Things continue to look bleak on the injury front for the Dallas Cowboys. With less than 48 hours remaining before they take the field against the Atlanta Falcons in an attempt to clutch onto a .500 record, holes continue to pop up in the proverbial sinking ship.
With Friday’s final practice comes the game designations, and for fans keeping an eye out for hopeful statuses it’s another weekend entered with feelings of disappointment. Neither Micah Parsons nor Trevon Diggs practiced, nor did DaRon Bland. The Cowboys’ three All-Pros could all miss the game together for the first time this year.
Diggs has been nursing a calf injury this week and hasn’t practiced, while the Cowboys have now waited a month for Micah Parsons high-ankle sprain to heal and sit without seeing Bland in action since training camp.
There’s never a right opponent to have injury woes against, but the situation calls for the Cowboys to pull an all-hands-on-deck, instead their hands are on the panic button.
At 3-4, the Falcons offense presents a multitude of challenges for the Cowboy defense and being without any of your star players is a tough look. Here’s the week’s worth of statuses and the game designation for both teams.
Week 9 is out and it comes alongside what should be positive news. Dallas added cornerback DaRon Bland to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, placing him back with the full roster for the first time since his foot surgery over the summer.
But fans should wait before they rejoice that he’s going to play in this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. See, Bland had his 21-day practice window opened before the club’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions. And while it appeared he was ramping up to play in that game, he missed the final practice before it then didn’t suit up. The bye week came next and Bland missed the following week of practice, not playing against San Francisco.
Wednesday marked the expiration of the 21-day window. Bland either had to be activated or placed on IR for the remainder of 2024. The club activated, then he proceeded to miss Wednesday’s practice as well.
Bland is one of seven players who didn’t participate in practice for the Cowboys, including edge rusher Micah Parsons.
As for the Falcons, who are sitting at 5-3 and atop the NFC South, their injury report reads much cleaner. Only three of their players sat out on Wednesday.
Dallas Cowboys
K Brandon Aubrey, NIR-Other | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: Did Not Participate | Thursday, Friday: Full
LB Micah Parsons, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate
CB DaRon Bland, Foot | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate
CB Trevon Diggs, Calf | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate
CB Caelen Carson, Shoulder | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Full Participant
Linebacker Nick Vigil, Foot | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Did Not Participate
DT Jordan Phillips, Wrist | OUT
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Full Participant
DT Linval Joseph, Back | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday: Did Not Participate | Thursdsay, Friday: Limited
LB Eric Kendricks, Shoulder | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Limited
OG Zack Martin, Shoulder | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday: DNP | Thursday, Friday: Limited
Atlanta Falcons
LB Tory Anderson, Knee | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday: Limited
LB JD Bertrand, Concussion | OUT
Wednesday: Did Not Participate
Center Drew Dalman, Ankle | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday: Limited
LB Kaden Eliss, Knee | NO DESGINATION
Wednesday: Limited
C Antonio Hamilton, Back | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: Limited
OG Chris Lindstrom, Knee | QUESTIONABLE
Wednesday: Did Not Participate
DL Ruke Orhorhoro, Ankle | OUT
Wednesday: Did Not Participate
Safety Justin Simmons, Hamstring | NO DESIGNATION
Wednesday: Limited
Wednesday Rest Days: DL James Smith-Williams, LB Matthew Judon