FRISCO, Texas — It's a tale of two sides of the Dallas Cowboys at the moment, and in more ways than one. Their offense is lights-out but the imperfections in it make them unable to continually save the defense, one that is currently the worst in the league, statistically. They're also preparing to welcome reinforcements back from injury, but also losing players to the same bug.
And speaking of a bug, two-time All-Pro punter Bryan Anger missed practice ahead of the Monday Night Football matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, so that's something to monitor as well on the injury front.
That aside, and as noted, there's firepower back on the practice field after having missed several games, on both sides of the ball, but the safety unit is being ravaged by injury, to the point where Markquese Bell is the only healthy one at the position on the active 53-man roster.
With Week 9 upon us and the bye week to follow, here's an injury roundup for the Cowboys as they try to figure things out before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4 — the possibility of addressing a position or two in that manner being very much on the table:
Offensive line
Cooper Beebe - ankle
Status: IR - Questionable vs. Cardinals
Tyler Smith - knee
Status: Active
Trevor Keegan - neck
Status: injured reserve
Keegan was moved to IR recently with a neck injury but has yet to take the field prior, and All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith returned to a full in-game workload after being held out, the added good news being that the imminent return of Cooper Beebe to the starting lineup against the Cardinals will mark the first time the Cowboys' offensive line has been whole in more than a month — at one point being down a total of four starters.
Running back
Miles Sanders - knee
Status: Injured reserve
Phil Mafah - shoulder
Status: Injured reserve
One is a longtime NFL veteran whose stint with the Cowboys is likely at its end due to a season-ending knee injury (Sanders) and the other is a rookie draft pick who hasn't seen a single regular season snap due to a shoulder issue (Mafah). The latter has a chance of at least changing his fortune in 2025, but he's yet to be designated to return to practice and also hasn't been seen wearing a helmet with the rehab group, indicating his debut isn't around the corner.
Defensive line
Perrion Winfrey - back
Status: IR - Designated to return
Payton Turner - ribs
Status: Injured reserve
Neither Winfrey nor Turner have taken the field yet for the Cowboys, both beginning the season on injured reserve, but Winfrey returned to practice in Week 9 and that means Dallas has until Nov. 12 to activate him from IR, otherwise he'll revert to season-ending injured reserve; and it goes without saying the Cowboys could use the former All-UFL talent to help shore up their defensive interior.
Linebacker
DeMarvion Overshown - knee
Status: IR - Designated to return
Jack Sanborn - groin
Status: Out vs. Cardinals
Only hours ahead of kickoff against the Denver Broncos, Sanborn was ruled out with a groin injury that adds to his struggles with availability in his first season in Dallas, having also missed time with a concussion — again ruled out versus the Cardinals after not practicing all week. Overshown, however, is trending (and moving) very well since returning to practice to make a play to be activated from injured reserve, but don't expect it to happen until, at the earliest, in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cornerback
Trevon Diggs - concussion/knee
Status: Injured reserve
Shavon Revel - knee
Status: IR - Designated to Return
Josh Butler - knee
Status: Injured reserve
Diggs' concussion cost him two games before the Cowboys ultimately decided to place him on injured reserve, guaranteeing he'll miss at least another four outings. The move was also done to allow Diggs time for any issues with his knee to be sorted out, and he began that process with some sprint drills with the rehab group in Week 9. Butler has no timeline for his return from a torn ACL suffered last December, but continues his rehab work, by Revel is operating on the same 21-day clock as Overshown — a post-bye debut for the rookie third-round pick being the expectation.
Safety
Juanyeh Thomas - migraines
Status: Questionable vs. Cardinals
Malik Hooker - toe
Status: Injured reserve
Donovan Wilson - elbow/shoulder
Status: Out vs. Cardinals
Alijah Clark - ribs
Status: Out vs. Cardinals
Yeah, this is pretty damn bad. Hooker and Wilson are the two starting safeties and when Hooker went to IR with a toe injury, it was Thomas tasked with stepping in and up, and he did both, that was until a cluster of migraines cost him what has now amounted two games; and though he's making progress with the different types of treatment being applied by the Cowboys, he is labeled TBD until further notice.
Unlike Thomas, who was ruled out, Thomas does have a chance to play versus the Cardinals, and that's great news, but he'll be a gametime decision. Clark, tasked with stepping in when Thomas couldn't take the field, suffered an injury to his ribs and won't be back until after the bye, at the earliest, the undrafted rookie now fighting to get back to the field ASAP for a razor thin safety depth chart. Look for potential help from defensive back Zion Childress, re-signed to the practice squad in Week 8.
