The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a pivotal Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, but injuries have thrown a wrench in their preparations. Key players like CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs have been nursing ailments, sparking concern about their availability and effectiveness.
Injury Woes
Both Lamb and Diggs missed practice on Wednesday, with Lamb dealing with an ankle injury and Diggs with a foot issue. However, there was some relief for Cowboys fans when the duo made a limited return to practice on Thursday. Diggs participated in stretching but split his time with the director of rehab, Britt Brown, leaving his performance against Baltimore uncertain. "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]," Lamb reassured reporters.
Adding to the Cowboys’ injury headaches is Jake Ferguson, who missed the game against the New Orleans Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain. Ferguson has also been limited in practice this week, but Dak Prescott offered an optimistic update: "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great. He looked great last week... But he's obviously been out there. He's looked good."
Team Dynamics
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has expressed cautious optimism about Ferguson's return. "Jake's a big part of the heart and soul of that locker room. No question about it. I was told he had a good workout today. That's good news. But we'll see how he comes in tomorrow and so forth. I'm hopeful he can play."
However, the Cowboys’ issues run deeper than player absences. Their defense allowed the Saints to score touchdowns on each of their first six drives, with Alvin Kamara rushing for 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns. When asked about the performance, Trevon Diggs was succinct: "Unacceptable."
Key Contributions and Challenges
Despite the disappointing loss, there were some bright spots. Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets, amassing 43 receiving yards. According to Dak Prescott, the young tight ends, including undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford, stepped up in Ferguson's absence. "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends did a good job. Simply, they did a good job. As I've said throughout the week, Jake's more than just a tight end on Sunday. He's an aggressor. He brings a physical nature to this group. He's got a mentality that other guys feed off of, that's very contagious, but those other guys did play well. They did their job and stepped up."
However, Prescott also acknowledged that the game slipped away from them. “They made some plays, but [the game] just got away from us.”
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, the Ravens also face their own injury issues. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury, and Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited fashion following a back injury.
The Cowboys need to rectify their defensive lapses and hope for the return of their star players to make a strong showing against Baltimore. Mazi Smith’s absence from practice with a back injury adds another layer of complication, emphasizing the uphill battle the team faces this week.
As the Cowboys approach this critical game, the stakes are high. Their performance will not only depend on the health of Lamb, Diggs, and Ferguson but also on the entire team's ability to rebound from a tough loss and address their defensive deficiencies. Given the challenges, this game promises to test the mettle of McCarthy's squad.