Injury Report: Cowboys Three Best Offensive Players Injured Heading Into Week 3
By Shawn S. Lealos
After the first week of the 2015 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys knew that things would be tough after losing starting wide receiver and All-Pro Dez Bryant for two months. After Week 2, all hope seems gone as they also lost their starting quarterback Tony Romo for the same length of time. By the time the two players return, 12 games will be passed and it may be too late for the Cowboys to recover from those losses. Here is a look at the Dallas Cowboys injury report as they head into a battle with fellow unbeaten NFC team, the Atlanta Falcons.
Dez Bryant is still out of action after his foot surgery, and initial reports still have him returning in Week 11, at the earliest. However, there are a lot of concerns surrounding Bryant and his foot injury. Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons, who the Cowboys play on Sunday, already spoke out about the injury and compared it to the injury suffered a couple of years ago by Julio Jones. The Falcons ended up shutting down Jones for the rest of the season. Don't tell that the Bryant though, who has said that he will be back sooner than the press seems to believe.
The biggest loss, however, is that of quarterback Tony Romo. Even without Bryant in the lineup, Romo led the Cowboys back from behind to beat the New York Giants in Week 1 and had a comfortable lead over the Philadelphia Eagles until his injury in Week 2. Romo broke his collarbone on a sack, but won't have to undergo surgery on the shoulder. Despite this, Dallas placed him on the Injured Reserve-Likely to Return list, which means he is out until Week 12, and can't come back before that. Dallas just has to hope that Brandon Weeden will keep them competitive until Romo's return or they could end up losing this season.
Another huge injury is to tight end Jason Witten. Without Romo and Bryant, Witten is the best player on this offense, but he has two sprained ankles and a sprained knee. Despite the injuries, he has practiced all week and said that he will play on Sunday and won't miss the game. If he is out, Gavin Escobar will step in to start in his place and James Hanna is ready to return from his knee injury as well. Also returning this week is Ronald Leary, who was out with a groin injury, but claims he is about 100 percent.
Rookie defensive end Randy Gregory is still out with his ankle injury and won't be back for a few more weeks. Jeremy Mincey, the starter on the other side of the line, has missed practice this week due to a concussion, and the Cowboys ruled him out on Friday, limiting them on the defensive line. One player who won't be back at all this season is reserve defensive tackle Terrell McClain, who was lost for the season with a toe injury, heading to the Injured Reserve this week.
Probable:
James Hanna, Tight End (Knee)
Kyle Wilber, Linebacker (Hamstring)
Jason Witten, Tight End (Ankle/Knee)
Ryan Russell, Defensive End (Groin)
Questionable:
Ronald Leary, Offensive Guard (Groin)
Doubtful:
None
Out:
Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver (Foot)
Randy Gregory, Defensive End (Ankle)
Jeremy Mincey, Defensive End (Concussion)
Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.