The 6-6 Dallas Cowboys are in New York today hoping to stay above .500 and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Giants are a 2-10 trainwreck this year but will be more than happy to put a dagger in their division rivals if they have the chance.
Now that we’re in Week 14, those injury reports are getting longer and longer. Some players have already been ruled out and some are still questionable. Here are the reports for both teams:
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Brice Butler (foot) – Questionable
- OT Tyron Smith (back) – Questionable
- OT La’el Collins (back) – Questionable
- DT Maliek Collins (foot) – Questionable
- DL David Irving (concussion) – OUT
- LB Justin Durant (concussion/illness) – OUT
- CB Orlando Scandrick () – OUT
The most news here are two names that are not on this report. Quarterback Dak Prescott’s hand injury, suffered 10 days ago in Washington, did not keep him out of practice this week and he’s good to go for today’s game. Sorry Cooper Rush fans.
Even better, Sean Lee is finally off the report and will be back. Even though Dallas will be without two starters in Irving and Scandrick, Lee’s return more than makes up for it. He’s been out several weeks with a hamstring injury but now Dallas will have all of their top linebackers active.
Tyron Smith and La’el Collins are both expected to play despite their back issues. Collins missed the entire week of practice, which is usually a bad sign for game availability, but he was not ruled out with the other players and reports are that he should get the start.
As mentioned, David Irving and Orlando Scandrick will both be out. Irving’s absence could mean more snaps for rookie Taco Charlton, who had a sack last week, but perhaps also fan-favorite prospect Lewis Neal. At cornerback, it’s already confirmed that Chidobe Awuzie will start with Scandrick out.
New York Giants
- RB Orleans Darkwa (illness) – Questionable
- WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) – Questionable
- OL Justin Pugh (back) – OUT
- OT Chad Wheeler (concussion) – Questionable
- DE Jason Pierre-Paul (finger) – Questionable
- LB B.J. Goodson (ankle) – OUT
- LB Jonathan Casillas (neck/wrist) – OUT
- CB Eli Apple (hip/back) – Questionable
Darkwa has been the Giants’ most effective runner this year, but don’t get your hopes up. He was back at practice Friday and should be good to go for this game. The same goes for top WR Sterling Shepard, who was limited in practice but is expected to play.
Starting right tackle Justin Pugh is out for today and backup Chad Wheeler has been dealing with concussion issues all week. Wheeler did return to practice fully on Friday but is still listed as questionable.
Jason Pierre-Paul missed most of this week’s practice with a finger injury but returned Friday and is more than likely to play. Like most veterans this time of year, Jason might’s had some of those games off for rest anyway.
SIDE NOTE: I’ll admit, I chuckled when I saw JPP and “finger” on the injury report. I’m human; sue me.
Starting linebacker B.J. Goodson and veteran reserve Jonathan Casillas are both ruled out. Rookie Calvin Munson, an undrafted rookie, is listed as Goodson’s backup on the team’s official depth chart. We’ll have to wait and see just how the Giants address a big hole in the middle of their defense.
Starting corner Eli Apple is hurting heading into the game, having missed most of the week’s practice. The Giants will hope that the Cowboys’ passing game remains quiet as it has in the past few weeks.
