The Cowboys’ win over Washington on Sunday came with a price tag, and Brian Schottenheimer spent Monday laying out just how steep it might be.
Dallas already had its season pointed back in the right direction, but the defense took a hit in the first half when Cobie Durant went down with a hamstring injury and P.J. Locke left with a foot issue. Both were quickly ruled out, and Schottenheimer confirmed in his press conference that the injuries are expected to linger.
“Cobie's got the hamstring strain, and P.J. tore the plantar fascia in his foot, so both those guys could be a few weeks ... We haven't finalized any decisions yet (about placing Locke on injured reserve).”
He also clarified that the full tear in Locke’s foot is the better version of the injury.
“That is correct (that a full plantar fascia tear is better than a partial tear). You and I are both learning about doctor stuff.
But yeah, they say it's better. It's pretty sore for a week, and then it begins to heal much quicker when you tear it fully.”
Durant’s injury came just before halftime on a coverage snap in which he helped shut down a last-second shot at the end zone, sticking tight to Terry McLaurin and forcing an incompletion. Locke’s exit was harder to read in the moment, but the scene said plenty: he needed help from multiple staffers to get off the field, and after the game he was seen in a walking boot.
Neither diagnosis sounds like the worst-case scenario, but that doesn’t make the timing any easier for Dallas. The defense is already waiting on Malik Hooker and DeMarvion Overshown, both dealing with injuries of their own. Hooker is recovering from a forearm issue, while Overshown is working back from a hamstring injury.
Schottenheimer said it would be “tough” for either to make it back this Sunday against Baltimore because of the short week, especially with Dallas leaving earlier than usual for the trip to Brazil. Still, he “won't say no,” leaving the door open.
If Hooker and Overshown can’t go, the Cowboys could be staring at a defense missing three starters and another key piece, and that’s a problem with the Ravens coming next.
“Next man up,” Schottenheimer added. “That's real.
I thought we used the elevations well for the linebackers. I think we're working some things potentially on defense, maybe in the secondary.
We've got some guys there that might step up and help us in a couple different roles. But as we get into the plan, I think it's going to be what this league is about, is next man up.”
One name to watch is Shavon Revel, who should step into the lineup with Durant sidelined. The second-year corner showed well after entering the game against Washington, staying glued to Dyami Brown on a deep ball and driving Brown toward the sideline with strong coverage. He also jumped a dig route and nearly came away with an interception.
Pro Football Focus credited Revel with a team-high eight targets. He allowed four catches for 45 yards and added a pass breakup, good for a 67.2 passer rating allowed.
Markquese Bell’s day was more uneven. He wasn’t a disaster overall, but one snap stood out in the first quarter: on third-and-18, he kept retreating past the sticks and left Terry McLaurin sitting comfortably beyond the line to gain for a first down.
Even so, Bell held up against the run and didn’t miss a tackle on five attempts. That part of his game matters most now, especially with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry on deck. Baltimore may not lean on a high-powered passing attack, but Jackson can wreck a game with his legs, and Henry remains as dangerous as any back in football.
Against that kind of pressure, Dallas can’t afford mental lapses. One bad angle, one missed tackle, one assignment blown open can turn into a long gain in a heartbeat. With the defense already thin, the Cowboys need the middle of it to stay sharp, stay disciplined and finish the play.
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