As we get ready for Sunday’s Week 6 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, here’s a quick look at the injury situations for both teams.
The following is based on the teams’ Friday practices:
DNP – Did Not Practice
LP – Limited Participant
Dallas Cowboys
- QB Tony Romo (back) – DNP
- RB Lance Dunbar (knee) – DNP
- WR Dez Bryant (knee) – LP
- OT Tyron Smith (back) – LP
- OT Chaz Green (foot) – DNP
- DT Terrell McClain (arm) – LP
- LB Kyle Wilber (neck) LP
- CB Orlando Scandrick (hamstrings) – DNP
With their bye week coming up after the trip to Lambeau Field, Dallas may be taking some extra precautions with certain players. This is especially true of Dez Bryant, who will force them to make a tough decision if he’s just healthy enough to play this Sunday. Dallas may want him to get the extra rest through the bye so that he can be even stronger, and less likely for re-injury, for the rest of the year.
Tyron Smith played last week despite being limited in practice and is expected to again. With Chaz Green out, Emmett Cleary is the only reserve OT on the roster. However, if Smith or Doug Free were to have problems, it is likely that Zack Martin would move to tackle and veteran Joe Looney would play as a guard.
Terrell McClain’s arm injury is a minor one that occurred during practice and shouldn’t keep him out of the game. Dallas certainly doesn’t want him missing as they try to stop Eddie Lacy and disrupt Aaron Rodgers.
Wilber missed most of the week with his neck but did get in some practice on Friday. He’s been rotating with Andrew Gachkar as the strongside linebacker, and we could also see Justin Durant in the mix when the Cowboys are in their base defense.
Green Bay Packers
- RB Eddie Lacy (ankle) – LP
- RB James Starks (knee) – DNP
- TE Jared Cook (ankle) – DNP
- OG T.J. Lang (hip) – LP
- G/C J.C. Tretter (back) – LP
- CB Sam Shields (concussion) – DNP
- CB Damarious Randall (groin) – LP
- S Chris Banjo (hamstring) – DNP
The big news here is that Sam Shields, the Packers top corner, remains out with concussion issues. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since the season opener and, sadly, there is talk that his career could be in jeopardy.
The Packers’ other starting corner, Randall, has been limited with a groin injury. He is “Questionable” for Sunday and, if absent, would make Dak Prescott’s next big test a fair bit easier.
The Packers only have two RBs on the roster right now and both are on their injury report. They have yet to rule either Lacy or Starks out for Sunday, but Starks missed the entire week of practice. I expect Lacy to play, but we may see the Packers call up a RB off their practice squad sometime today.
Jared Cook has not had the impact in the Packers’ offense that many expected, giving his absence little impact. Richard Rodgers has had the same production in his place.
Though neither is expected to miss Sunday’s game, the Packers starting center and right guard both have nagging issues. This is good news the Cowboys defensive tackles, right now the strength of their line, as they hope to slow down the Green Bay offense.
Give tony a fair chance, Dak has his who career to play
We’re going to have A LOT of Dak/Romo debate coverage during the bye week. Stay tuned, Ernie!