Dallas Cowboys Injury Updates | Shark Bites

Cowboys Edge Micah Parsons is active for tonight's game against the Eagles. Dallas added him to the injury report Sunday morning as questionable with an illness. But all reports have indicated that the team doesn't expect the illness to alter his playing time.

The Cowboys have added Edge Micah Parsons to the injury report. He's questionable with an illness for tonight's game against the Eagles. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Parsons is still expected to play. So he should probably remain in most IDP lineups that have him set to start. We'll check his status ahead of the game, though.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that LB Leighton Vander Esch will miss the rest of the season with the neck injury that landed him on IR. Jones declined to say whether it might end the LB's career. Vander Esch has dealt with neck issues since college and sustained multiple injuries during his Dallas run. We'd bet that he's seriously considering whether to shut it down, at 27 and after six years in the league. We'll watch for further updates on that. For this year's Cowboys, the news means Damone Clark should lead the LB playing time the rest of the way. S/LB Markquese Bell has been running as the second LB since LVE went down. Bell's playing time appeared to decline sharply in Sunday's win over the Giants, though. We'll have to see this week how much of that came from the odd game script of the completely one-sided victory. For now, Bell is best left out of most IDP lineups. Clark looks like a weekly LB3 with upside into LB2 territory.

The Cowboys will be placing LB Leighton Vander Esch on IR for the neck injury that knocked him out in Week 5. He's expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks. We'll see Monday night just how Dallas plans to fill in for LVE. Damone Clark is an obvious candidate for more playing time. Micah Parsons has also been mentioned as a potential part of the plan, which would mean more snaps in a standup position off the D-line. S Markquese Bell also figures to see added playing time.

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch suffered a neck injury late in Sunday night's loss to the 49ers. X-rays at the stadium came back negative, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. Vander Esch will have an MRI Monday to assess the injury further. It's a particularly touchy situation because LVE has a history of neck issues dating back to college. We'll watch for more on his outlook for Week 6 and beyond.

Cowboys S Donovan Wilson suffered an injury to his right leg in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's loss to the 49ers. Former NFL team doctor David Chao says there's "some hope by video the injury is not significant." We'll watch for the diagnosis. Wilson played a season-high 77% of Dallas snaps in his third game back from a calf injury before leaving. If he misses further time, Markquese Bell would get some extra snaps. Bell hasn't played more than 45% of defensive snaps in any game yet this year, though.

Cowboys S Donovan Wilson is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Jets with the calf injury that has kept him off the field for weeks. Wilson did return for limited practice participation Thursday and Friday. Combine that with Dallas' decision not to put him on IR to open the year, and it's clear the team hopes to get Wilson back by at least Week 4. We'll see about his status for Week 3, though it'll be tough to trust Wilson in IDP lineups immediately upon his return.

Cowboys LB Micah Parsons is questionable for Thursday night's game against the Titans with a left-hand injury that limited his practice the past 2 days. He said after Tuesday's workout that he still expected to play. The team has ruled out LB Leighton Vander Esch (shoulder), which will boost the playing time for LBs Anthony Barr and Damone Clark. Check our Week 17 IDP rankings to see whether either should factor into your fantasy football plans.

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy on Monday ruled LB Leighton Vander Esch out for Saturday's game against the Eagles. He also revealed that it's a shoulder injury for LVE rather than a neck issue, as originally reported. That's good news given Vander Esch's history of neck trouble. His absence this week should turn rookie LB Damone Clark into a full-timer. The 5th-round pick looks like an upside waiver-wire addition in deeper IDP leagues.

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch hurt his neck in Sunday's OT loss to the Jaguars. That's a particularly worrisome injury for LVE, who has a history of neck issues dating back to college. We'll see about his outlook for Week 16 and beyond.

Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs hurt his right thumb in Sunday's win over the Texans. He left briefly but returned and played 91% of defensive snaps for the game. Diggs told reporters afterward that he doesn't expect to miss further game time with the injury.

Cowboys EDGE Demarcus Lawrence (foot), LB Micah Parsons (knee, ankle) and S Donovan Wilson (illness) are questionable for Thursday's game against the Giants. Parsons said Tuesday that he'll be ready to play. Wilson didn't pop up on the injury report until missing Wednesday's practice. Lawrence played through the same issue last week, so we'd bet on him playing. We'll check the status on all 3 Thursday afternoon.

Cowboys LB Micah Parsons missed practice Wednesday with a groin injury, but he told reporters there's "no question" he'll play Sunday against the Eagles, according to multiple reports. Parsons played through groin tightness in the 2nd half of Sunday's win over the Rams. We'll track his progress this week to make sure he's ready.

Cowboys S Jayron Kearse (knee) is inactive for the 3rd straight game. That leaves Donovan Wilson as a strong starter against a pass-leaning Washington offense that arrives as an underdog.

Cowboys S Jayron Kearse popped up on the injury report as questionable at the end of the week after missing Friday's practice with a neck injury. The Sunday night kickoff makes it tough to wait for him in IDP lineups.

The Cowboys have designated DE Randy Gregory -- and DT Neville Gallimore (elbow) -- to return from IR. Executive VP Stephen Jones says "unless there is a setback," both players are expected to play Sunday against Washington, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. Gregory has been out since suffering a calf injury in practice ahead of Week 10. He'll be an upside DL option for IDP lineups if he's ready for Week 14, though.

The Cowboys have designated DE Demarcus Lawrence to return from IR, and Jon Machota of The Athletic reports that he's expected to play Thursday night against the Saints. Lawrence has been out fracturing his left foot in practice leading up to Week 2. We'd hold him out of IDP lineups until seeing at least a game back from the veteran. The Cowboys will not get DE Randy Gregory back for Thursday night's game. He's on IR with a calf injury. We'll see about his Week 14 chances.

Cowboys DE Randy Gregory suffered a calf injury in Wednesday's practice that is expected to cost him multiple games, ESPN's Todd Archer reports. HC Mike McCarthy said IR is a possibility. The injury likely means we'll see rookie LB Micah Parsons play more DE while Gregory is out.