Detroit Lions vs Dallas Cowboys: Who’s In, Who’s Out

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The Lions will travel to Dallas to play the Cowboys in what is expected to be a great game. While there are no significant injuries for Detroit, Dallas has many key players battling injuries. Multiple key players will be out for the Cowboys, which could impact who wins the game. With just one day remaining until the game and practice being finished for the week, we have a good idea of who will and won’t play on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit Lions

After their bye week, the Lions are in excellent health. All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and safety Brian Branch were out of the lineup for their last game against Seattle, but they are both ready to play this weekend. In the Lions’ Week 3 victory in Arizona, Ragnow tore his pec, but he will return in just two weeks of rest. Safety Kerby Joseph had a hamstring issue on Thursday as well, but he was fully active on Friday and does not carry an injury designation going into the game this weekend.

Rookie guard Christian Mahogany has begun practicing, and despite not being active this weekend, he should be ready by the end of the month. This is the healthiest the Lions have been all year, so expect them to play some great football.

Dallas Cowboys

Sep 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy speaks with a referee against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

On the flip side, the Cowboys will be coming into this game with a lot of injuries. The Cowboys will be without linebacker Erick Kendricks, cornerback Daron Bland, and edge rushers Micah Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and DeMarcus Lawrence. For the second straight game, Parsons will be out due to an ankle injury. Lawrence is currently recovering from a foot injury he suffered against the Giants in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve last week. This week, Kneeland, a rookie Western Michigan second-round selection, was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

With Parsons and Lawrence down, Kneeland was anticipated to see a lot of reps; however, he will be out for at least four weeks. Lawrence is anticipated to be sidelined for four to eight weeks, while Parsons should return after the Cowboys bye week. This defensive line relies heavily on Lawrence and Parsons, so Dallas should be quite concerned with Kneeland being unable to support them.

Daron Bland’s foot injury put him on injured reserve at the beginning of the season. Although there was some thought he may return this week, he will have to wait until after the bye. It is anticipated that Amani Oruwariye, a former Lions cornerback, will start opposite Trevon Diggs in Bland’s absence. Due to a calf and shoulder injury, Kendricks, the best linebacker for the Cowboys, will miss this game. Although a lengthy absence is not anticipated, his absence will be felt this weekend as the Lions short passing game and run game will be a strength.

Dallas will have to rely heavily on its backups in light of all these injuries. They have the offensive players to defeat Detroit, but it will all come down to how the defense reacts.

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Article originally written by Ryan Souza.