The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, facing a slew of injuries that could significantly impact their performance. CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs, vital components of the Cowboys' roster, missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot issues, respectively. However, they made a limited return to practice on Thursday, offering a glimmer of hope for the team.
"Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]," Lamb commented on his status. Diggs' return was more tentative; he participated in stretching but spent much of his time working with Britt Brown, the director of rehab. As a result, Diggs' availability for the matchup against Baltimore remains uncertain, adding to the team's defensive woes.
Further complicating matters for Dallas, tight end Jake Ferguson, who missed the game against the New Orleans Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, practiced in a limited capacity on both Wednesday and Thursday. Quarterback Dak Prescott expressed optimism about Ferguson's recovery. "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great. He looked great last week. You tried me last week, too. I think if it's a different game last week, more important game later in the season type of deal, that Jake probably could have went then. But he's obviously been out there. He's looked good," Prescott noted.
Head coach Mike McCarthy echoed Prescott's sentiments, acknowledging Ferguson's importance both on and off the field. "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," McCarthy stated.
Injury concerns aren't limited to the Cowboys. The Ravens are also juggling their share of setbacks. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant on Thursday due to a neck/concussion injury. Additionally, Kyle Hamilton returned to practice in a limited fashion after suffering a back injury, adding to the Ravens' defensive concerns.
Wednesday's practice saw another blow for the Cowboys as defensive lineman Mazi Smith left the field with a back injury and subsequently missed Thursday's session. This development adds further strain to a defensive unit already under scrutiny following a punishing 38-17 loss to the Saints. The Cowboys allowed touchdowns on each of the Saints' first six drives, a lapse that Diggs condemned as "unacceptable."
Alvin Kamara was a thorn in the Cowboys' side, rushing for 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Despite these defensive shortfalls, there were some standout performances on the offensive end for Dallas. Luke Schoonmaker caught all six of his targets, accumulating 43 receiving yards. Speaking about the contributions of the team's younger tight ends, Prescott said, "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends [Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford] 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. They made some plays, but [the game] just got away from us."
The Cowboys' ability to bounce back from such a demoralizing defeat while managing their injury woes will be crucial as they face a resilient Ravens team. The performances of key players, their recovery from injuries, and the contributions of bench players stepping into larger roles all form the intricate tapestry of challenges and opportunities awaiting Dallas in their upcoming game.