The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their Week 3 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. As the team hones its playbook, several key injuries loom over their preparations. Last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints exposed a Cowboys defense that was unable to stymie the Saints' offensive onslaught, allowing touchdowns on each of New Orleans' first six drives—an outcome cornerback Trevon Diggs described as "Unacceptable."
Injury Report
CeeDee Lamb, a pivotal player for the Cowboys, did not take part in Wednesday's practice due to a sore ankle. However, Lamb reassured fans and coaches alike that "the ankle is cool" after taking a day off. He returned to limited practice on Thursday, alongside Diggs, who missed time due to a foot injury. Diggs did participate in stretching but then worked under the supervision of the director of rehab, Britt Brown. His availability for Sunday’s game remains uncertain.
Adding to the Cowboys' injury woes, tight end Jake Ferguson sat out the Saints game owing to a bone bruise and MCL sprain. Limited practice participation on both Wednesday and Thursday provides hope for his return. Quarterback Dak Prescott showered Ferguson with praise, stating, "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."
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy expressed cautious optimism about Ferguson's progress: "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." McCarthy later added, "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."
Rookie Mazi Smith also exited Wednesday’s practice with a back ailment and was unable to practice on Thursday. His status is currently day-to-day, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already injury-hit roster.
On the opposing side, the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with their own injury concerns. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury. Kyle Hamilton, another vital piece of the Ravens' defense, made a limited return to practice following a back injury.
Defensive Shortcomings and Offensive Potential
The Cowboys’ defensive lapses allowed Saints running back Alvin Kamara to have a field day on Sunday, rushing for 115 yards and securing three touchdowns. This glaring weakness in the Cowboys' defense will be under scrutiny as they prepare to face a formidable Ravens offense.
Despite the disappointing loss, there were bright spots on the offensive end. Luke Schoonmaker was notably efficient, catching all six of his targets for a total of 43 receiving yards. Prescott acknowledged the efforts of his squad's tight ends: "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 team’s ability to integrate both seasoned and rookie players will be critical as they aim to rebound from their recent loss. As they prepare to host the Ravens, the Cowboys' focus will undoubtedly be on tightening their defense and ensuring that their key players are game-ready.