The Dallas Cowboys defense has been the worst unit in the NFL this season, and they might now be more more depleted than they have been all season.
Dallas announced that safety Donovan Wilson (groin) and cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) did not travel with the team to Cincinnati this week, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. Wilson and Brown are not the only defensive backs that the Cowboys will be missing as the club placed CB Chidobe Awuzie on the COVID list earlier this week. Rookie CB Trevon Diggs remains on IR with a broken foot.
So, the Cowboys will be without cornerbacks Trevon Diggs (foot, IR), Chidobe Awuzie (high-risk close contact) and Anthony Brown (ribs) on Sunday.
Expected to start at CB: Rashard Robinson and Saivion Smith with Jourdan Lewis remaining at nickel. (Bengals often in 11 personnel.)
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 12, 2020
Diggs, Awuzie, and Brown are three of the Cowboys top four remaining cornerbacks, with Xavier Woods the lone healthy member of the original starting secondary. Veteran Jourdan Lewis will man one of the corner spots.
Rashard Robinson and Savion Smith are now expected to start at the cornerback position, alongside Lewis. Robinson joined the Cowboys before Week 11, and has already played significant snaps since joining the squad. Smith has appeared in five Cowboys games since Week 3, but has only played a total of 14 defensive snaps.
Wilson had been a bright spot for the Dallas defense, taking over the starting safety role in Week 5 and continuing to improve until he played his best game to-date in the Cowboys Week 11 win in Minnesota, where he forced two turnovers.
Safety Darian Thompson is expected to make his second straight start in place of Wilson.
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