The Dallas Cowboys visit New Orleans this week looking to build on their 3-0 start to 2019. They may get a lot of help toward that goal thanks to the Saints' being without Drew Brees due to injury.
While the Brees injury hangs over everything tonight, Dallas has its own health issues to worry about. Key starters on both sides of the ball are confirmed to miss the game.
The game day inactive report for the Cowboys has been released. So who's in, who's out, and how will it impact this Sunday Night Football matchup?
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Michael Gallup (knee)
- OL Adam Redmond [healthy scratch]
- OL Brandon Knight [healthy scratch]
- DT Antwaun Woods (knee)
- DL Tyrone Crawford (hip)
- LB Luke Gifford (ankle)
- S Donovan Wilson [healthy scratch]
Before we get into the inactives, a brief look at some guys we're getting back.
Making their returns this week will be Safety Xavier Woods and Receiver Tavon Austin. Woods has made a surprisingly quick recovery, missing just one game after a projected 4-6 weeks due to an ankle sprain. Dallas gets their best safety back to help try and shut down a Sean Payton offense.
Austin's return is helpful on both offense and special teams. He gives the team another experienced receiver while Michael Gallup remains out, and he upgrades things on punt returns. If the game gets close in the Superdome, a big special teams play could make all the difference.
That said, Dallas will miss Gallup this week. The team seemed slow adjusting to his absence early against Miami a week ago, and the competition level will be much higher in New Orleans.
The Cowboys would also like to have both Antwaun Woods and Tyrone Crawford to help contain the run game and get some pressure on Teddy Bridgewater. That will mean increased playing time for Christian Covington and Trysten Hill in the defensive tackle rotation.
A bit of a surprise to see safety Donovan Wilson listed among the inactives, especially with Kavon Frazier having had a week of limited practice with an Achilles issue. But the four-year veteran is suiting up today over the rookie, perhaps due to needs on special teams.
