The Dallas Cowboys are facing significant challenges as they prepare for their Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Coming off a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, where they allowed touchdowns on each of the first six drives, the Cowboys will need to address both offensive and defensive concerns.
Injury Woes for Key Players
CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs have been dealing with injuries, with both stars having missed practice on Wednesday. Lamb's ankle and Diggs' foot injuries kept them off the field, although they made a limited return on Thursday. Lamb was optimistic about his recovery, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]".
Diggs participated in stretching exercises but was primarily under the watchful eye of rehab director Britt Brown. His performance in the upcoming game remains uncertain.
Adding to the Cowboys' concerns, Jake Ferguson is nursing a bone bruise and MCL sprain, which sidelined him for the game against the Saints. He practiced in a limited capacity on both Wednesday and Thursday. Despite these setbacks, quarterback Dak Prescott remains hopeful about Ferguson's return, praising his impact, "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".
Presidential Play and Defensive Struggles
Against the Saints, Dallas struggled mightily, particularly on the defensive end. Alvin Kamara ran riot, rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Trevon Diggs labeled the defensive lapses as "unacceptable," reflecting a sentiment that resonated throughout the locker room.
Head coach Mike McCarthy echoed the frustration while looking for silver linings in the performance of younger players. Luke Schoonmaker had a standout game, catching all six of his targets for 43 yards. McCarthy addressed the team's defensive lapses and the contributions of young players, "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".
Ravens Battling Injuries Too
The Baltimore Ravens are also dealing with their share of injury troubles. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury, while Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited capacity following a back injury.
As both teams grapple with their respective injury concerns, the Cowboys' upcoming game against the Ravens looms large. The health and availability of players like CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs, and Jake Ferguson could significantly influence the outcome.
McCarthy remains cautiously optimistic about the team's prospects, indicating that the evaluation process would be ongoing, "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".
For the Cowboys, this week is not just about physical readiness but also mental toughness and cohesion as a team. While their loss to the Saints exposed some vulnerabilities, it also highlighted areas where they can improve and rally together.