Dallas Cowboys: Inactives for wild card game at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The stakes are as high as they get for the Dallas Cowboys taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in round one of the NFL playoffs on Monday night. Luckily for Dallas, they bring in a roster as healthy as head coach Mike McCarthy could have asked for after several weeks of injury scares leading into the playoffs.

The inactives report for the Cowboys revealed a surprise but, like McCarthy expected, center Tyler Biadasz, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch are all set to make their returns to the field versus the Bucs.

There are multiple players out, including cornerbacks Nahshon Wright and Trayvon Mullen. Mullen played significant snaps in Week 18 after his elevation from the practice squad. Dallas shored up the secondary on Monday afternoon, however, by elevating veteran corner Xavier Rhodes to the active roster.

Ahead of kickoff, the Cowboys announced Dak Prescott, Jayron Kearse, C.J. Goodwin, Luke Gifford, Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence as the captains for tonight’s game.

The winner between the Cowboys and the Bucs moves on to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday night.

Check out the full list of inactives from both squads before kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Dallas Cowboys Inactives

OUT – CB Trayvon Mullen, CB Nahshon Wright, WR Jalen Tolbert, NT Quinton Bohanna, DT Neville Gallimore, LB Jabril Cox, QB Will Grier

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Inactives

OUT – TE Kyle Rudolph, G Nick Leverett, QB Kyle Trask, WR Breshad Perriman, S Keanu Neal

Cowboys activate DT Johnathan Hankins before kickoff

The Cowboys activated defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins who injured his pectoral muscle with four games left in the regular season.

Hankins practiced with the team this week and is expected to make his return for the wild card game. He told reporters on Wednesday that he felt more than ready to get back on the field.

The Buccaneers also announced the return of a critical piece in the trenches on Monday afternoon. Center Ryan Jensen practiced with the team this week and received his activation to the 52-man roster with just hours to go before kickoff.

He tore his ACL and other ligaments in his knee during training camp, making a rapid recovery. He could play on Monday night, which would help the Bucs since they’ve had to shuffle their offensive line recently.

The Cowboys also announced the elevation of new veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Signed to the practice squad last Saturday, Rhodes could have a role in the secondary tonight. The 10-year vet told reporters this week he still has a lot to give to the Dallas defense.

Also elevated from the practice squad, tackle Aviante Collins is also on the Cowboys active roster for the wild card matchup on Monday night.