The Cowboys’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals already stung. Blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter would have been bad enough on its own. But Dallas also came out of the game with a battered defense, and Monday’s injury update made the situation look even rougher.
The biggest concern is rookie OLB Malachi Lawrence, who Brian Schottenheimer said could miss a few weeks with an ankle injury. Lawrence’s setback was more serious than the team first believed, and that’s a tough blow for a player who had just worked his way into the starting lineup. The 23rd overall pick out of UCF has 13 tackles and one sack in eight games.
Rookie safety Caleb Downs is also in trouble. He’s in concussion protocol, which puts his Week 9 status in doubt. Downs, the 11th overall pick out of Ohio State, has been one of the key pieces of the Dallas defense this season with 52 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles in eight games.
Dallas has more than one player dealing with head injury concerns, too. The Cowboys also announced that P.J. Locke is in concussion protocol.
Schottenheimer did have a more encouraging note on tight end Jake Ferguson, who injured his ankle in Week 8. Ferguson has a chance to play Sunday despite the injury.
The timing is especially awkward for Downs, who had this Week 9 matchup circled when the schedule came out. The Cowboys are headed to Indianapolis, where his older brother, Josh Downs, plays wide receiver for the Colts. Josh Downs has 30 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown entering Week 9.
Indianapolis has also been active in recent weeks, with Josh Downs having recently requested a trade. The Colts are 2-6 and have been open for business as they look toward the future. They fired general manager Chris Ballard and have traded guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Rumors have also linked running back Jonathan Taylor to a possible move, but for now Dallas is preparing to face Taylor and Josh Downs. The problem is the Cowboys may have to do it with a defense missing some of its newest and most important pieces.
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Cowboys Suddenly Face A Franchise Crossroads After Cardinals Collapse
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George Pickens is part of that larger conversation, along with the rest of a roster that has not found enough consistency to inspire confidence. The uncertainty extends beyond personnel, too, with questions lingering around the coaching staff and whether it has enough traction to steady things. However Dallas chooses to handle the next stretch, the coming days could shape not just the rest of this season but the direction of the franchise itself. [Read more 🡒]