The Cowboys will be without several key names when they face the Colts on Sunday afternoon, with Dallas and Indianapolis both finalizing their inactive lists for Week 9.
Dallas already had a rough injury picture heading into the weekend, ruling out wide receiver KaVontae Turpin, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard and outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence, with Lawrence later landing on injured reserve. The Cowboys also entered Sunday with six players tagged questionable, but four of them - wide receiver George Pickens, tight end Luke Schoonmaker, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. - were ultimately shut down.
That leaves Dallas short-handed in a few spots, though the team did get some reinforcements from the practice squad. On Saturday, the Cowboys elevated tight end James Mitchell and wide receiver Jordan Hudson, and both are active. Mitchell and Hudson step in for Schoomaker and Pickens, respectively.
Here’s the full inactive list for Dallas: WR George Pickens, CB Joey Porter Jr., LB DeMarvion Overshown, WR KaVontae Turpin, TE Luke Schoonmaker, OLB Tyrus Wheat, OL Ajani Cornelius.
Indianapolis comes into the game with its own absences. The Colts had already ruled out linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither and cornerback Justin Walley, while tackle Jalen Travis and safety A.J.
Haulcy were listed as questionable. Their inactive list also includes tight end Pharaoh Brown, offensive tackle Charlie Check, quarterback Riley Leonard and tight end Will Mallory.
Colts inactives: TE Pharaoh Brown, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, S AJ Haulcy, OT Charlie Check, QB Riley Leonard, TE Will Mallory, CB Justin Walley.
The Cowboys are trying to steady themselves after dropping three of their last four, including a Week 8 loss to the Arizona Cardinals that came with an epic collapse. Dallas sits second in the NFC East and can’t afford to keep slipping, especially with the New York Giants facing what looks like a lay-up matchup against the sinking Philadelphia Eagles, who are extremely short-handed on offense.
Dallas is also hoping former quarterback Joe Milton, who is starting for Philly, can help them out with an upset victory.
What happens against the Colts may even shape the Cowboys’ thinking at the deadline. If Dallas loses to a Colts team that has no life and is about to conduct a fire sale at the trade deadline, owner Jerry Jones might see no point in attempting to improve this already lost team any further.
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The concern now is less about talent than trajectory, because the early promise has not looked equally stable across the board. Downs has remained the most reliable of the group, but Lawrences availability has become an issue and Barhams recent dip has taken some shine off his fast start. For a defense trying to build something sustainable, the rookies have offered reasons for optimism, but they have also introduced a reminder that development rarely moves in a straight line. [Read more 🡒]