Cowboys Look Healthy Heading into Sunday, Eagles Do Not

It appears as if a healthy bunch of Cowboys will be waiting for the Eagles’ Sunday night in their battle for first place in the NFC East.

As recently as just this past Wednesday the status of many key Dallas players was in doubt. Forty-eight hours later, they have somehow miraculously gotten better.

Dallas will likely have both offensive tackles, La’el Collins and Tyron Smith ready to lineup against the Eagles Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett. The Cowboys’ offense will also get a boost from receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb, though their return from injury would seemed to have added by the fact that they will play against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

The Dallas Cowboys’ injury situation has improved greatly from Wednesday. According to multiple sources, the Cowboys will have offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, wide receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb and cornerback Byron Jones... https://t.co/K6gUYy4k5C
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 18, 2019

The Eagles are ranked 29th in pass defense and have allowed 13 passing touchdowns in six games, including four last week by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen running free and open all game long.

Who wouldn’t want to put an injury behind them to line up against this Eagles pass defense?

The Eagles, though, may have some help on Sunday.

Cornerback Jalen Mills practiced this week for the first time in nearly a year and could have a role. So could cornerback Ronald Darby, who was limited in practice this week and is listed as questionable after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury.

Dallas, meanwhile, could also have its top cornerback, Byron Jones, ready to play.

The stakes are high in this game, and the Cowboys are ready.

The Eagles, though, cannot seem to find the magic potion to get their players healthy.

The team ruled out linebacker Nigel Bradham (ankle), defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (foot), cornerback Avonte Maddox (concussion, neck), receiver DeSean Jackson (abdomen), left tackle Jason Peters (knee), and running back Darren Sproles (quad).

Jackson has played just six snaps since catching two touchdowns in the season opener. On Friday, he was seen on the practice field for the first time since practices leading up to Week Two’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Jackson did some work with trainers off the side.

“I'll tell you this on DeSean,” said head coach Doug Pederson. “One of the things that I appreciate about him is how hard he has been working to get back. He wants to get back out on that football field in every way possible.

“So with that, his hard work, his dedication - and with this injury, it's tricky. He wants to be 100 percent, we want him to be 100 percent, so I'm not going to push him, I am not going to rush him. I want him to feel and be the DeSean that we know he's capable of being before we put him back out there.”

In the next breath, though, Pederson said nobody is ever 100 percent.

“With the type of injury that he has, and being a track guy, a speed guy, it affects you,” said Pederson. “It makes a difference. Is he going to be 100 percent when he comes back? Probably not. Is he going to feel better? Yeah, he'll feel better and be able to put it behind him and focus on football.”