The Dallas Cowboys are looking for their first back-to-back wins of 2018 in tonight’s game against the Houston Texans. They will have to do it without some key players, though, as the Week 5 injury reports show.
Not only will Dallas be without some of the guys from their active roster, but this week they moved Center Travis Frederick and Receiver Terrance Williams to injured reserve.
It’s a disappointing setback for Frederick. He was kept on the 53-man roster so far in the hopes that he could return sooner than mid-season from his neurological disease. Now, if he plays at all in 2018, the earliest he could come back is for the final four regular season games.
The Williams move is less surprising. While a foot issue is the stated reason that Terrance is going to IR, his role on offense has been reduced all year. The writing was on the wall when Brice Butler was re-signed two weeks ago.
Along with these IR moves, here are the other players on the Cowboys’ Week 5 injury report:
Dallas Cowboys
- DT Maliek Collins (knee) – OUT
- LB Sean Lee (hamstring) – OUT
- DT Antwaun Woods (calf) – Questionable
- CB Chidobe Awuzie (ankle) – Questionable
Lee will miss another game with his ongoing hamstring issues. Thankfully, rookie Leighton Vander Esch has made Sean’s absence less damaging than past seasons. Ideally, Vander Esch’s play will allow Dallas to not rush Lee back and give him the best chance of playing later this year.
The Cowboys continue to have problems at defensive tackle. Maliek Collins is out again and Antwaun Woods remains banged up, but he did play last week. David Irving is off suspension but will not play this week as he gets worked back into the system.
Starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was limited in practice all week with an ankle injury, but he will likely be able to go tonight. If not, it could means Jourdan Lewis finally gets some real playing time.
Houston Texans
- LB Brian Peters (ankle) – OUT
- CB Aaron Colvin (ankle) – OUT
- RB Lamar Miller (chest) – Questionable
- WR Will Fuller (hamstring) – Questionable
- WR Keke Coutee (hamstring) – Questionable
Starting CB Aaron Colvin has been ruled out tonight. What’s more, his backup Shareece Wright was limited in practice all week with a shoulder injury.
The other player listed as “out” this week, LB Brian Peters, is a backup at inside linebacker.
The Texans are really banged up at receiver. Their #2 and #3 receivers, Fuller and Coutee, are both questionable tonight. And while not listed, DeAndre Hopkins has been battling nagging leg injuries all season. Even backup Sammie Coates was limited this week with his own hamstring issue.
Lastly, starting RB Lamar Miller is not looking good for tonight. Here’s the latest on him and a few other Texans:
Texans are pessimistic about the chances of RB Lamar Miller playing Sunday night through his questionable tag and his chest injury, per source. He did little in practice this week. If Miller can’t play, Alfred Blue would start.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2018
For the #Texans tonight, WR Will Fuller (hamstring) is expected to play, source said, but RB Lamar Miller (ribs) and WR Keke Coutee (hamstring) are legit game-time decisions. Both will have to play in pain.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2018
The Cowboys want to keep winning, but the 1-3 Texans are fighting to save their season. Who will be able to overcome their injuries and get the job done tonight?
