Cowboys Gear Up for Week 3 Showdown Against Ravens Amid Injury Woes
The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for their Week 3 clash against the Baltimore Ravens, but they're entering the contest with several significant injury concerns. Standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and promising cornerback Trevon Diggs both missed practice on Wednesday due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Lamb, however, reassured fans, stating, "Ankle is cool. It was sore yesterday, so I took a day [on Wednesday]." Both Lamb and Diggs made limited returns to practice on Thursday, with Diggs participating in stretching but working primarily with the director of rehab, Britt Brown. Despite these signs of progress, Diggs' readiness for the Ravens game remains uncertain.
The Cowboys' injury list doesn’t end there. Tight end Jake Ferguson, who missed the recent game against the New Orleans Saints due to a bone bruise and MCL sprain, also practiced on a limited basis on both Wednesday and Thursday. Head coach Mike McCarthy commented on the matter, "Jake's a big part of the heart and soul of that locker room. No question about it. I was told he had a good workout today. That's good news. But we'll see how he comes in tomorrow and so forth. I'm hopeful he can play.”
Meanwhile, Mazi Smith left the practice field on Wednesday with a back injury and subsequently missed Thursday's session, adding to the team's injury concerns.
Assessing Performance Against Saints
The Cowboys are coming off a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints, where their defense allowed touchdowns on each of the Saints' first six drives. Saints running back Alvin Kamara was the star of the game, rushing for 115 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Reflecting on the defensive lapses, cornerback Trevon Diggs tersely described the performance as "unacceptable."
Despite the loss, there were some positives. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, in particular, had a standout performance, catching all six of his targets for a total of 43 receiving yards. Quarterback Dak Prescott praised Schoonmaker and undrafted rookie Brevyn Spann-Ford, saying, "Everywhere. I guess you can say that those young tight ends [Schoonmaker and Spann-Ford] did a good job. Simply, they did a good job. As I've said throughout the week, Jake's more than just a tight end on Sunday. He's an aggressor. He brings a physical nature to this group. He's got a mentality that other guys feed off of, that's very contagious, but those other guys did play well. They did their job and stepped up. They made some plays, but [the game] just got away from us."
Looking at the Ravens' Side
The Baltimore Ravens are also dealing with their share of injuries. Rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins was a limited participant in Thursday's practice due to a neck/concussion injury, while Kyle Hamilton made a limited return following a back injury. The Ravens will be keen to ensure their key defensive players are fit for the game against the Cowboys.
McCarthy's Strategy and Team Morale
Coach Mike McCarthy is adopting a cautious approach to player rehabilitation, emphasizing the importance of being fully prepared before taking the field. Regarding Diggs, he stated, "He's going to start off in the pre-practice and then we'll evaluate from there. Hopefully, he can get through the whole practice and see how it goes. This is the first time giving it a chance."
Prescott remains optimistic about Ferguson’s return, declaring, "Oh, Jake will be awesome. He's looked great. He looked great last week. You tried me last week, too. I think if it's a different game last week, more important game later in the season type of deal, that Jake probably could have went then. But he's obviously been out there. He's looked good.”
Focus on Execution
As the Cowboys prepare for their matchup against the Ravens, the emphasis will be on improving defensive execution and capitalizing on the offensive opportunities. The team must also manage their roster effectively to navigate the injuries that have impacted several key players. With Lamb and Diggs showing signs of recovery, and with Prescott's faith in his teammates' abilities, the Cowboys aim to bounce back from their previous loss and put forth a strong performance against Baltimore.
The outcome of this game will likely hinge on which team can better manage its injuries and implement the lessons learned from their recent performances. The Cowboys' ability to shore up their defense and execute more effectively on both sides of the ball will be crucial as they look to secure a victory in this pivotal Week 3 matchup.