Cowboys will likely take the field without 2 key players on Sunday night

The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants released the final injury report prior to their Week 1 matchup on Sunday Night Football.

There are injuries on both sides of the ball that will impact the performance on the field in what is supposed to be a rainy night at MetLife Stadium.

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys officially list five players on their final injury report.

One player is listed with no designation, two are questionable, and two others are doubtful.

No Designation

CB Jourdan Lewis

Veteran CB Jourdan Lewis has not stepped foot on a football field during a game since suffering a Lisfranc injury versus Detroit in Week 7 of 2022.

Lewis was lost for the season on a play where he stepped in front of a Jared Goff pass to make an interception on a crucial 4th quarter drive.

The former Michigan Wolverine was the Cowboys top Nickel cornerback prior to his injury, and hopes to regain that same form.

With no injury designation, it appears he will be a full go on Sunday night.

Questionable

OT Tyron Smith, DE Sam Williams

After being a full participant on Wednesday, LT Tyron Smith surprised us all by being placed on the injury report as a limited participant Thursday and Friday.

This injury is important considering the Cowboys already have a depth problem on the offensive line.

Should Tyron’s ankle not be able to go at game time, his likely backup is swing tackle Chuma Edoga.

DE Sam Williams has been battling turf toe for a few weeks, but appears to be ready to play on Sunday night.

He has been working off to the side with trainers, and has progressed enough to suit up.

Even if he isn’t a huge part of the game plan, Dallas can deploy him as a situational pass rusher on obvious passing downs.

Doubtful

OL Tyler Smith, S Donovan Wilson

Second year player Tyler Smith tweaked a hamstring last week, and has been working furiously with the training staff to be ready for the opener.

Unfortunately, Dallas has placed the doubtful tag on him for the game, and it is unlikely he will suit up.

There are essentially three options to step in for him at left guard.

That list is comprised of OL Chuma Edoga, rookie G Asim Richards, and rookie G T.J. Bass.

Edoga would get first crack, but should Tyron reaggravate his ankle, he would most likely bump out to left tackle, leaving a rookie to take over at left guard.

Starting S Donovan Wilson strained his calf weeks back, and has been working hard to rehab it.

It appears he is still not ready to play, earning the doubtful designation.

It’s possible he works out his calf pre-game, but if unable to go, safeties Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas will likely step into his role.

New York Giants

The Giants final injury report is a little longer than Dallas, featuring eight players.

No Designation

RB Gary Brightwell, TE Lawrence Cager

RB Gary Brightwell and TE Lawrence Cager were nursing knee and ankle injuries, respectively, and were limited at practice the entire week.

Their injury designations were removed, and both are set to play Sunday night.

Brightwell and Cager are both listed as third on the depth chart at their respective positions, so their contributions are limited.

However, should TE Darren Waller not be able to play, Cager can get an uptick in snaps.

Questionable

LB Cam Brown, DL D.J. Davidson, TE Darren Waller

Fourth year LB Cam Brown, suffering from an ankle injury, won’t have much of a role in the defensive rotation for New York, but is a big part of their special teams.

DL D.J. Davidson, suffering from a sore knee, is the primary backup to DE A’Shawn Robinson.

New York needs him to play to provide depth in their defensive line rotation.

The biggest concern on the injury report is newest weapon Darren Waller.

Surely, HC Brian Daboll and OC Mike Kafka centered their game plan around their newest weapon, and him popping up on the injury report Friday is throwing a wrench in their plans.

Waller will likely be a game time decision to see how his hamstring is holding up, but look for second year TE Daniel Bellinger to see an increase in snaps.

Doubtful

DB Cor’Dale Flott, DB Gervarrius Owens, WR Wan’Dale Robinson

Already very inexperienced in the secondary, the Giants will likely be without second year CB Cor’Dale Flott, who was slated to heavily contribute to the Nickel package.

He and rookie Gervarrius Owens were limited in practice all week with hamstring tenderness, so their doubtful designation isn’t a surprise.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson is dealing with a knee issue, and was also limited in practice all week.

It appears he will not be ready to play, and would be yet another weapon that QB Daniel Jones won’t have at his disposal.