Tag: 2023 wild card

Cowboys-Packers final wild-card injury report: Alexander missing, Gilmore good

The final injury report for Sunday’s wild-card game shows each team’s status and what’s been ailing them. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys ended their regular season with a serious question about their starting cornerback. The Green Bay Packers ended theirs with no such concerns. But as the week of practice leading up to Sunday’s wild-card matchup has concluded, the two teams have reversed positions.

Friday’s practice came with an escalated workout for Stephon Gilmore, who dislocated his shoulder in the Week 18 win in Washington. Meanwhile Jaire Alexander twisted his ankle in practice on Wednesday and hasn’t seen the football field since. Gilmore wasn’t even given a game designation of questionable, that’s how well he’s recovered.

The Cowboys have six players who’ve been monitored throughout the week, with the latest addition being Cooper Rush. It had appeared the club had kicked the illness bug, but Rush missed Friday’s practice. Hopefully no one else comes down with the cold over the next 48 hours.

Here’s a look at the full slate of injured players and how their weeks went.

Cowboys 53-man roster, practice squad for wild-card vs Packers

A look at the team’s roster as the playoffs begin. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys will soon be locked in to preparations for the tournament. The regular season is an exciting 18-week journey, but it’s all a preparation for the single-elimination battle to reign supreme over the land. Dallas’ path starts with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon, and fortunately they will be relatively healthy to start their week of practice.

A big concern was seemingly avoided when cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s dislocated shoulder wasn’t more severe. The passing game rules and the team is already without Trevon Diggs for the season. Meanwhile, they welcomed back nose tackle Johnathan Hankins and the one remaining key question is the plantar fascia foot of left guard Tyler Smith. As such, here’s a look at the 53-man roster for the wild-card round, along with the practice squad and their call-up availability, pending any moves.

Will Cowboys defense work against Packers enigma QB Jordan Love?

Jordan Love has had inconsistent performances this season in Green Bay, so which version of the Packers QB can the Cowboys expect? | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys will soon play host to the Packers in a postseason matchup that pits Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy against his former team in Green Bay. It’s a matchup of the No. 2 seed and No. 7 seed that understandably gives the early edge to the home team.

On one side is Dak Prescott, an eight-year vet, playing the best ball of career and producing at an All-Pro level. On the other side is Jordan Love, a first-year starter who’s eagerly trying to establish himself as next great franchise QB in Green Bay.

Playing his first playoff game on the road in Dallas will be no easy task for the 25-year-old Love. Then again, playing against the former Utah State QB will be no easy feat for the Cowboys either.

A popular saying states, “love is unpredictable.” This unhelpful, yet frustratingly accurate, statement not only applies to the biochemical reaction in a human’s brain, but also the new signal-caller in the north woods of Wisconsin.

Like love, the new Green Bay QB1 is a little unpredictable. Sometimes he’s locked in and performing like the best passer on the planet. Other times it’s just not his day.

Twitter reacts as Ron Torbert named referee for Cowboys-Packers wild-card game

NFL fans react to Ron Torbert being named referee for Cowboys-Packers, along with some historic rants on his prior games. | From @ArmyChiefW3

The Dallas Cowboys are quite familiar with the ways of the flag. The team finished the regular season as the second-most penalized team in the league, tying the Cleveland Browns with 115 assessed. Only the Jets, with 124 penalties, had more. But the volume of laundry thrown their way isn’t the only gripe.

Superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons has inexplicably gone 11 full games without a holding penalty even though it appears he gets held the majority of the contest. Parsons has even gone as far as apologizing to the refs on his podcast in hopes of forcing opposing teams to play him fairly. So when it comes to referee assignments for their playoff run, a keen eye is on alert.

Ron Torbert has been assigned to this week’s Cowboys game against the Packers which elicited a few strong reactions. Torbert and his crew have penalized home teams more often than the visitors, and like most referees in the NFL these days, he’s had his fair share of tumultuous contests. Fans from both teams had interesting things to say about the assignment.

Here are some of the best reactions so far, along with some tweets from disgruntled fans of prior contests.