IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys have added a few young players to the roster at different points this year.
And one of them who might have a bright future, will have to wait until next year to make any more of an impact.
Defensive lineman David Irving suffered a fractured wrist in Sunday's loss to the Bills and will likely be placed on injured reserve, along with Barry Church, who broke his right arm.
Head coach Jason Garrett said on Monday he wasn't sure if Irving's injury would require surgery, especially with just one game remaining on the schedule.
Irving, who joined the team on Sept. 29 when the Cowboys signed him off Kansas City's practice squad, has made a good impression on his new team in a short time.
Not only did Irving play in 12 games since coming over to Dallas, but he's had at least one tackle in 11 of the games. He recorded a half-sack against the Dolphins and has two tackles for loss, including one against the Saints in his first NFL game.
With Irving not playing this week, Garrett said he expects Jeremy Mincey to be active again Sunday vs. Washington.
Mincey was deactivated Sunday against the Bills so the Cowboys could get a better look at defensive tackle Casey Walker.
"The biggest thing with Mince was more of the positon," Garrett said. "We've been playing since Terrell McClain got hurt, we've been really been stressed at the nose tackle position. We've played a lot of different guys in there. Nick Hayden, Tyrone Crawford played in there a lot of snaps a few weeks ago. Jack Crawford has been in there. The biggest thing we wanted to do was give (Walker) a chance to come up and play. He's a natural nose tackle for us. He's done a good job for us on scout team. We felt like he deserved that opportunity. Mince went in there last week and played nose – a lot of snaps. But that's not really his natural position. We do anticipate Mince being back up this week with the injury to David."
In other injury news, Garrett said the Cowboys will continue to evaluate Morris Claiborne and his hamstring injury that has kept him out since the fourth quarter of the Green Bay game.
Garrett also said receiver Devin Street has been in the concussion protocol but seems to be "doing well."
