Week-after-week, the injury list for the Dallas Cowboys has rivaled the length of a grandmother’s pre-Thanksgiving grocery list. Following the team’s 27-20 win over the New York Giants on Thursday, it was no different for the medical staff for the Cowboys.
Dallas saw multiple players leave the game, beginning with rookie left tackle Tyler Guyton who is battling a high ankle sprain after having it rolled on late in the first quarter. Veteran Chuma Edoga filled in and allowed two quarterback pressures and zero sacks on Cooper Rush.
Just a few plays later, safety Juanyeh Thomas was seen writhing in pain and grabbing his right knee after covering a kickoff. He was carted off with initial impressions being that he suffered a serious injury. Fortunately for Thomas, he was able to dodge the worst as initial scans show that he suffered an injury to his meniscus and is looking at a 2-3 week return, according to Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones.
“Juanyeh was better than we had feared,” head coach Mike McCarthy said on his Friday conference call with reporters.
However, what the team feared when cornerback Josh Butler went down after a non-contact knee injury just before halftime was validated with initial scanning on Friday. After filling in for an injured Trevon Diggs at cornerback over the last two weeks and excelling with his opportunity, Butler suffered a torn ACL, ending his breakout stretch prematurely.
On the positive side, the Cowboys’ 11-day break before taking on the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 9 will allow other players to heal up, including a possible return from veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence after missing eight games with a foot fracture.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on his Friday radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan that Lawrence will “more than likely” make his return for the team’s next game.
“D-Law is going to do more this week,” McCarthy said. “We don’t have a definitive answer there. That plan hasn’t been set for the week…He’s coming back into the real fray as far as practicing.”
The extended break will also allow right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) to heal with Martin having “the best chance of getting back” to the field, according to McCarthy.
“Trevon will take the week,” McCarthy said. “We’ll see how he does over this break here.”
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb continues to battle a shoulder injury that he suffered four weeks ago in the team’s loss to Atlanta. On Thursday, Lamb re-aggravated that shoulder when he hit the turf at AT&T Stadium awkwardly after getting tied up with a Giants defender in coverage.
“By the time we get the extra days here between Thanksgiving and the next game, I think Lamb will be ready to go,” Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Friday.
