Dallas Cowboys: Inactives revealed for Week 12 vs. Washington Commanders

It’s Thanksgiving, which means the Dallas Cowboys are getting ready to play football. The Cowboys will square off against the Washington Commanders Thursday afternoon, and both teams have released their inactives.

After starting the year 2-2, Dallas rallied back to win four of its last five games, including last week’s 33-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers to improve its record to 7-3. As for Washington, it’s been a different story with four losses over five games after last week’s 31-19 loss to the New York Giants.

The Commanders are getting a key piece back, though, as Antonio Gibson is officially active. He missed last week’s game against the Giants due to a toe injury and was limited in practice all week ahead of the Cowboys game.

Here’s who won’t be suiting up for both teams in the NFC East showdown.

Dallas Cowboys inactives

S Jayron Kearse
QB Trey Lance (emergency third QB)
CB Noah Igbinoghene
CB Eric Scott
RB Deuce Vaughn
T Asim Richards

Washington Commanders inactives 

CB Emmanuel Forbes
RB Jonathan Williams
FB Alex Armah
G Julian Good-Jones
TE Curtis Hodges
WR Mitchell Tinsley
DE James Smith-Williams

Report: Cowboys among playoff-contending teams with interest in Shaquille Leonard

A big name hit the free agent market this week when the Indianapolis Colts waived Shaquille Leonard. Teams are starting to express interest — and the Cowboys are one of them, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder.

The Cowboys, despite owning the league’s second-ranked defense, have a hole in the middle of their defense following the season-ending neck injury to Leighton Vander Esch. In addition to being out for the remainder of the season, Vander Esch’s career could be in jeopardy.

“We had just completely left it up to how he was evolving, but of course it’s such a very significant loss for us,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas last Tuesday. “He’s an integral part of that defense out there. We just wish him well, and just the nature of his potential injury here causes me to really think longer term and beyond what it means for next week or beyond what it means for next month. It has everything to do with what’s best in his interest.”

Leonard could serve as a viable replacement for Vander Esch, even if his production this season hasn’t matched his prior form. In nine games, Leonard has recorded 65 tackles (34 solo) and two tackles for loss. Leonard has zero sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles. The three-time first-team All-Pro totaled 15.0 sacks, 12 interceptions and 17 forced fumbles in the five seasons prior.

Leonard’s elite production came before the two back surgeries, which limited him to just three games last season. Clearly not the same player he used to be, Leonard’s playing time diminished this season. He was set to be a healthy scratch for the Week 12 home tilt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday.

Nick Geddes contributed to this report.