Dallas Cowboys make last-minute decision that makes beating the Detroit Lions slightly harder

The Dallas Cowboys announced their inactive players for their Week 6 showdown against the Detroit Lions.

Although fans already knew Micah Parsons and Eric Kendricks would be out for the game alongside DaRon Bland (who is not on the inactives list as he's still on Injured Reserve and is thus not a member of the 53-man roster), there was still one major decision left to be made.

Caelen Carson's availability. Ninety minutes before the game, the team has made it official that the fifth-round rookie who was starting in place of Bland before suffering a shoulder injury is not playing. Carson was considered a gametime decision.

The news is evidently significant, as the Cowboys have had to replace Carson with practice squad CB Amani Oruwariye. The latter improved last weekend but against a high-powered offense that includes Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, it might prove to be a mismatch today. Only time will tell but the Lions are usually pretty good at generating explosive plays and a banged up secondary should provide some opportunities.

1. DE Micah Parsons
2. LB Eric Kendricks
3. TE John Stephens Jr.
4. RB Deuce Vaughn
5. CB Caelen Carson
6. OL Matt Waletzko
7. QB Trey Lance

Other notes on Cowboys' inactives

• Kendricks being out is huge as he is the green dot defender for Cowboys, meaning he relays Mike Zimmer's calls to the defense on the field. He'll be missed in more ways than one.
• This is Vaughn's second "healthy scratch" game in a row, raising questions about his role in the future. Hunter Luepke taking on more RB snaps might've been what got him demoted after getting a few reps here and there earlier in the season.
• By now, it's clear Brevyn Spann-Ford has secured the TE3 job, as John Stephens Jr. remains among the Cowboys' inactives despite being healthy.

Lions inactives

Related: NFL hits Cowboys' fan favorite with news he doesn't want to hear before Week 6