ARLINGTON, Texas – DeMarco Murray and Zack Martin will both be active when the Cowboys face off against Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon.
The Cowboys released their seven inactive players ahead of kickoff, and both Murray and Martin – who have been hampered by injuries all week – have been cleared to play. Starting right tackle Doug Free, who suffered an ankle injury last week, has been declared inactive.
Jermey Parnell, who started three games for Free in October and November, will return to the starting lineup in Free's place.
This more or less follows the expectations around the Cowboys all week. Murray practiced all three days of the week leading up to kickoff and said he'd ultimately decide if he felt capable of playing with a broken metacarpal in his left hand.
Martin sat out of all three days of practice, but Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Friday morning he felt confident the rookie would be able to play against the Colts.
Outside of Free, the Cowboys' other six inactives are Dustin Vaughan, Jakar Hamilton, Dekoda Watson, Donald Hawkins, Kenneth Boatright and Josh Brent. Four of those are healthy scratches, though Waton continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury, while Brent recuperates from a calf injury.
The Colts are also coping with some big injury news, and it's not as positive as the Cowboys'. Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton has been limited all week with a hamstring injury, and he was declared inactive before kickoff.
Colts starting right tackle Gosder Cherilus was also deemed inactive with a groin injury. Injured cornerback Vontae Davis was ruled active, however.
Indianapolis has already secured a playoff berth by virtue of winning the AFC South. A Dallas win would secure the NFC East championship and a playoff berth for the Cowboys.
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