Dallas Cowboys expect 2 starters to return to offense, but lose defensive back
The Dallas Cowboys can’t escape the injury bug, even on good days.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb returned to practice Wednesday and left tackle Tyron Smith practiced for the second consecutive day, setting the stage for both to be on the field Thursday against the Raiders.
Lamb, the team’s leading receiver, suffered a concussion last Sunday in the 19-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday.
But he has progressed through several stages of the NFL’s protocol and if he receives the final clearance from an independent neurologist after practice on Wednesday, he should be available.
“He hasn’t missed a step on a short week,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “Just as we discussed on Monday, if he’s able to keep progressing through, we see him as available for the game.”
It’s a done deal, per Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who said Lamb looked great and did everything in practice on Wednesday.
“I don’t think we have any limitations going into the game with him,” Prescott said.
Safety Donovan Wilson will miss the next three games after the team placed him on the injured reserve list with a chest/shoulder injury.
Wilson was injured in the 19-9 loss to the Chiefs last week. He’ll miss games against the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Football Team.
At the earliest, Wilson would be available for the Dec. 19 game against the Giants in New York.
The Cowboys (7-3) host the Raiders (5-5) at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
Smith, who missed the last three games with a bone spurs in his ankle, will play Thursday.
Smith’s return means the Cowboys will have both of their starting tackles on the field together for the first time since the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It couldn’t come at a better time as the Cowboys gave up five sacks last week to the Kansas City Chiefs and now face a Raiders team with two of the league’s best pass rushers in defensive ends Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 3:50 PM.
