Some victories come at a greater cost than others.
The Cowboys’ win over the New York Giants falls into that category.
Dallas got the win it desperately needed to return to .500 and tamp down on the alarms that began to go off, many of them within the locker room. But the coming weeks will be even more challenging without two of the team’s top defensive players.
Pass rusher Micah Parsons suffered a high ankle sprain. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is dealing with a mid-foot sprain. While both expressed optimism in the aftermath of the victory, the MRIs revealed a more sobering reality.
The timeframe for Parsons is two to four weeks, a person with knowledge of the injury said. Lawrence is looking at multiple weeks, two people with knowledge of his status said.
Both are seeking second opinions. Lawrence will visit Dr. Gene Curry to help determine the length of time he’ll miss, a person close to the veteran defense end said.
Curry performed the surgery on Dak Prescott’s ankle in 2020.
The bottom line: The prospect is the Cowboys will be forced to face Pittsburgh and Detroit before the bye without the services of Parsons or Lawrence.
After that: To be determined.
“D-Law is worse than Micah’s,’’ head coach Mike McCarthy said. “But I don’t have a specific timeline. We’ll get into that a little deeper Monday.
“They are worse than we anticipated.’’
McCarthy declined to discuss how the Cowboys will go about absorbing the loss of their top two players on the defensive front. That will be discussed over the weekend with a plan in place when the players return from a long weekend on Monday.
The options are limited. The most likely scenario is for rookie Marshawn Kneeland and veteran Chauncey Golston to take their place in the starting lineup. Tyrus Wheat and veteran Carl Lawson, who is currently on the practice squad, should assume a greater role in the rotation behind them.
McCarthy was asked about Kneeland and Golston.
“Well, I think the biggest thing is to take the experience and get ready to play more,’’ McCarthy said. “Kneeland played not just more on defense, but on special teams. I thought he had a good day.
“And I thought Chauncey was very consistent, solid, in the run game. As a whole, especially with these two injuries, we’ve got to get the coordination and impact of our pass rush going.’’
Sorting through this conundrum will consume the organization’s time this weekend. McCarthy will meet with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and others on his staff to determine the best way to proceed.
McCarthy appeared to take it in stride, the best he could, when asked about his level of concern with losing two players of the quality of Parsons and Lawrence.
“It’s part of the game,’’ he said. “[Injuries] are going to come. It’s just a matter of when.’’
When came on a muggy Northeast night in late September.
“I definitely think they’ll be back,’’ McCarthy said.
“I just don’t have a timeline.’’
Staff Writer Calvin Watkins contributed to this report.
Catch David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as they co-host Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. through the Super Bowl.
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