FRISCO, Texas — Days ahead of their battle against the Houston Texans, the Dallas Cowboys submitted an injury report that, each day last week, featured a season-long 18 players who were either recovering from an ailment and/or were trying to manage one to remain available for the primetime bout with the hopes of staving off a 3-7 start to the season.
Unable to achieve the latter, the former might've been lengthened as they turn the page to their divisional matchup against Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders in Week 12.
A recap of the latest round of injuries that occurred on Monday night indicates the Cowboys have now blown past dire straits and right into the deepest realms of the unknown.
The next several days will reveal more about the status of each of the following players:
Jake Ferguson, TE
The Pro Bowl tight end exited the game on the third possession of the contest with a concussion and was immediately ruled out. As he enters concussion protocol, and in a short week, it is unlikely he'll be cleared for the trip to the nation's capital to take on the Commanders just six days later — though that will ultimately be determined in the days to come. Ferguson missed a game earlier this season with a sprained MCL.
"I'm a little concerned about Ferguson," owner and general manager Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Tuesday morning. "That was pretty obvious after the game. We'll have to evaluate that because those concussions, as you know, are an evaluation thing."
Zack Martin, OL
Things are going from bad to much worse for the Cowboys on the injury front and, after their Week 11 matchup against the Texans, this is especially true for the offensive line. They'd end up losing not one, or two, but three starters to injury and the headliner of the bunch is future first-ballot Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin, who will be further evaluated on Tuesday for an ankle injury that prevented him from stepping back onto the field on Monday night. Martin has dealt with multiple injuries this season (and both of his ankles now), a longtime ironman who suddenly can't escape the injury bug.
Tyler Smith, OL
Not long after Martin went down and out was Smith following suit, and also with an ankle injury. The former first-round pick and current All-Pro left guard was seen rehabbing his left knee in the days ahead of the Monday night battle but it didn't keep him from suiting up. The injury he suffered to his ankle, however, did shut him down before the game was concluded. He now becomes yet another key player to watch this week as the Cowboys keep their fingers crossed that he'll be available in Week 12, despite having one fewer day to recover.
Tyler Guyton, OT
It's another blow to the availability of Guyton, who has had a rough go of it over the course of his first 10 games in the NFL, as well as in the preseason that preceded them. The rookie entered the matchup against the Texans nursing a shoulder injury that was presumably made worse after he recovered a fumble from Cooper Rush and attempted to run with the ball, taking a big hit in the process and leaving the game immediately thereafter; and he did not return to the field. And with three starting O-linemen on the mend, the Cowboys' depth chart is beyond pushed to and beyond its limits, at this point.
Markquese Bell, S
The talented young safety, who spent time at linebacker last season before being reverted back to his true position under Mike Zimmer, is dealing with a shoulder injury that occurred on a kickoff to the Texans early in the second quarter. He was initially listed as questionable but did not return to the game, seemingly in a lot of pain before he was helped off of the field.
