The Dallas Cowboys officially ruled left tackle Tyron Smith and tight end Blake Jarwin out for Sunday’s contest at AT&T Stadium to face the Denver Broncos. Smith suffered an ankle injury against the New England Patriots and re-aggravated the injury last Sunday against the Vikings. Jarwin is recuperating from a hip injury suffered in the same game.
With Jarwin out, Dalton Schultz will continue to get work. Schultz has been a top target in the passing game this season. Schultz has at least two receptions in every Cowboys game this season and is on-track for career numbers. Jarwin has only caught more than two passes twice this season, and those were in weeks one and two.
The situation with replacing Smith is a little more complicated. The obvious answer is La’el Collins who was active last week for the first time since receiving a five-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Ty Nsekhe has gotten the most work at the position this season and came in to relieve Smith during both the Patriots and Vikings games.
There is also a possibility that Collins could take the right tackle position which he normally plays and Terence Steele, who has started in place of Collins for five weeks. Steele has performed admirably in the spot, allowing zero sacks and providing opportunities for the running game.
This last solution is the one Dak Prescott thinks will happen. The star quarterback did not play last week to rehab a calf strain Prescott injured on the last play of the OT win in New England. Clarence Hill Jr., the Cowboys beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweeted that Prescott said Collins would start at right and Steele at left.
That contradicts a statement from head coach Mike McCarthy on Wednesday. McCarthy said that he would rather the Broncos find out when they find out, indicating the decision may be gametime.
Prescott is fully expected to start this week after participating in practice. His choice of receivers may be somewhat depleted, however with the news that both Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are questionable for Sunday. Lamb suffered an ankle strain or sprain in practice on Wednesday, while Cooper is suffering from a hamstring injury.
While that news is problematic, it’s possible that Week 9 might see the return of Michael Gallup who has been out since suffering a calf strain in Week 1. Cedrick Wilson has started in place of Gallup for two games with mixed results. He has 17 receptions in seven games, but nabbed a 73-yard catch and run last week for the Cowboys longest reception of the season.
Emerging star cornerback Trevon Diggs was not on the injury report, boding well for the Cowboys defense. Diggs has seven interceptions in six games. The Vikings targeted Diggs on seven passes last week, connecting on five with no interceptions. It was the most receptions Diggs has allowed all season.
The Cowboys will face a Denver team that had a rebound win last week after losing four in a row, then shocked the NFL by trading away legendary pass rusher Von Miller to the LA Rams. The Cowboys have a commanding lead of the NFC East at 6-1 while the Broncos are battling for sole possession of third place in the AFC West at 4-4 and tied with the Kansas City Chiefs.
