Cowboys' chances of beating the Saints look better after latest update minutes before the game

The Dallas Cowboys will officially be down star tight end Jake Ferguson on Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints as he fights to come back from a knee injury suffered in the season opener.

The Cowboys listed him as one of their inactive players 90 minutes ahead of kickoff. The news is unsurprising after the coaching staff listed him as doubtful to play on Friday and then called up tight end Princeton Fant from the practice squad. The team is also down John Stephens Jr. which means it'll be Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford and fullback Hunter Luepke helping replace Ferguson in addition to Fant.

Below is the full list of inactive players.

1. TE Jake Ferguson
2. TE John Stephens Jr.
3. QB Trey Lance (emergency QB)
4. LB Buddy Johnson
5. OT Matt Waletzko
6. CB Andrew Booth Jr.
7. WR Ryan Flournoy

The Saints will be down four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore

The Cowboys offense might be down Jake Ferguson, but the Saints defense is dealing with its own drama, as it'll be down starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The veteran corner is going through hamstring and hip issues.

That's a big deal when facing a second-team All-Pro quarterback like Dak Prescott. How much Dak and Mike McCarthy attempt to zero in on that area of the field will be a big story to follow on Sunday. It's worth noting the Cowboys seem to prefer to play CeeDee Lamb in the slot but this could be a good game to play him on the outside. We'll see.

The Saints being down Lattimore makes the Cowboys absolutely boosts their chances of beating their opponent.