Dallas Cowboys Prepare Amid Injury Concerns
As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for their Week 3 clash against the formidable Baltimore Ravens, injury concerns loom large over the team. The Cowboys are coming off a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, a game in which defensive lapses were glaringly evident, allowing the Saints to score touchdowns on each of their first six drives.
CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs, both vital cogs in the Cowboys' lineup, missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Fortunately for Dallas, Thursday saw a limited return for both players. Though Diggs participated in stretching sessions and worked closely with the director of rehab, Britt Brown, his performance against Baltimore remains uncertain.
Lamb appeared optimistic about his recovery, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]." The team hopes that both players can shake off their ailments and contribute significantly on the field.
Another critical player, Jake Ferguson, missed the game against the Saints due to a bone bruise and an MCL sprain. The tight end practiced in a limited capacity on both Wednesday and Thursday and is working towards making a comeback. Quarterback Dak Prescott expressed confidence in Ferguson's recovery, saying, "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great. He looked great last week... he's obviously been out there. He's looked good."
Head coach Mike McCarthy also weighed in on Ferguson's condition, noting, "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." Ferguson’s presence on the field could offer a significant boost to the Cowboys' offensive strategy.
However, Ferguson's potential availability is tempered by the uncertainty surrounding rookie Mazi Smith, who left the practice field on Wednesday with a back injury and missed sessions on Thursday. Smith’s absence could complicate things further for the Cowboys defense, which recently struggled mightily against Alvin Kamara, who rushed for 115 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with their own set of injuries. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in practice on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited fashion following a back injury, but his full participation remains to be seen.
Despite the injury issues, the Cowboys have shown glimmers of hope. Luke Schoonmaker, a key part of the offensive lineup, caught all six of his targets against the Saints, amassing 43 receiving yards. Dak Prescott praised the young tight ends, including Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford, for stepping up in Ferguson's absence. "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."
Trevon Diggs minced no words when describing the defensive lapses against the Saints as "unacceptable." The team will have to tighten their defense to stand a chance against a dynamic Ravens offense. McCarthy further added, "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."
As the Cowboys prepare for Sunday, the team’s resilience will be put to the test. With multiple key players nursing injuries, the challenge ahead is steep. The Cowboys' ability to adapt and overcome these hurdles will be crucial in their quest to secure a victory against the Ravens.