As the Dallas Cowboys brace for their Week 3 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, injuries and performance issues loom large over the team. Having suffered a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, where they allowed touchdowns on the Saints' first six drives, the Cowboys are scrambling to prepare for the Ravens amid multiple injuries to key players.
Injury Report: Key Players in Question
CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs, two critical components of the Cowboys' game plan, missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. On Thursday, both made a limited return to practice. Lamb commented on his recovery, saying, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]." However, Trevon Diggs' status remains uncertain as he participated in stretching only and worked with the team’s director of rehab, Britt Brown.
The situation surrounding Jake Ferguson is equally precarious. The tight end missed the game against the Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, but practiced in a limited capacity on both Wednesday and Thursday. Head Coach Mike McCarthy expressed hope for Ferguson's return, 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." Quarterback Dak Prescott echoed this sentiment: "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."
Ravens’ Injuries Add Complexity
The Ravens are not without their own injury concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a neck/concussion issue. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited role following a back injury, adding further complexity to the Ravens' defensive configuration ahead of the game.
Performance Woes and Defensive Lapses
The Cowboys' defense faces scrutiny after allowing Saints running back Alvin Kamara to rush for 115 yards and score three touchdowns in their previous matchup. Trevon Diggs succinctly described the defensive performance against the Saints as "Unacceptable." With the Ravens' offensive prowess, the Cowboys will need to address these lapses quickly.
Despite the defensive struggles, some positives emerged from the Saints game. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets, accumulating 43 receiving yards. Prescott praised the young tight ends, saying, "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."
Next Man Up Mentality
With the injury list growing, the Cowboys must adopt a "next man up" mentality. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith's back injury, which forced him to leave practice on Wednesday and miss Thursday's session, further depletes an already strained roster. McCarthy articulated a cautious strategy for evaluating player readiness: "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."
The Cowboys' ability to adapt and respond to these challenges will be crucial as they face the Ravens, who are also dealing with their own set of injuries. This game promises to test the resilience and depth of both teams. One thing is certain: the Cowboys cannot afford a repeat of their defensive lapses if they hope to come out with a victory.