The Cowboys need a response in the worst way after that overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts suddenly feels like a game they can’t afford to fumble. Dallas sits at 3-5, but the 4-2-1 New York Giants are still hanging around in the NFC East, which only sharpens the pressure.
Health has been part of the problem, and the latest update at least gives Dallas something to work with. According to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys are “hopeful” that George Pickens and Joey Porter Jr. can be available Sunday.
“Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer with some injury updates on @1053thefan: CB Joey Porter Jr. (ankle) and WR George Pickens (hamstring) will be a little bit limited, but 'hopeful' they're able to play Sunday vs. Indianapolis,” Tommy Yarrish shared.
It’s not exactly a lock. Schottenheimer stopped short of saying either player will definitely suit up, and both are still questionable. But being described as “hopeful” is better than hearing either name ruled out, especially with the final injury report still to come.
That uncertainty matters even more because the Cowboys can’t really treat any game lightly right now. A loss to the Colts would be a major setback after what happened against Arizona.
Pickens and Porter are tied together in more ways than one. Both came through the Pittsburgh Steelers pipeline, and both are set to reach free agency this offseason. That adds another layer to the situation for Dallas.
There have also been trade rumors around Pickens this season, and another loss could be the kind of thing that pushes Jerry Jones to actually move him before the season is over.
For now, though, the Cowboys are still waiting to see if Pickens is good to go. He hasn’t been ruled out, and that alone counts as a positive. The real answer will come with Friday’s final practice and the lead-up to Sunday’s matchup with Indianapolis.
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Defensive coordinator Christian Parker has already talked with Bland about the need to clean things up, pointing specifically to finishing plays. Even with those issues, Bland is still getting more snaps than other corners such as Cobie Durant, who has graded out better. That leaves Dallas in a tricky spot, trying to balance trust, performance and the reality that one of its most important defensive backs is searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
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Cowboys Frustration With Brian Schottenheimer Is Getting Harder To Ignore
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Brian Schottenheimer is becoming the focal point of that conversation because the criticism is not just about one failed drive, but about the overall tone of the offense in critical moments. The play-calling and design decisions drew scrutiny after Dallas failed to finish the job against Arizona, and the unease is only growing as the Cowboys try to sort out why their offense can look productive without being decisive. [Read more 🡒]