FRISCO — The Cowboys enter Sunday night’s game at the Steelers minus starting defensive ends Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. They will also miss starting wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
Thursday afternoon, starting cornerback Trevon Diggs showed up on the injury report with an ankle injury.
Welcome to the NFL where dealing with adversity is like hot weather in Texas: It’s always around.
“Yeah, this is definitely one of those games that kinda shows what we’re made of,” safety Malik Hooker said. “As you know, we always have adversity or something like that. It ain’t nothing we’re not built for, man.”
In 2022, this core group of players responded to the challenge of losing quarterback Dak Prescott with a fractured thumb. Led by backup quarterback Cooper Rush, the Cowboys won four of five games before Prescott’s return.
Now the circumstances are different especially given the number of players out for the Steelers game. But the Cowboys have a difficult three-game stretch where some of their best players will be watching from the sidelines. It starts Sunday night at Pittsburgh, continuing the following week against the Detroit Lions, a title-contending team looking to end a six-game losing streak to the Cowboys. After a bye, a visit to San Francisco, a franchise that’s reached the NFC title game the last three seasons, with a Super Bowl appearance last season. The Cowboys have lost their last three games to the 49ers.
The returns of Parsons, Lawrence and Cooks vary. Parsons is out two to four weeks with a high-ankle sprain. Lawrence will miss four to eight weeks with a midfoot sprain and Cooks is week-to-week recovering from a knee infection. There’s hope cornerback Caelen Carson, who replaced starter DaRon Bland (toe) returns against the Steelers, after missing a Week 4 win over the Giants. Diggs’ ankle issue isn’t considered serious.
However, replacements for the men injured must step up.
“That’s the mentality guys have in the locker room, everyone is a pro, everyone is good, everyone just needs that opportunity to play,” Rush said. “And obviously on the other side of the ball, those are two great players on the D-line. But it doesn’t mean those other guys can’t get the job done. So we’re confident in everyone that goes out and plays. It really is, it’s a cliché, but it’s really a next-man-up league.”
Without Parsons and Lawrence, the Cowboys turn toward Marshawn Kneeland and Chauncey Golston as the starters. Coach Mike McCarthy said Kneeland will be used differently against the Steelers and that he’s been moved around the line of scrimmage more than any defensive lineman this season.
The Cowboys will also rely on Tyrus Wheat, newly acquired KJ Henry and Carl Lawson off the edge.
“I just know within the D-line room we got dawgs in there and we got guys who are hungry and excited for the opportunity,” defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa said. “And guys that I believe can play really well. I believe we’ll still perform at a high level and hold it down for Micah and D-Law to come back.”
With Cooks out, the Cowboys seek No. 3 receiver Jalen Tolbert and returner/receiver KaVontae Turpin to elevate their games along with backup receivers, rookie Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks.
“Just imposing that they have to step up and it’s time,” receiver CeeDee Lamb said. “You’re here for a reason and come showcase your abilities and unfortunately we lost a brother this week and who knows how long he’s going to be out. But yeah, it’s time for them to step up and I’m happy for them. I can’t wait for them to showcase their abilities.”
The NFL schedule doesn’t pause when something happens to a team. Reserve players must respond when forced to play and in some cases they emerge as full-time starters or star players.
“It’s the NFL,” Prescott said. “It’s how I got my job.”
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