Arguably the biggest game on the Week 11 schedule is the Dallas Cowboys’ visit to the Kansas City Chiefs. As the defending AFC Champs look to defend home turf against one of the current NFC frontrunners, both teams will be missing some key pieces based on the final injury reports.
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Amari Cooper – OUT (COVID-19)
- OT Tyron Smith – Questionable (ankle)
- CB Kelvin Joseph – OUT (Personal)
- CB Nahshon Wright – Questionable (hamstring)
The Dallas Cowboys already know that WR Amari Cooper will be out after landing on the Reserve/COVID-19 list yesterday. He was expected to play despite a hamstring injury, having been a full participant in practice until the news broke last night about the COVID issue.
Also, rookie CB Kelvin Joseph has been excused from the game due to a recent death in the family. He’d recently returned from a preseason groin injury and appeared in Dallas’ last three games, playing mostly on special teams.
Fellow rookie corner Nahshon Wright is also on the report after being limited the last two practices with a hamstring issue. If neither Joseph or Wright can play, it would likely mean some rare snaps on defense for special teams ace C.J. Goodwin.
Obviously Cooper’s absence is the big item here. But thankfully it should coincide with a big return from OT Tyron Smith. After leaving Dallas’ win over the Vikings with an ankle injury, Smith has been out the last two games but is expected to resume duty in Kansas City.
The Cowboys will also welcome back K Greg Zuerlein after missing last week’s rout of the Falcons on the COVID list.
Kansas City Chiefs
- OT Lucas Niang – OUT (Ribs)
- CB L’Jarius Sneed – Questionable (Knee)
- S Armani Watts – Questionable (Illness)
The Chiefs will be missing starting Right Tackle Lucas Niang and veteran backup Mike Remmers, who’s currently on injured reserve. This is bad news as KC has already struggled to protect Pat Mahomes this year, leading to increased sack and turnover numbers for their franchise QB in 2021.
This is big for the Cowboys defense with Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence both still missing. Hopefully it helps Micah Parsons, Dorance Armstrong, and others to generate a pass rush and put that much-needed pressure on Mahomes.
Kansas City could also be down one of the starting corners with L’Jarius Sneed battling a knee issue. After getting three interceptions as a rookie and one so far this year, Sneed’s been making waves as one of the better young CBs in football. But even if he plays, L’Jarius could be hampered and that’s bad news against CeeDee Lamb or Michael Gallup.
Backup safety Armani Watts is also on the injury list this week after missing Friday’s practice due to illness.
