The Dallas Cowboys desperately need a win this week to recover from two-straight defeats and avoid falling to 3-3 on the season. Unfortunately, it looks like they could be missing two or more of their key offensive players this Sunday when they face the New York Jets.
Thankfully, the Cowboys aren’t the only ones who could be shorthanded for this Week 6 matchup. The Jets have three starters listed as doubtful and a couple more reportedly questionable for the game.
Let’s look at exactly what each team put on their final injury reports from Friday:
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Randall Cobb (hip/back) – Questionable
- OT Tyron Smith (ankle) – Questionable
- OT La’el Collins (knee) – Questionable
The situation at offensive tackle is downright scary, but the team seems optimistic that Tyron Smith will be able to play despite missing the entire week of practice. Even a rusty Smith is still better than seeing Cam Fleming at left tackle,. so the Cowboys have made him a game-time decision.
Collins, having freshly injured his knee last Sunday against the Packers, may need at least one game off to recover. Assuming Tyron is able to play, that will send Fleming to the right side as the other starting tackle. If both Collins and Smith are out, Brandon Knight will get his first NFL start after coming into the game for Collins against Green Bay.
Randall Cobb showed up on Thursday’s injury report with hip and back issues and missed Friday as well. If the veteran needs rest then we could see Tavon Austin used as the slot receiver. Dallas might also elect to play Amari Cooper out of the slot and let Devin Smith use his speed to provide a vertical threat.
No longer showing up as injured is Defensive Tackle Antwaun Woods, who rejoins the starters as a much-needed boost to Dallas’ run defense. The Cowboys are also happy to see Leighton Vander Esch fully recovered from vertigo issues and hopefully improved from a rough game last week.
Both Amari Cooper (ankle/quad) and Tyrone Crawford (hip) were limited in practice all week but should be full go for Sunday.
New York Jets
- RB Trenton Cannon (foot/ankle) – Doubtful
- OL Kelechi Osemele (shoulder/knee/illness) – Doubtful
- DL Henry Anderson (shoulder) – Doubtful
- LB C.J. Mosley (groin) – Doubtful
- WR Demaryius Thomas (hamstring/knee) – Questionable
- WR Josh Bellamy (shoulder) – Questionable
- LB Jordan Jenkins (calf) – Questionable
- CB Nate Hairston (knee) – Questionable
The biggest news for the Jets is not who’s out but who’s returning; starting quarterback Sam Darnold. Last year’s third-overall draft pick has been missing since Week One as he dealt with mononucleosis and a swollen spleen. Unfortunately, he returns to find his team 0-4 and still outmatched against most NFL competition.
Sadly, New York could be without some of the few strong talents they have. Star linebacker C.J. Mosley is unlikely to play with a groin injury and fellow starter Jordan Jenkins is nursing a calf issue. They also will probably be missing starter Henry Anderson, one of the defensive ends in the Jets’ 3-4 defense.
On offense, starting left guard Keleche Osemele is expected to be out with multiple issues. The two-time Pro Bowler was spelled last week by Alex Lewis, a fourth-year backup.
Receivers Demaryius Thomas and Josh Bellamy both were limited in practice this week but are only listed as questionable. If either misses snaps, we will likely see Ty Montgomery used more as a WR than RB in this game.
