The Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles released updated injury reports ahead of the teams’ Sunday Night Football clash. The Eagles are the only NFC team yet to face the Cowboys and are the NFL’s only unbeaten team. At 4-1, the Cowboys are doing things that no Dallas team has done in five decades, winning games behind a career backup quarterback who came into Week 2 as a starter with practically no experience.
One of the biggest injury storylines this season has been the Bennett fracture quarterback Dak Prescott suffered against Tampa Bay in Week 1. Prescott and team owner Jerry Jones had hoped that the star QB would be ready to go by this week’s match-up, but it is all but certain that Cooper Rush will get his fifth consecutive start. Prescott resumed light throwing in practice this week but has yet to begin fully testing his grip strength on the football.
The biggest news on the Cowboys’ injury hit list this week is the fact that linebacker Micah Parsons and defensive tackle Demarcus Lawrence were both listed as non-participants in practice. Parsons suffered a groin injury against the Rams last week but battled through the injury to return to the game. He recorded two sacks and a strip-sack that ended the game, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the process. Parsons has six sacks to lead the Cowboys and is the most dangerous player on the field at any time.
Lawrence is benefiting from a defensive scheme by coordinator Dan Quinn that lets the fast and physical defensive line use stunts to create confusion, allowing not just Parsons, but Quinton Bohanna, Neville Gallimore, Osa Odighizuwa, and other members of the ‘Animal House’ to get into the backfield, blowing up run plays and forcing quarterbacks to make difficult throws as they run for their lives.
The Eagles are likely to be near full strength when the Cowboys show up at Lincoln Financial Field. The team did not list any players as unable to practice and even gave several big-time players a day off Thursday including cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradbury, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, and wide receiver A.J. Brown. Cornerback Josh Jobe was listed as DNP for Wednesday’s practice.
Three Eagles’ offensive line players are battling ankle injuries that have not prevented their participation in recent games. This includes center Jason Kelce, guard Isaac Seumalo, and tackle Jordan Mailata. All three are expected to play Sunday.
The Cowboys’ offensive line should see Jason Peters lining up against his former team. Peters is battling a chest injury that kept him out of last week’s game. He was replaced by Connor McGovern, who performed well in protecting Cooper Rush. Rush was sacked three times in the game against the Rams.
Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz is continuing to battle a nagging knee injury but was a limited participant in practice this week. Rush will have a full complement of healthy receivers this week in CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Noah Brown, who has exploded on the scene with Rush at QB.
The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Dallas Cowboys for Sunday Night Football with the game kicking off at 7:20 p.m. CDT. It will be the third of five Prime Time appearances for the Cowboys this season.   Â
