With the NFL season kicking off on Thursday, September 4th at 8:20pm, the Dallas Cowboys have a surprisingly significant list of players that are battling injuries, or are recovering from off-season surgeries. In this important, key divisional matchup, both teams have some critical decisions to make regarding who they activate for the game.
Which Dallas Cowboys Are Hurt?
CB Trevon Diggs (Knee)
Diggs is the biggest most significant name on this list by far. The prospects of facing the Eagles, and their projected top ten passing offense, without their #1 cornerback is double trouble. Diggs tore cartlilage in his already surgically repaired knee during a Week 14 contest in 2024.
Surgery immediately followed, with an expected 8 month recovery time. Having just surpassed the 8 month point post-surgery, DIggs announced on Monday that he feels he has a 75-80% chance to play in Week 1 in Philadelphia. Diggs has been a full participant in practice this week, giving the team (and Diggs) hope that he can go on Thursday night.
Star cornerback Daron Bland, who was just signed, will play and has no listed injuries.
OG Tyler Guyton (Knee)
Guyton, while not the household name that Diggs has become, is just as important to the success of the Cowboys on Thursday night. Guyton suffered what many thought was an ACL injury on July 28th during a training camp drill. Fortunately for everyone involved, the injury turned out to be a small bone fracture in his knee.
Guyton is the starting left tackle, and his absence in Philadelphia for Week 1 would cause significant issues for the Cowboys offense, and for Dak Prescott’s well-being. Guyton was able to return to practice this week, and has been a full particpant.
DT Perrion Winfrey (Back)
Winfrey was widely expected to be in the defensive line rotation in Week 1 foir the Cowboys. That is in jeopardy at this point, after Winfrey left the practice field on Sunday with back tightness. Winfrey has not practiced since Sunday. Winfrey status will depend on how his back tightness responds to treatment.
TE Brevyn Spann-Ford (Ankle)
Spann-Ford comes into Week 1, listed as the thrid string tight end for the Cowboys. Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker should make Spann-Ford’s injury irrelevent to the COwboys performance in Week 1. Spann-Ford has shown great promise and ability throughout Training Camp, with secured him a spot on the roster. Spann-Ford’s not someone expected to make a significant contribution in Philadephia, and having him miss the game is not a mjor concern at this point. Spann-Ford was a full participant in practice this week.
WIth two significant starters (Diggs and Guyton) Week 1 availability likely coming down to a game-time decision, it warrants keeping a close eye on their status and reports leading up to the Thursday at 8:20pm.
If Diggs is not active for the game, Dallas will struggle at cornerback. The Cowboys currently have unproven newcomer Kaiir Elam (via Buffalo) listed as next man up at cornerback, where he would be playing opposite of recently re-signed CB Da’Ron Bland.
Guyton’s absence would leave a gaping hole in the Cowboys offensive line. The Cowboys would likely shuffle the offensive line to put a more seasoned player at left tackle, while replacing them on the ionside with the likes of backups Brock Hoffman or T.J. Bass.
The Cowboys will need every man on deck for the challenge presented by a Super Bowl contending Eagles squad. For their sake, let’s hope these guy can go.
