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday],” Lamb remarked about his injury status.
Similarly, Trevon Diggs, suffering from a foot injury, left concerns about his availability for the upcoming game. Despite participating in stretching, he worked with the director of rehab, Britt Brown, rather than integrating fully into practice. Head Coach Mike McCarthy commented on Diggs' condition, saying, "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."
Adding to the list of worries, tight end Jake Ferguson, who sustained a bone bruise and MCL sprain, was a limited participant in practices on both Wednesday and Thursday. His absence was felt in the Saints game, however, quarterback Dak Prescott remains optimistic. "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 said.
Prescott's sentiment was mirrored by McCarthy, who underscored Ferguson's role beyond just his on-field contributions: "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."
Challenges Ahead
The Cowboys' defense encounters additional hurdles, with Mazi Smith departing practice on Wednesday due to a back injury and consequently missing Thursday's session. This development comes on the heels of an already bruised defense that struggled significantly against the Saints, allowing Alvin Kamara to rush for 115 yards and score three touchdowns.
Reflecting on the defensive collapse, Diggs didn’t mince words, labeling the performance as "unacceptable." The urgency to rectify these defensive lapses has become paramount as they face a Ravens team eager to capitalize on any weaknesses.
Ravens' Injury Report
The Baltimore Ravens also face their share of injury woes. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited capacity following a back injury, adding another question mark to their defensive setup.
Stepping Up
Despite the avalanche of injuries, there were some bright spots for the Cowboys. Luke Schoonmaker, stepping up in Ferguson’s absence, caught all six of his targets against the Saints, amassing 43 receiving yards. Prescott praised both Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford: "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."
With pivotal players still uncertain for the Ravens matchup, the Cowboys are in a race against time to address their defensive woes and prepare their roster for the challenges ahead. The resilience of both the players and coaching staff will be tested as they aim to clinch a victory in Week 3 and set the tone for the rest of the season.