Cowboys Injury Report: Key Starters in Doubt Ahead of Christmas Clash with Commanders
The Dallas Cowboys don’t have much time to lick their wounds after a tough loss to the Chargers. With a Christmas Day showdown against Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders looming, it’s a short week and a long injury list for Dallas - a combination that’s never ideal this late in the season.
Let’s start with the headline: linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is in concussion protocol after going down against the Chargers, and he didn’t practice Monday. On a short week, that’s a tough hill to climb. The odds of him clearing protocol in time for Christmas Day don’t look great, and that’s a blow for a defense already stretched thin.
Left tackle Tyler Guyton also sat out Monday’s session, and there’s growing concern that his season might be over. If Dallas does decide to shut him down, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise - especially with playoff hopes already out of reach and the team staring down two more games that won’t change their fate.
In total, the Cowboys listed 10 players as limited participants, and several of those names are worth watching closely. Defensive lineman Quinnen Williams is dealing with a neck issue, while running back Javonte Williams - who’s been battling a lingering stinger - also popped up on the report. Javonte didn’t look quite right against Minnesota, and this latest update suggests he’s still not 100%.
Other limited players include Ryan Flournoy (knee), Tyler Booker (ankle), Donovan Wilson (hip), and KaVontae Turpin (shoulder). That’s a lot of contributors dealing with varying degrees of bumps and bruises. On top of that, rookies and rotational players like Phil Mafah, Payton Turner, Josh Butler, and Caelen Carson are still ramping up and were also limited.
The only good news? A few players are trending in the right direction.
T.J. Bass, Shavon Revel Jr., and Nate Thomas were all full participants, which gives Dallas a bit of depth heading into the holiday matchup.
Still, it’s clear that the Cowboys are limping toward the finish line. With Overshown and Quinnen Williams both unlikely to suit up on a short turnaround, and several others questionable, the Cowboys may be forced to lean on younger players and backups just to fill out the rotation.
As for the Commanders, they’ve got their own issues. Quarterback Marcus Mariota didn’t practice due to a hand injury, and defensive standouts Daron Payne and Laremy Tunsil were also DNPs on Monday. So, it’s not just Dallas feeling the wear and tear of a long season.
With both teams out of playoff contention and the injury report growing by the day, this Christmas Day matchup might come down to which team can simply stay upright. For Dallas, it’s a delicate balance between competing and protecting their future - especially with nothing tangible left to play for.
Expect the next couple of days to bring more clarity, but for now, the Cowboys’ injury situation is very much in flux.