It's hard to call a week 9 game in the NFL a must-win, but that's pretty much where the Dallas Cowboys (3-4) stand as they get ready for their Monday Night Football matchup with the Tennessee Titans (3-4). Both the Cowboys and Titans are facing key injuries to their top 10 scoring defenses.
The following Dallas Cowboys are heading into the Monday Night Football showdown with a questionable designation or have already been ruled out.
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Tavon Austin (groin) – OUT
- LB Joe Thomas (foot) – OUT
- DT David Irving (ankle) – OUT
- TE Geoff Swaim (knee) – Doubtful
- Randy Gregory (knee) – Questionable
- Zack Martin (knee) – Questionable
The Cowboys will be without Tavon Austin and Joe Thomas again for another week, no surprises there. They'll be without Defensive Tackle David Irving for another week in the 2018 season, after already missing the first four games of the suspension. Irving was carted off the practice field on Friday with an ankle injury. The injury isn't as bad as originally feared, but he's been ruled out for Monday Night Football. Geoff Swaim is listed as doubtful, but it would be really surprising for Swaim to play this week against the Titans.
Randy Gregory and Zack Martin are the only questionable designations on the final injury report, but it's looking likely that both players will play. For Gregory, he's had a hard time replicating his stellar training camp performance during the regular season, but will continue to see snaps at right defensive end. Though Martin will play, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on if he's limited in the game by his knee injury. The offensive line has had its struggles, so it's important that Martin plays to keep the continuity along the offensive line. He'd be a huge missing piece.
Tennessee Titans
- OLB Derrick Morgan (shoulder) – OUT
- ILB Will Compton (hamstring) – questionable
Derrick Morgan weeks 2-5 played at least 65% of the defensive snaps for the Tennessee Titans. He sat out the Titans week seven contest in London. Will Compton last played week five against the Buffalo Bills. He's mostly a special teams player for the Titans.
The Titans will be missing some solid role players on their defense, but will for the most part be at full strength otherwise.
Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans will need a win to get back into the playoff hunt for the rest of 2018.
