Cowboys give status update on Smith, Hankins, more
FRISCO, Texas — In contrast to their recent record of relatively good luck, the Dallas Cowboys had an abnormally lengthy injury report this week. Of course, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and offensive lineman Tyler Smith are the main players, but there are other players who are currently experiencing health problems.
Despite not having practiced this week, Smith—who tore his plantar fascia in the third quarter of the team’s victory over the Detroit Lions—is listed as questionable for the Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Joining him as questionable is Hankins, who missed several games in December with a high ankle sprain before returning to practice this week for the first time since suffering the injury.
They both have a chance of taking the field in the all-important regular season finale.
Keeping to the defensive side of the equation, regarding one of Hankins’ defensive line compatriots, Dorance Armstrong entered the week with an ankle injury that cost him Thursday’s practice, but nothing more (limited participant on Wednesday and Friday He, too, is listed as questionable.
Running back Rico Dowdle, who had been playing through a high ankle sprain for weeks before eventually being sidelined for rest and recovery ahead of the playoffs, is one player who is guaranteed to return. Dowdle claims that since making the choice last week, he feels much better.
However, the seasonal illness is still circulating around the Dallas locker room. This week, Malik Hooker, Juanyeh Thomas, Chuma Edoga, and starting center Tyler Biadasz have all been infected.Additionally, Hooker is still addressing an ankle problem.
Though each of them are labeled as questionable and not doubtful, it’s something to keep an eye on, particularly for Biadasz — who was most recently added to the injury report as DNP (did not participate) on Friday while the other three players returned to practice in a limited capacity.
It’s been an unpleasant game of musical chairs for the Cowboys’ offensive line in 2023, and they’ll certainly need Biadasz available for a game they view as “a must-win” due to their ability to clinch both the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC bracket of the playoffs.
The Cowboys had seven players on their injury report this week, but none are classified as probable, and they haven’t ruled any players out until their final walkthrough on Saturday.
This implies that when they take the field in what has turned into the most significant game of their regular season—one that will probably determine how far they might go in the playoffs—they’ll be either mostly or at full strength, IR residents notwithstanding.
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