Injuries challenge Cowboys’ depth
The NFC East race is tightening up on Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys, who could be without the quarterback’s top two receivers in another game with their best pair of defensive ends sidelined on Thanksgiving.
A brighter medical outlook awaits in December if nobody else gets hurt, but the Las Vegas Raiders come first Thursday after Dallas (7-3) couldn’t overcome injuries while failing to validate its status as a Super Bowl contender against twotime defending AFC champion Kansas City.
“We went through everything that we went through last year for moments like this, to be able to move forward and for other guys to step in and take advantage of their opportunity,” said Prescott, who watched most of a 6-10 season in 2020 with a broken ankle.
At receiver, that list is topped by Michael Gallup, Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown for now with Amari Cooper out for certain and CeeDee Lamb possibly joining him on the sideline.
Cooper won’t play against his former team because of a positive COVID-19 test last week and the accompanying rules for unvaccinated players.
Lamb sustained a concussion in the 19-9 loss to the Chiefs but did participate in meetings Monday.
Star defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is close to returning after being out since the opener with a broken foot, but the target date is more likely Dec. 2 at New Orleans. That’s also the first week Randy Gregory (calf strain) is eligible to return from injured reserve.
Bears unsure on Fields’ status
The Chicago Bears are still trying to determine if prized rookie quarterback Justin Fields bruised his ribs or broke them in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Fields completed just 4 of 11 passes for 79 yards after throwing for a careerhigh 291 yards at Pittsburgh two weeks earlier.
Fields was replaced by veteran Andy Dalton. Who will start when the Bears visit winless Detroit on Thursday was unclear.
Odds and ends
Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III received a stern talking-to from a Las Vegas judge but was allowed to remain on house arrest with a continuous alcohol monitor on one ankle and a GPS monitor on the other following a fatal crash he’s accused of causing by driving drunk. … A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed the Denver Broncos and wide receiver Courtland Sutton have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth more than $60 million with $35 million guaranteed. …
Green Bay left guard Elgton Jenkins will miss the remainder of the season after hurting his left knee. That further decimates a line that already is missing All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari as well as center Josh Myers because of knee injuries. … Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Linval Joseph entered the league’s COVID-19 protocol following a positive test.