Final Injury Report: Jones expects several key Cowboys vs Browns

Tyron Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Trevon Diggs are expected to play Sunday vs the Cleveland Browns after limited practice time this week.

The Dallas Cowboys have been bombarded with injuries so far in the first three weeks of the 2020 NFL season. Sean Lee, Leighton Vander Esch, La’el Collins, Anthony Brown, and Chidobe Awuzie are all currently on injured reserve. However, with a crucial contest against the Cleveland Browns on the horizon, the first of a three-game homestand, the Cowboys got some good injury news via team owner Jerry Jones. He told 105.3 The Fan on Friday morning that he expects Tyron Smith, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Trevon Diggs to play this Sunday, saying “It’s certainly looking like we’ll have them available.”

The Browns themselves have several players out this week. Adrian Clayborn, who once tormented the Cowboys with six sacks in 2017, is out with a hip injury. Joining him are linebacker Tae Davis and cornerback Greedy Williams. Running back Kareem Hunt, guard Joe Bitonio, linebacker Jacob Phillips, defensive end Olivier Vernon, and cornerback Denzel Ward are all questionable for Sunday after limited practice participation on Friday. Center Nick Harris is also questionable but didn’t practice.

Clayborn took advantage of the Cowboys’ lack of Smith in a game with Atlanta, causing havoc in the backfield and notching six of the Falcons’ eight sacks of Prescott. The Cowboys QB was seeing pass-rushing ghosts for several weeks after that game. Now, Clayborn will miss the first chance the two would have to tango again, and Smith seems likely to be available.

It was revealed Smith was suffering from neck stingers after an injury in practice on September 17. He finally returned to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday. Smith has missed at least three games in each of the previous four seasons. With two games already missed in 2020, the Cowboys are hopeful that him being on the injury report for this season has come to an end.

Lawrence has been dealing with a knee issue since last week where he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which he repeated this week as well. Nonetheless, the former All-Pro will be on the field searching for his first sack of the season on Sunday. Lawrence hasn’t recorded a full sack since Week 9 of last season and only has a half-sack since, which occurred in Week 13.

Diggs has been battling knee and shoulder injuries this week and has been limited in practice. However, he’ll make the fourth consecutive start of his rookie campaign. He’s had his fair share of rookie struggles, which is expected, but he competes on every down, as was seen with his heads play to prevent a touchdown by DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks last week.

Diggs has been on the field for all of the Cowboys 224 defensive snaps this season.

This is the kind of good news the Cowboys want to hear as they look to even their record at 2-2 and stay atop the NFC East.

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