Injury Report: Cowboys Missing Key Offensive Players Heading Into Packers Game
By Shawn Lealos
It seems almost miraculous that the Dallas Cowboys head into their game in Week 6 with the Green Bay Packers with a 4-1 record and a three-game winning streak. The Cowboys have done this thanks to the impressive play by a rookie quarterback in Dak Prescott, a rookie running back in Ezekiel Elliott, and no true number one wide receiver in the lineup. Last year's Opening Day starting quarterback, running back and wide receiver are all injured, and of them, only Dez Bryant has played any snaps this season so far.
Tony Romo suffered a compression fracture in his back in the preseason. After his injury last season, Dallas put him on the injured reserve and then couldn't win a game with their backup quarterbacks. This season, they are not only winning with a rookie from Mississippi State, but they rank only second to the Atlanta Falcons in total offense.
According to Jerry Jones this week, Tony Romo's back is now healed up but he has yet to return to practice. Until Romo is back at practice, Prescott will remain the Cowboys' starting quarterback and the rookie seems fine with that.
"This is Tony's team," Prescott said on Wednesday. "I knew that going into the situation. I think everybody knew that. I'm just trying to do the best I can to give my team a chance to win week in and week out."
The second major injury is wide receiver Dez Bryant. After holding out and signing a big contract extension before last season, Dez Bryant has only played in parts of 12 games in 2015 and 2016. He missed most of the 2015 NFL season with a broken foot and has been out since Week 3 this season with a hairline fracture below his left knee.
The good news is that Bryant was back at Cowboys practice on Wednesday this week and there is a chance he could return to play the Green Bay Packers. It was just two years ago that Bryant caught what looked like a huge pass in the playoffs that could have put the Cowboys in the position to beat Green Bay, only to have a controversial call reverse the reception. If Bryant does not play this week, Brice Butler will start in his place again.
Darren McFadden spent most of his career injury-prone but went two seasons without an injury, including his first season in Dallas last year. He opened this season shelved with an elbow injury.
In his absence, rookie Ezekiel Elliott has run for 546 yards and five touchdowns and newcomer Alfred Morris has chipped in 128 yards and two touchdowns. McFadden's return is still in question, but he likely won't play a role in the offense even when he is healthy again. Third down back Lance Dunbar will also miss another game with a knee injury.
A more discouraging injury is that of left tackle Tyron Smith. Banged up early in the season, the Pro Bowl offensive lineman has missed games this season but returned to practice on Friday. There is hope he can play on Sunday, but if he can't Doug Free would play his position, Zack Martin will move over to play Free's position on the right side of the line and Joe Looney will start at right guard.
Cornerback Orlando Scandrick has only played two games this season so far due to an injured hamstring, and in his absence, Morris Claiborne has flourished. However, Claiborne showed up on the Cowboys injury report this week with a sprained ankle suffered in practice on Wednesday. Head coach Jason Garrett said it is not serious. The Cowboys need him against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers since Scandrick is missing another game.
Check out the Cowboys complete NFL Week 6 injury report below.
Questionable
- Dez Bryant, WR (knee)
- Morris Claiborne, CB (ankle)
- Orlando Scandrick, CB (hamstring)
- Lance Dunbar, RB (knee)
- Tyron Smith, OT (back)
- Chaz Green, OL (foot)
- David Irving, DL (groin)
Out
- Tony Romo, QB (back)
- Darren McFadden, RB (elbow)
