As we now enter the tournament section of the 2023 NFL season, the decision-making on players suffering from minor injuries or ailments changes.
If a player has a sore ankle or hamstring during the regular season, the team can choose to sit the player to rest up for the following week.
In the playoffs, those questionable players are playing almost 100% of the time.
It really needs to be a major injury to keep a player out, so I fully expect for nearly every player on the injury report to suit up on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys officially list six players on their Wildcard round injury report.
Questionable
QB Cooper Rush (illness)
This is now the fourth straight week where a Cowboys player is listed on the injury report with an illness.
A sickness is traveling through The Star and none of us are down with it. Disturbed fans know the reference.
Might we see a glimpse of Trey Lance as the primary backup to Dak Prescott if Rush’s illness hampers him enough?
No Designation
DE Dorance Armstrong (ankle), CB Stephon Gilmore (shoulder), DT Johnathan Hankins (ankle), S Malik Hooker (ankle), LG Tyler Smith (foot)
I mentioned it above, come playoff time there are few injuries that will keep players out of the game unless they can’t walk.
If we were still in the regular season, there’s a good chance Stephon Gilmore and Tyler Smith would not be suiting up for the game.
Gilmore separated his shoulder last week in Washington but will play with the help of a shoulder harness.
Tyler Smith completely tore his plantar fascia two weeks ago, but pain tolerance is the only real issue for him.
A trio of Cowboys are dealing with ankle issues, but all are ready to begin the playoff run.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers officially list 19 players on their Wildcard round injury report.
Doubtful
RB AJ Dillon (neck/thumb)
The Packers face the potential of their rushing attack only featuring the lightning half of their thunder and lightning duo.
Aaron Jones should see plenty of touches of AJ Dillon isn’t able to progress between now and Sunday.
Dillon did not practice all week, and the Packers have officially listed him as doubtful against Dallas.
Questionable
CB Jaire Alexander (ankle), WR Christian Watson (hamstring)
Two more big components of the Packers are listed as questionable by the team this week.
The surprising player is CB Jaire Alexander, who practiced early in the week, but suffered a freak ankle injury when the team was just doing a walk-through.
Alexander has been getting treatment, and would be a huge blow to the Packers’ defense if he is not able to suit up.
Even if his ankle was fully healthy, he would still have his hands full defending 1st team All-Pro CeeDee Lamb.
On the offensive side, WR Christian Watson has been dealing with a strained hamstring for weeks.
He is slowly progressing, but not enough for the Packers to fully clear him to play.
No Designation
The Packers list 16 players with no designation on their injury report, a boost to their confidence after it looked bleak early in the week.