Breaking: Cowboys lose another player to IR, starting CB Anthony Brown

Dallas’ depth has been tested early and often and the latest news means the secondary loses a key member just as one has returned to duty.

Things just got worse for the Dallas Cowboys and their defense ahead of a matchup already set to test their mettle. The rib injury suffered by cornerback Anthony Brown in Week 1’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams hasn’t gotten any better. In fact, it’s serious enough that it’s now going to keep him out for at least the next three games.

Dallas is placing the fifth-year corner, who they re-signed in the offseason to a three-year, $15.5 million contract after he hit free agency, on injured reserve. The move will have him missing at least the games against the Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns.

Brown seemed to impress Mike McCarthy and his defensive staff led by Mike Nolan based on film, despite not excelling under previous secondary coach and de facto DC Kris Richard. Brown was thought to be on his way to another team by most observers, but was the club’s biggest signing at the position that saw them lose Pro Bowler Byron Jones to Miami in what was at the time the biggest CB contract in NFL history.

From the beginning of training camp Brown has held down a starting role on the outside, when he had previously been seem as primarily a slot defender.

Brown toughed it out against the Rams and played all 7333 snaps on defense, in a mixture of roles as wide corner, slot corner and box defender. Part of that is the club was playing without Jourdan Lewis, who seemed to lock down the slot role in camp before injuring his ankle.

Rookie Trevon Diggs is locked in as the right cornerback, while Chidobe Awuzie will likely now primarily line up as the left corner with Lewis receiving a clean bill of health to return to the lineup this week. He was a full participant all week after getting out of his ankle boot before the Rams contest.

Dallas also has Daryl Worley on deck. The 2020 free agent saw 15 snaps in Week 1.

The Cowboys would have been tested even with their full compliment of defensive backs, as Atlanta will bring Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage to town, hauling in passes from a still dangerous Matt Ryan.

The move to promote practice squadder Eric Smith makes sense, as he was likely going to be activated anyway with the health of LT Tyron Smith in doubt, RT La’el Collins already on IR along with 4th tackle Cam Erving. Dallas has not announced who would start opposite UDFA rookie Terence Steele if Smith can’t play.

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