Both the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears will be without starters this evening for Thursday Night Football. Let's check out the final Week 14 injury reports and see just how bad the damage is.
This is a must-win game for both teams. Dallas is clinging to their lead in the NFC East and Chicago, riding a two-game win streak, had climbed back into the mathematical discussion for a wild card spot.
Who will be absent tonight and where do that leave the Cowboys and Bears in this pivotal matchup?
Dallas Cowboys
- DT Antwaun Woods (knee) – OUT
- LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) – OUT
- S Jeff Heath (shoulders) – OUT
- RB Tony Pollard (ankle) – Questionable
Vander Esch remains out with his neck issues and may not be back anytime soon. Leighton recently commented that he's trying to look out for his long-term health, giving no timetable for a return in 2019. Will the Cowboys' long rest between tonight's game and Week 15's be enough, or maybe staying out until the playoffs, or could we not see the linebacker again until 2020?
Antwaun Woods was already ruled out for his knee injury tonight and now has some legal issues to deal with as well. That means a likely start for Christian Covington but also probably more playing time for rookie Trysten Hill, who was recently praised by Coach Garrett for his late-season progress
Jeff Heath is still battling issues with both shoulders and will miss his second-straight game. This means another start for Darian Thompson, Though expected to play, Thompson is dealing with his own arm injury and a bad play could open the door for Donovan Wilson to get more time.
After missing practice the last two days with an ankle injury, RB Tony Pollard is now questionable for tonight. Dallas has no other running backs on the roster other than Ezekiel Elliott, so that would mean relying on FB Jamize Olawale and WR Tavon Austin as emergency backs. Dallas could still make a move, perhaps calling up Mike Weber from the practice squad, before this evening.
Chicago Bears
- WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion) – OUT
- TE Ben Braunecker (concussion) – OUT
- OL Bobby Massie (ankle) – OUT
- LB Danny Trevathan (elbow) – OUT
- CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) – Questionable
Four starters are missing for Chicago tonight, three of whom are on offense. The passing game without two targets in Taylor Gabriel and Ben Braunecker, limiting an low-producing group.
The offensive line will be without starting right tackle Bobby Massie. Behind him on the depth chart is undrafted rookie Alex Bars, who would be getting his first career start tonight.
Missing on defense is Danny Trevathan, one of the starting inside linebackers in the Bears' 3-4 scheme. They could also be without starting CB Prince Amukamara, an old friend of ours from his Giants days, after his missed the full week of practice with a hamstring injury.
