In a Week 18 Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles matchup that sees both teams fighting for seeding in the NFC playoff race, injuries and positive COVID tests have been a big part of the week. Ahead of a potential playoff preview, let’s examine the injury report for both the Cowboys and Eagles before their Saturday prime-time clash.
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles injury report
There have been some big names listed on the injury report or placed on the COVID list for both the Eagles and Cowboys this week. Each team heads into Week 18 with key players missing or questionable as they contemplate whether to rest starters ahead of next week’s Wild Card Weekend.
Cowboys injury report includes Tony Pollard and Trevon Diggs
- CB Trevon Diggs (Illness) – Out
- RB Tony Pollard (Foot) – Out
- S Jayron Kearse (Hamstring) – Out
- S Donovan Wilson (Illness) – Questionable
- RB Ezekiel Elliott (Knee) – No injury designation
It has been an interesting week for the Cowboys in terms of injuries and COVID issues. Starting with the injury report, the Cowboys ruled Pollard, Diggs, and Kearse out on Friday. All three have not traveled with the team for various reasons. Pollard is still dealing with his torn plantar fascia, and this feels like the Cowboys are resting him for the playoffs. Kearse has a hamstring issue, and Diggs has a non-COVID illness.
Elliott was listed on the report but was a full participant for all three days. Wilson was listed as questionable due to COVID. He cleared the protocols and will fly to Philadelphia tonight. However, fellow S Darian Thompson will not fly to Philadelphia after testing positive for COVID.
Heading into Saturday, it is unclear how many players the Cowboys will be without due to COVID. The Cowboys’ roster page lists 11 players, but the hope is that some of them will be activated ahead of the game. The players they are definitely expected to be without include OT Tyron Smith, LB Micah Parsons, and CB Anthony Brown.
The Eagles ruled Miles Sanders out and listed Lane Johnson questionable on their injury report
- RB Miles Sanders (Hand) – Out
- OT Lane Johnson (Rest/Knee) – Questionable
- OL Landon Dickerson (Thumb) – Questionable
- OL Jack Anderson (Illness) – No injury designation
- LB Shaun Bradley (Stinger) – No injury designation
- QB Jalen Hurts (Ankle) – No injury designation
- WR Quez Watkins (Knee) – No injury designation
It was no real surprise to see Sanders ruled out this week. The Eagles have been managing him for a while now, and with a playoff spot locked up, they were never likely to rush him back after he missed Week 17. Philadelphia will be hoping he can get back on the field in the Wild Card round. The Eagles also wish to get Johnson and Dickerson on the field, but they will likely take little chances with their health.
The Eagles have placed 11 players on the COVID list this week. They activated Jason Kelce on Friday and could have potentially activated the majority of the rest of the players on Saturday ahead of the game. Entering Saturday, RBs Jordan Howard and Boston Scott, LBs Alex Singleton and Genard Avery, CB Avonte Maddox, DT Fletcher Cox, and TE Dallas Goedert were all still on the list. The Eagles chose not to activate any of them and will be without all 11, including TE Dallas Goedert.