Dallas Cowboys Injury Report: Team Loses Justin Durant to Groin Injury
By Shawn Lealos
The Dallas Cowboys head into their week two game with the Tennessee Titans reeling from a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers. However, despite the injuries and free agent losses on the defensive side of the ball, the team’s problems came offensively as the defense played well. With that said, there are still some lingering injuries that have kept the Cowboys defense at less than 100 percent so far in the 2014 NFL season. Here is a look at the injury report for the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans heading into their game.
Dallas Cowboys
The biggest concern for Dallas heading into the 2014 NFL season was their defense. With linebacker Sean Lee missing the entire season thanks to a torn ACL, the Cowboys needed to figure out who would man their linebacker corps, and from the look of their opening game, they made great choices. Rolando McClain might prove to be the Cowboys’ biggest addition in the offseason as he tied with Justin Durant for the lead in tackles in the opening game.
However, the bad news is that Durant, who called the plays for Dallas on the defensive side of the ball, fell to a groin injury. He is listed as questionable but he will realistically miss the next three to four weeks of play. As a result, it looks like rookie Anthony Hitchens will move into the starting lineup and start in place of Durant on the weak side. This is not optimal for the rookie to get the start this way, but the only other choice was to move Bruce Carter from strong side to weak side, which is not his best role.
On the good news side of things, defensive tackle Terrell McClain has been upgraded to probable for his high ankle sprain and will play on Sunday, barring any setbacks. His debut will be similar to that of Henry Melton in week one. Melton, who will be a starter on this defense, played as a reserve to help him get up to game speed in the opening game and McClain will do the same when he takes the field for the first time on Sunday. Fellow defensive lineman George Selvie, who is suffering from a shoulder injury, said he will play on Sunday as well.
On the offensive side of the ball, both Tony Romo and Terrance Williams remain listed as probable with their back problems, but both men will play on Sunday. Zack Martin, recovering from a foot injury, was a full participant at practice this week and will play as well.
Tennessee Titans
The biggest injury news for the Tennessee Titans this week came with the loss of linebacker Zach Brown to a torn pectoral muscle. Brown was really making strides for the Titans and looked to be one of their most disruptive defensive players at the time of his injury. Luckily for Tennessee, they have Zaviar Gooden, a very similar player to Brown when it comes to speed and explosiveness, to step in to take his place in the starting lineup.
Starting wide receiver Justin Hunter is on the injury report but he was a full practice on Thursday and will play on Sunday. Safety George Wilson and backup running back Jackie Battle both are listed as questionable with foot and neck injuries respectively.
Injury Report
Cowboys
Probable
- Martin, Zack, G – Foot
- McClain, Terrell, DT - Ankle
- Romo, Tony, QB - Back
- Williams, Terrance, WR - Back
Questionable
- Durant, Justin, LB - Groin
- Edwards, Lavar, DE - Knee
- Selvie, George, DE - Shoulder
- Spencer, Anthony, DE - Knee
- Spillman, C.J., S - Groin
- Weems, Darrion, T - Shoulder
Titans
Probable
- Justin Hunter, WR – Knee
- Charles Whitehurst, QB – finger
Questionable
- Jackie Battle, RB – Neck
- Michael Martin, DT – Hamstring
- George Wilson, S – Foot
Out
- Zach Brown, LB – Shoulder
For more Cowboys news and updates, visit Cowboys Central.
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.
