Surprise additions to the Week 2 injury report could hamper Cowboys offense vs Jets

The Week 2 injury report for the Dallas Cowboys looks much the same as last week, except for two surprise additions.

New York brings a scary defense this week to AT&T Stadium that forced Bills’ QB Josh Allen into four turnovers.

The Jets look to do the same to Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense, so being at full strength would go a long way to prevent that from happening.

Final Injury Report for the game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets on 9/17/2023

Dallas Cowboys

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

No Designation

Tyron Smith (ankle), Sam Williams (Personal)

After spending last week on the injury report, Tyron Smith received no designation for Sunday’s game, and is a full go.

Sam Williams did not practice on Friday, but his absence is listed as personal.

No reason to believe he won’t be out there knocking heads on Sunday.

Questionable

WR Brandin Cooks (knee), OL Zack Martin (groin)

Newest WR Brandin Cooks was one of the surprise adds to the injury report for this week.

Cooks was listed early Wednesday on the report with knee soreness that he played through in the Week 1 win at the New York Giants.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday he’s “doing ok”, and “has a chance to play Sunday”.

McCarthy didn’t exactly give him a vote of confidence with those words, but it could also be coach speak.

As it turns out, it was not coach speak. It was later reported that Cooks is suffering from a Grade 1 MCL sprain.

He did not practice all week, but the Cowboys could just feel that as a veteran, he can afford to sit out and still contribute on Sunday.

Although Cooks only had two catches for 22 yards in Week 1, his impact goes deeper than that.

The threat of his speed opens up underneath routes for his teammates as well as himself.

Should he not go on Sunday, offseason darling and second year player Jalen Tolbert looks to be much more involved.

Another surprise add to the injury report on Thursday, Zack Martin is dealing with some groin pain.

The team says it’s just soreness, and his limited practice is a precaution, but it would be a huge blow to the interior of the offensive line should Martin be sidelined.

Should Martin not be able to suit up, that could leave Dallas with both starting guards in street clothes Sunday versus a defense led by All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams.

Rookie undrafted free agent OL T.J. Bass is in line for the start if needed.

Doubtful

OL Tyler Smith (hamstring), S Donovan Wilson (calf)

Those of us who thought resting second year offensive lineman Tyler Smith last week was a great idea might be thinking the same this week.

Smith has shown progress in rehabbing his hamstring strain, but he once again did not practice all week.

That tells us he just still isn’t ready to go, and with the nature of soft tissue injuries, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him sit another week.

The likelihood of re-injury is high, and I wouldn’t put him out there for one game at the risk of losing possibly six to eight more.

Chuma Edoga filled in amicably versus the Giants, and would be in line for just the second start of his career at left guard.

Cowboys’ play-making S Donovan Wilson strained his calf during offseason activities, and has been a limited participant ever since.

Wilson practiced for the first time in limited fashion Thursday and Friday, but the team appears to be inclined to sit him another week.

After the way Wilson’s backups played versus the Giants, I have the same sentiments with Wilson that I do with Tyler.

Just have him sit out until he’s fully healthy.

Juanyeh Thomas and Markquese Bell showed they were more than capable of filling that role in Dan Quinn’s defense.

New York Jets

The Jets final injury report is a little shorter than Dallas, featuring four players, all with the questionable designation.

Questionable

OT Duane Brown (shoulder), Mekhi Becton (knee), Breece Hall (knee), Greg Zuerlein (groin)

The Jets listed their starting left tackle with an injury to his shoulder.

It’s not a new injury, as Duane Brown spent the offseason recovering from rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder.

Details are scarce, but it’s being speculated that he reaggravated that same shoulder during the Monday night win versus the Buffalo Bills.

He practiced in full on Friday, and should be good to go on Sunday.

If needed, listed behind Brown on the Jets’ depth chart is Billy Turner, a veteran with 75 career starts.

As if things couldn’t be worse for the Jets, their starting right tackle is also listed on the injury report.

Mekhi Becton is an athletic freak who has missed the entirety of the past two seasons with injury.

However, he also practiced in full on Friday, and will be available Sunday barring any setbacks.

Listed behind Becton on the depth chart is second year player Max Mitchell, who has five starts in his NFL career.

Jets star RB Breece Hall finds himself on the injury report again while recovering from ACL surgery.

His designation early in the week was likely precautionary, and he will be out there taking handoffs on Sunday after a full practice on Friday.

A late addition for the Jets, former Cowboy K Greg Zuerlein aggravated his groin, and did not practice on Friday.

He will likely play, but look for HC Robert Saleh to limit the length of his attempts to protect his groin.