For the first time since Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys are coming off a win. After a tough game against the Giants, the team’s record is feeling better, but the injury report is feeling much worse.
The Cowboys got hit hard by the injury bug during their battle in New York, and this week in practice has seen more of the same.
It won’t be easy for Dallas this week, as they will face off against the Steelers shorthanded.
One injury in particular is dominating the headlines this week, as a Cowboys’ superstar will miss a game for the first time in his career.
With that, let’s get into the injury report for the Cowboys and Steelers Week 5 matchup.
Dallas Cowboys
For the second time in the last three weeks, the Cowboys have listed 14 players on the injury report. In that group, Dallas has two players designated as out, three are questionable, and the remaining nine have no designation.
Despite the long week of rest the team has gotten after playing on Thursday night in Week 4, this list is as full and star-studded as it gets.
Now, let’s get into the specifics of the report.
No Designation:
- S Markquese Bell (Ankle)
- RB Rico Dowdle (Wrist)
- RB Ezekiel Elliott (Dehydration)
- WR Ryan Flournoy (Dehydration)
- OT Tyler Guyton (Shoulder)
- S Malik Hooker (NIR-Rest)
- LB Eric Kendricks (NIR-Rest)
- CB Jourdan Lewis (NIR-Rest)
- G Zack Martin (NIR-Rest)
Keep in mind, all of these guys are suiting up for Sunday Night Football in Pittsburgh, but it is still an unfortunate reality that so many key guys are on the injury report this early in the season.
Both of Dallas’ starting running backs popped up, two starting safeties, and two starting offensive linemen. That is far from ideal, even if they are all playing.
In addition to those guys, key role players like rookie Ryan Flournoy, who will play for the first time this week, and Jourdan Lewis, ended up on the list with dehydration and NIR-Rest designations.
Questionable:
- CB Caelen Carson (Shoulder)
- CB Trevon Diggs (Ankle)
- LB Marist Liufau (Quad)
The questionable list for the Cowboys this week is critical, as three defensive starters could miss Sunday’s game.
Rookie Cornerback Caelen Carson has been asked to start since All-Pro DaRon Bland went down with a foot injury, but now Carson himself is injured, and he missed last week’s game against the Giants.
Heading into this week, the rookie has a better chance to play, but that is still uncertain. If he does miss Week 5, it will be a major blow to the secondary.
Speaking of potential blows to the secondary, there would be none bigger than if Trevon Diggs missed time.
The leader of the Cowboys cornerback room is questionable with an ankle injury, though Mike McCarthy has said he believes Diggs will be good to go. The hope is he can be at full strength, but missing Friday’s practice doesn’t bode well for that hope.
Lastly, rookie Linebacker Marist Liufau, who has played an important role on the defense this season, was a late addition to the injury report with a quad injury.
Out:
- WR Brandin Cooks (Knee)
- LB Micah Parsons (Ankle)
In a major blow to the Cowboys’ already weak wide receiver room, their WR2, Brandin Cooks, is out with a serious knee issue.
After a small surgery on it after the Giants game, Cooks developed an infection, and the belief is he could miss more than just this week.
Now, the big one on the injury report is clearly superstar Micah Parsons, who is missing a game from injury for the very first time in his NFL career. This was expected after he suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4.
The perennial DPOY candidate is hopeful he won’t miss much more time than this, but this is an injury that, generally speaking, is a 4–8 week timeframe.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On the opposing side, the Steelers have listed 11 players on their injury report this week.
That 11 includes three questionable designations, four guys listed as out, and no designation for the remaining four.
No Designation:
- DT Keeanu Benton (Ankle)
- LB Nick Herbig (Ankle)
- DT Cameron Heyward (NIR-Rest)
- G Isaac Seumalo (Pectoral)
The four no designations for the Steelers this week is headlined by franchise legend Cameron Heyward, who was listed with a NIR-Rest designation. And hey, at 35 years old, can you blame him?
Aside from Heyward, the other three are all starters for Pittsburgh, and they will be good to go against Dallas.
Questionable:
- LB Jeremiah Moon (Ankle)
- DT Larry Ogunjobi (Groin)
- QB Russell Wilson (Calf)
Starting on the questionable side for the Steelers, we have backup Linebacker Jeremiah Moon, who was recently taken off the injured reserve list. If Moon does suit up, don’t expect a big impact from him.
On the defensive line, Steelers starter and UNC Charlotte alum, Larry Ogunjobi, is questionable with a groin injury.
Expect this prominent player on the Pittsburgh defensive front to play on Sunday night.
Most notably, we have Super Bowl winning quarterback, Russell Wilson.
The self-proclaimed “Mr. Unlimited” himself has yet to play in the Steelers uniform, as he suffered a calf injury in the lead-up to the season. In his absence, Justin Fields has been running the show at quarterback.
It seems there won’t be any change this week, as Wilson is still working his way back.
Out:
- LB Alex Highsmith (Groin)
- RB Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle)
- TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee)
- RB Jaylen Warren (Knee)
This list is very significant for this Week 5 battle. The Steelers have ruled some critical players out, including Linebacker Alex Highsmith.
The 2020 3rd round pick, also from UNC Charlotte, has become one of the most dominant pass rushers in all of football. Last summer, he signed a $68M extension with Pittsburgh. Dallas is fortunate to miss Highsmith this week.
Two running backs that play significant roles for the Pittsburgh offense are also out, with Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren both missing this week.
Najee Harris will have to take on the significant brunt of the carries for the Steelers offense.
Lastly, fourth-string Tight End, MyCole Pruitt, is ruled out with a knee injury.
This will be a huge game for both teams, and the injury report is something to keep in mind as the two sides go into this week without some key players.