The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders will enter their Week 4 divisional showdown on Sunday with largely healthy units for the first time since preseason. Both teams updated their official injury reports this week ahead of their October 2 contest at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
The Cowboys report that only one player could not participate in team practice this week, and that was quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott fractured a bone in the thumb of his throwing hand in Week 1 that required surgery.
Prescott is hoping to defy the odds and may be able to return to practice next week. Shortly after Prescott had surgery, the team announced that he may be available by Week 5 rather than miss the six-to-eight weeks initially reported.
The Cowboys said that Prescott had the stitches removed from his hand on Monday and is working through swelling and doing exercises to regain his grip strength. Cooper Rush will get the start on Sunday against Washington.
Last week, Cowboys fans finally got to see how offensive linesman Jason Peters could fill in, and the results were eye-popping. On his very first play, Peters set an inside block that freed Tony Pollard for a 47-yard scamper to the one-yard line. The run was by far the longest this season by any running back in Dallas.
In addition to having Peters available Sunday against the Commanders, guard Connor McGovern may be able to suit up, giving offensive coordinator Kellen Moore a better set of chess pieces to play with.
The Cowboys offense is also likely to see receiver Michael Gallup take the field for the first time in 2022. Gallup suffered a torn ACL last season and has been working through the injury since.
While Gallup has been unavailable, Noah Brown has stepped up and has become one of Rush’s most reliable targets. It is also likely that tight end Dalton Schultz will be available for the game after missing time with a knee injury.
On defense, the Cowboys anticipate that Demarcus Lawrence will play after dealing with a foot injury this week. Also likely for Sunday is Jayron Kearse, who suffered a knee injury in Week 1. Kearse and Lawrence were both listed as limited participants this week.
Linebacker Micah Parsons played last week with cold-like symptoms and was visibly not at his peak. Parsons said this week that he is fully recovered and ready to face the Commanders.
The Washington Commanders are in similarly good shape heading into Week 4. Guard Wes Schweitzer was unable to participate in practice this week as he is dealing with the results of a concussion suffered last week. Schweitzer will not play against the Cowboys, leaving Nick Martin as the most likely option at center.
Further complicating the plans on offense, tackle Charles Leno Jr. has been limited in practice this week, a key spot the Commanders will need to address when facing Micah Parsons, Dorance Armstrong, and Leighton Vander Esch.
There are no reports at this time about injuries that will leave players as a game-time decision on either side.
