The Dallas Cowboys are facing a crucial Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, with several key players dealing with injuries and the team looking to rebound after a disappointing loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints exploited the Cowboys' defense, scoring touchdowns on their first six drives, with Alvin Kamara rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns. This performance has put the Cowboys' defensive unit under scrutiny.
One of the notable absences during the Cowboys' practice on Wednesday was wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was dealing with an ankle injury. Lamb stated, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]." He managed to make a limited return to practice on Thursday, raising hopes for his availability against the Ravens.
Cornerback Trevon Diggs also missed Wednesday's practice due to a foot injury. On Thursday, Diggs participated in stretching but worked primarily with the team's director of rehab, Britt Brown. His readiness for the game remains uncertain. Reflecting on the defensive lapses against the Saints, Diggs remarked, "Unacceptable."
Adding to the Cowboys' injury concerns is tight end Jake Ferguson, who missed the previous game due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain. Ferguson was a limited participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed optimism, stating, "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 also chimed in on Ferguson's importance to the team, saying, "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."
Another concern for the Cowboys is defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who left the practice field on Wednesday with a back injury and subsequently missed Thursday's practice. The team's defensive front will need to be at its best against a dynamic Ravens offense.
Meanwhile, the Ravens are also dealing with their own injury issues. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, safety Kyle Hamilton is recovering from a back injury and returned to practice in a limited capacity.
Despite the adversity, the Cowboys saw some positives in their recent performances. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets against the Saints, amassing 43 receiving yards. Dak Prescott praised the young tight ends, commenting, "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."
The Cowboys' preparation for their clash with the Ravens is undoubtedly impacted by these injuries. McCarthy shared insight on Trevon Diggs' situation, noting, "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 gear up for a critical game against Baltimore, the health of these key players will be a dominant narrative. The outcome could hinge on the contributions from players stepping up in the absence of their injured teammates and how well the team can rebound from their defensive struggles against the Saints.