The Dallas Cowboys are staring down a pivotal NFC showdown on Sunday night, hosting the Minnesota Vikings in a game that could carry major playoff implications. At 6-6-1, head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s squad is looking to rebound from a tough Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions - a game that raised more questions than answers, especially on both sides of the ball.
The focus this week has been on health - and whether key pieces will be available when the lights come on at AT&T Stadium. Let’s start with the biggest name in the mix: cornerback Trevon Diggs. He's been working his way back during a ramp-up period, and while the Cowboys have labeled him as questionable, Diggs himself isn't leaving much room for doubt.
“Yeah,” Diggs said when asked if he’s ready to go. And when pressed further about whether he expects to play, he doubled down: “Yeah.”
That’s about as confident as it gets. The All-Pro corner has been limited in practice all week with a knee issue, but his self-assurance suggests he’s pushing to suit up. Whether the Cowboys’ medical staff clears him is another matter, but from Diggs’ perspective, he’s ready to lock in on Sunday night.
Joining him on the injury report are tight end Jake Ferguson and veteran pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney - both listed as questionable. Ferguson tweaked his calf in practice, and while it’s not considered serious, Schottenheimer hinted that it could come down to a game-time decision.
If Ferguson can’t go, Dallas will lean on depth at the position, with Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker, and Princeton Fant expected to step into larger roles. That trio doesn’t have Ferguson’s chemistry with Dak Prescott, but they’re capable of filling in if needed.
Clowney, meanwhile, is still battling a hamstring issue that forced him to miss last week’s game. He’s also a game-time decision, and Schottenheimer didn’t sound overly optimistic, saying Clowney hasn’t quite cleared the final hurdle. If he’s out again, it would be a second straight absence for a defense that could use his edge-setting presence, especially against a Vikings offense that likes to test the perimeter.
The biggest blow, though, is on the offensive line. Left guard Tyler Guyton has officially been ruled out with an ankle sprain.
Schottenheimer described the injury as “tricky” - especially for a 320-plus pound lineman who relies on leverage and lower-body power. That’s a tough loss in the trenches, where Dallas will need to be stout against a Vikings front that’s been quietly disruptive this season.
So where does that leave the Cowboys heading into Sunday night? Still favored by a touchdown at home, but with several key players in limbo.
Diggs says he’s ready, Ferguson and Clowney are question marks, and Guyton is out. That’s a lot of moving parts for a team trying to stay in the playoff hunt.
The good news? If Diggs does play, his return could be a major boost to a secondary that’s been stretched thin.
And even if Ferguson can’t go, the Cowboys have enough depth to patch things together for a night. But make no mistake - this is a team walking a fine line between contender and question mark.
Sunday night could go a long way in showing which side they land on.