The Cowboys’ first injury report of the week brought two fresh names into the mix, but neither one was a major surprise. Ahead of Sunday’s Week 3 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas listed Cobie Durant, Malik Hooker, P.J. Locke, DeMarvion Overshown and James Houston.
Locke and Durant are the new additions from last week, though both were already known to be working through injuries. The bigger question was what Brian Schottenheimer had to say about the group, and the head coach offered a clearer picture on four of the players on that list.
Overshown is still working back from the hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener against the New York Giants, the one that forced him out early. Schottenheimer said he’s making progress, but he also labeled him a “low probability” to suit up against Baltimore, per Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. If Overshown sits again, Jaishawn Barham will make another start and handle the green dot alongside Dee Winters.
Barham made a strong impression in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders, finishing with seven tackles, including one for loss, and forcing a fumble. If that level of play sticks, the Cowboys may have a decision to make when Overshown gets back - Barham could be the one holding onto a starting job next to him instead of Winters.
Locke’s situation has also shifted in a positive direction. He picked up plantar fasciitis in the Week 2 win and had been in a walking boot, with Schottenheimer previously saying the team expected him to miss time.
On Wednesday, though, Schottenheimer said Locke has already shed the boot, which is a good sign for a quicker return. Stephen Jones also said he does not expect Locke to go on injured reserve, and that recovery could come within four weeks.
Durant’s injury scare turned out to be less severe than initially feared. After getting stepped on by a teammate, he was dealing with a hamstring issue, and there was early concern it might involve his family jewels.
Durant has since said that is not the case. Schottenheimer said Durant did rehab work at practice Wednesday, and Stephen Jones also indicated he isn’t likely headed to injured reserve.
In other words, the Cowboys don’t seem to think this will be a long absence. That matters, because Durant has been Dallas’ best cornerback since the offseason.
If he can’t go, Shavon Revel would step into the lineup.
Hooker, meanwhile, is still in the rehab phase after suffering a fractured forearm. Schottenheimer’s update on him was brief, and there wasn’t much else to take from it. The original expectation was that Hooker would miss a few weeks after surgery, and with the team now in Week 2 of that timeline, a return this week does not appear to be in the cards.
In Other News...
Jerry Jones Pushes Back As Cowboys Get Pulled Into NFL Debate
Jerry Jones is not buying the idea that the NFL is anywhere close to planting a permanent flag overseas, even as the league keeps leaning harder into its international push. The Cowboys owner said an international expansion team feels like a long way off, pushing back on the notion that Europe is ready to house an NFL franchise anytime soon.
Still, Jones was not dismissing the leagues global ambitions outright. The Cowboys are headed to Brazil for the NFLs first game in Rio de Janeiro, another sign of how far the sport has stretched beyond U.S. borders, and Jones acknowledged the complications that come with taking games abroad while still supporting the effort to grow the league. Roger Goodell has made clear he sees international teams as inevitable, with London viewed as the likeliest landing spot, leaving one of the NFLs most influential owners on the skeptical side of a debate that is only getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Real Problem Ahead Of Rio Showdown With Cowboys
The NFLs first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro is set to bring the Cowboys and Ravens to Maracan Stadium on Sept. 27, but the buildup has already taken on an unusual tone because of the playing surface. Heavy rain, heat and a packed soccer calendar have left the grass in poor condition, creating the kind of backdrop that can alter how a game unfolds before either team takes a snap.
For Dallas, the setting adds another layer to an early-season matchup that already matters, since both clubs enter at 1-1. The league plans to move ahead anyway, and the field is expected to be part of the story in a game that could look and feel very different from a typical September Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Face An Unusual Early Test Before Ravens Showdown
The Cowboys are heading into an unusual early-season routine this week, one that starts with work in Frisco and ends with a trip to Rio de Janeiro for their Week 3 meeting with the Ravens at Maracan Stadium. It will be Dallas first regular-season International Series game since 2014, giving the team a rare overseas backdrop for a game that already carries plenty of attention.
Dallas is scheduled to practice at home before departing Thursday night, then go through a light session in Rio before the matchup. After the game, the Cowboys are set to return to Fort Worth on Monday morning, so the challenge is not just Baltimore on the field but managing a long road trip wrapped around one of the leagues most unusual showcase weekends. [Read more 🡒]