The Dallas Cowboys are looking to continue their winning ways in 2024 with a Week 2 victory over the Saints. It will be the first home game of the season for Dallas, and the injury report for both teams will be crucial to the outcome of this game.
Dallas may be without a key offensive player, while the Saints are struggling with a slew of defensive injuries.
So, let’s get into the report and the specifics of who is in, and who is out.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have eight players listed on their final injury report this week, which is a tick up from seven this time last week.
Of those eight, just two have injury designations for their matchup against the Saints.
No Designation
WR Brandin Cooks (NIR-Rest), CB C.J. Goodwin (Foot), LB Eric Kendricks (NIR-Rest), DE Marshawn Kneeland (Calf), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (NIR-Rest), G Zack Martin (NIR-Rest).
Dallas gave out a whole lot of rest this week, as veterans Brandin Cooks, Eric Kendricks, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Zack Martin all appeared on the injury report with a rest designation.
The four were limited on Wednesday, but were full participants on Thursday before resting again on Friday. Of course, these key players will be ready to go on Sunday.
Special teams ace C.J. Goodwin appeared on the injury report for the first time.
He picked up a foot injury in Week 1, and after being limited on both Wednesday and Thursday, the veteran was a full participant on Friday. He will be good to go on game-day.
Rookie Defensive End Marshawn Kneeland was again on the injury report this week with the same calf injury that had him listed in Week 1.
Kneeland was good to go last week, and he will be this week as well.
Doubtful
TE Jake Ferguson (Knee).
There is only one Cowboy with a doubtful designation this week, and it is a big one. Star Tight End Jake Ferguson, who hurt his knee in Week 1, is highly unlikely to play against the Saints.
While it would hurt offensively to miss Ferguson, it’s quite a relief that he was even considered as available this week. That injury looked rough at first glance.
Ferguson should miss this week, and perhaps one to two more at the absolute most. In the meantime, the Cowboys are expected to go with a tight end by committee strategy.
Out
TE John Stephens (Hamstring).
After missing Week 1, Tight End John Stephens will once again be missing in action for Dallas.
Stephens is dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, and he is currently the only player for the Cowboys listed as out right now.
The team has not said how long they expect Stephens to be out.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are dealing with a full injury report this week, as 15 players showed up on the list ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys.
Of that 15, eight are without a designation, five are questionable, and two are out.
No Designation
TE Dallin Holker (Ankle), S Tyrann Mathieu (Heel), TE Foster Moreau (Concussion), G Lucas Patrick (Toe), WR A.T. Perry (Hand), G Nick Saldiveri (Calf), WR Rashid Shaheed (Finger/Hip), RB Jamaal Williams (Shoulder).
The majority of the New Orleans’ injuries have no designation, but none is bigger than Tyrann Mathieu.
As one of the Saints’ most talented defensive players, Mathieu initially did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, but he progressed through the week and became a full participant on Friday.
There will also be a full tight end room for the Saints this week, as Tight End’s Dallin Holker and Foster Moreau were on the no designation side of the injury report.
Wide Receiver’s Rashid Shaheed and A.T. Perry are also good to go for Sunday.
On the offensive line, both Lucas Patrick and Nick Saldiveri, the Saints’ starting and backup left guards, have no designation, though Patrick was limited on Friday.
Questionable
LB Jaylan Ford (Hamstring), DE Isaiah Foskey (Back), T Taliese Fuaga (Back), CB Marshon Lattimore (Hip/Hamstring), DT Bryan Bresee (Illness).
In contrast to Dallas, the Saints have a couple of guys listed as questionable, and two of them will be critical to New Orleans’ chances on Sunday.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler and the leader of the Saints secondary did not participate once in practice this week. Despite this, there is rumored optimism in their building that he will play without practicing.
Behind Lattimore, in terms of significance, is Tackle Taliese Fuaga.
The Saints first round pick in April, Fuaga is a key player on their offensive line despite his youth, and it is a real possibility he will miss Week 2.
Fuaga’s only day of practice was Wednesday, when he was limited. Thursday and Friday were both listed as did not participate.
In the front seven, Isaiah Foskey, Bryan Bresee, and Jaylan Ford are all questionable.
The three are all depth pieces for the Saints defense, but Bresee in particular could be a big loss for the inner-defensive line.
Out
LB D’Marco Jackson (Calf), DT Khalen Saunders (Calf).
The two players that are currently out for the Saints are D’Marco Jackson and Khalen Saunders, who are both dealing with calf injuries.
Saunders is a starter on the Saints defensive line, while Jackson is a depth piece.
These two continue the trend of defensive injuries for New Orleans, and in a matchup with the Cowboys’ explosive offensive, it could pose a major issue in this Week 2 matchup.
