The Cowboys suffered a pair of significant blows to both sides of their interior lines over the last month. Johnathan Hankins, Dallas’ top run stuffer, fell to a high ankle sprain in Week 14. Then in Week 17, the Cowboys lost LG Tyler Smith to a torn plantar fascia late in the third quarter.
The absences of Smith and Hankins were felt as the Cowboys struggled to replace the all-important starters in the lineup. Dallas’ running game fell to -0.340 EPA/rush in the fourth quarter without Smith. And since Hankins was lost, the Cowboys’ run defense has allowed a success rate of 48 percent on the ground, which ranks 31st in the NFL during that stretch.
So, when Mike McCarthy addressed their respective injury statuses this week, saying there’s a chance both would be available for the regular season finale, Cowboys Nation collectively rejoiced. Both sides of the ball stand to improve with their return and Dallas needs a win in Week 19 to secure the NFC East crown and the No. 2 seed for the postseason.
But given the importance of both players to the Cowboys, Dallas can’t afford to jeopardize their long-term impact for some short-term gains in Week 18. Given the falloff behind Smith and Hankins in the lineup, some argue the risk of re-injury isn’t worth it.
To clear something up at the start, there are no indications either specific player is at an added risk of re-injury by returning in Week 18 vs returning in the wild card round. But high ankle sprains in general, do have added injury risk is a player comes back too early. Similarly, while each case is unique, a torn plantar fascia has the potential for re-injury or be the cause of ancillary injuries if a player is compensating for pain.
The Cowboys clearly want Smith and Hankins back in the lineup this week, but not if it potentially has negative effects on their postseason roster.