Could this finally be the week Cowboys fans have been hoping for, for the last 15 months? There’s a 50-50 chance that the Dallas secondary, the cornerback room to be exact, full of All-Pros will actually see the field together for the first time in their starring roles. 50-50 is the best it’s been in several months and the last time it was reachable things went sideways at the last minute.
2021 interceptions leader and All-Pro Trevon Diggs missed all of 2023 where interceptions leader DaRon Bland emerged as one of the best in the league. Diggs’ feat was the first time in 30 years someone in the NFL reached 11 picks in a year. Bland set the all-time league record with five interception-return touchdowns. But injuries have kept them from lining up opposite each other, ever.
Week 6 was a false alarm, with Bland re-injuring his foot, but Week 14 appears to be the game as they face Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
When the two played together in 2022, Bland was an injury sub for first Jourdan Lewis and then in the playoffs he kicked outside for two games. Now, Lewis is working on the interior and Bland and Diggs will man the outside, provided Diggs knee works out in pregame warmups.
That of course, isn’t the sole injury concern for Dallas, nor the only bit of good news. WR CeeDee Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson don’t appear on the injury report, so for the first time since Week 4, Dallas will have their three top weapons together as Brandin Cooks has played the last two weeks.
Not everything is great, as Dallas learned this week they’ll be without nine-time All-Pro Zack Martin for the remainder of the year, and he’ll sit beside MVP runner-up QB Dak Prescott who’s also done for the season.
The Bengals have their own injury concerns, with star linebacker Logan Wilson, OT Orlando Brown and DT Sheldon Rankins all out.
Here’s a look at the complete list for both teams.
Dallas Cowboys
OUT
RG Zack Martin, Ankle
Safety Juanyeh Thomas, Knee
QUESTIONABLE
OT Tyler Guyton, Ankle/Knee
LB Nick Vigil, Knee
CB Trevon Diggs, Knee
NO DESIGNATION
WR CeeDee Lamb, Shoulder
TE Jake Ferguson, Concussion
DE Marshawn Kneeland, Knee
DT Osa Odighizuwa, Shoulder
LB DeMarvion Overshown, Hamstring
QB Cooper Rush, Knee
OG Tyler Smith, Ankle
Wednesday (Thursday) Rest Day
WR Brandin Cooks
LB Eric Kendricks
Safety Malik Hooker
CB Jourdan Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals
OUT
OT Orlando Brown, Fibula
DT Sheldon Rankins, DT
LB Logan Wilson, Knee
QUESTIONABLE
WR Charlie Jones, Groin
NO DESIGNATION
QB Joe Burrow, Right Wright
WR Ja’Marr Chase, Ankle
OG Cody Ford, Back
OT Amarius Mims, Ankle
CB Josh Newton, Ankle
DE Joseph Ossai, Thumb
TE Drew Sample, Ankle
Wednesday (Thursday) Rest Day
WR Tee Higgins
