Dallas Cowboys: Inactives for Week 3 vs Arizona Cardinals
The Dallas Cowboys got the injury bug in Week 3, which is clear from the inactives report for Sunday’s road game against the 0-2 Arizona Cardinals. Most notably, the Cowboys lost star cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season on Wednesday due to an ACL tear in his left knee.
The Dallas offensive line also has several players battling injuries, starting with All-Pro right guard Zack Martin. Left tackle Tyron Smith was questionable entering the weekend with a knee injury. Starting center Tyler Biadasz also popped up on the injury report late in the week with a hamstring injury.
Martin and Biadasz are officially out for the Sunday afternoon game, while Smith is active. Left guard Tyler Smith will also make his season debut after sitting out Weeks 1 and 2 with a hamstring injury.
To account for Biadasz missing the game, Dallas activated two practice squad centers ahead of the matchup. Brock Hoffman and Sean Harlow are both now in the mix to play on Sunday. Hoffman will start with backup T.J. Bass filling in for Martin.
With the Diggs injury, the Cowboys also elevated defensive back C.J. Goodwin from the practice squad.
The Cowboys and Cardinals released their lists of inactive players ahead of the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday. Here’s who’s in and who’s out for both teams.
Cowboys Inactives
ACTIVE
WR Brandin Cooks (Knee)
LT Tyron Smith (Knee)
OG Tyler Smith (Hamstring)
S Donovan Wilson (Calf)
OG Chuma Edoga (Elbow)
S Jayron Kearse (Illness)
INACTIVE
OG Zack Martin (Ankle)
C Tyler Biadasz (Hamstring)
CB Trevon Diggs (Knee)
S Israel Mukuamu
DT Viliami Fehoko
CB Eric Scott
WR Jalen Brooks
Cardinals Inactives
OL Ilm Manning
TE Elijah Higgins
OL Carter O’Donnell
LB Josh Woods
CB Starling Thomas
Cowboys shuffle secondary
After news broke that Diggs tore his ACL on his left knee during practice on Thursday, the Cowboys immediately went to the drawing board to shuffle the secondary around.
Luckily for Dallas, Jourdan Lewis is back from the Lisfranc injury he suffered last season. He played 10 snaps against the Jets last week, and now, the plan is to move him to nickel corner while second-year DB DaRon Bland takes Diggs’ spot opposite veteran Stephon Gilmore.
“I do think we’ve got good men on this roster who can step up and play,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said on Thursday, via Clarence Hill. “Jourdan Lewis is a good nickel corner. We will kick DaRon Bland outside like we did last year. I think Bland ended up with five or six interceptions last year. So I think we’re in a good spot.”
Dallas brought Lewis back from the PUP list at the start of the season. Though his snaps so far have been limited, the former Michigan standout told reporters that he believes he’s ready to play a full game. Whether or not the coaches agree remains in question.
“We’ll have to see. I’m fully-healthy now,” Lewis said, via Jon Machota. “So just going out there and showing I have the ability and my foot is stable enough to play a full game. That’s up to the coaches. I’ve been practicing full-go, full participant.
“(Foot) feels good. I’ve done everything, one-on-ones, everything, every period. I’ve been running full speed.”