The Dallas Cowboys begin the week with three key players in question after Sunday's 33-30 overtime defeat against Arizona, and the timing leaves little room: they play at Indianapolis on Sunday and face the NFL trade deadline two days later.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer gave the first word after the game. "Caleb's got a concussion. He's in the protocol," he said, according to Dallas Sports Journal. "Joey's ankle and then Ferg's ankle. Those guys, we'll get some more testing done and see where they're at." He also mentioned safety PJ Locke as a player the team would evaluate.
Caleb Downs, safety
Downs was declared out with 8:18 remaining in the fourth. Before that he made four tackles and was part of an opening-quarter goal-line stand on fourth-and-1 at the Dallas 1. Under league rules he cannot return until he clears every step of the concussion protocol, which makes his Week 9 status uncertain.
Sports Illustrated's Cowboys site suggested Cobie Durant could see more snaps if Downs cannot go.
Joey Porter Jr., cornerback
Porter was deemed questionable during the second quarter, came back before halftime and finished with one tackle and a defensive holding penalty. He said the ankle has bothered him since his first game in Dallas, Oct. 4 at Houston, three days after the Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh.
"It's been going on since I got here," Porter said, as quoted by Dallas Sports Journal. "It was very frustrating to not be able to move how I want to and not be able to be out there with the guys running around."
Dallas paid second- and sixth-round picks, in 2028 and 2027, for Porter, who is also scheduled for free agency after the season.
