FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
DETROIT LIONS
–OUT: DE Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder), TE Michael Roberts (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: LB Jarrad Davis (knee), WR Golden Tate (hip)
DALLAS COWBOYS
–OUT: DT Maliek Collins (knee), C Travis Frederick (illness), LB Sean Lee (hamstring)
–QUESTIONABLE: WR Cole Beasley (ankle), DT Antwaun Woods (groin)
PLAYER NOTES
–DT Datone Jones (knee) was placed on injured reserve and DT Caraun Reid was signed on Tuesday. Jones went through full practices all week last week and played against the Seahawks, though he didn’t record a tackle.
–C Travis Frederick was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in August. He has been undergoing treatment for the condition and was not put on injured reserve, clearing the way for him to return before Week 8. Frederick has said that there is no set timetable for his return to the field and that his status could change on a weekly basis. Joe Looney stepped into the starting lineup in Frederick’s place in the first three games.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Ezekiel Elliott had a breakout game, on paper at least, as he rushed for a season-high 127 yards in the Cowboys’ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday. However, he fumbled in the fourth quarter, keeping Dallas from chipping away at Seattle’s lead. He also made a crucial error when he stepped out of bounds on a pass route and ultimately negated a 31-yard touchdown catch.
GAME PLAN: While fans and the media have been clamoring for the Cowboys to kick-start their vertical passing game, the message from Garrett has been that the offense needs to be cleaner in its execution. The Seahawks’ defense sacked Prescott five times and the Cowboys gave up three turnovers. Conversely, in Dallas’ win over the Giants, Prescott wasn’t sacked and the Cowboys didn’t give the ball away. Vertical passing game or not, a mistake-free Cowboys offense has the potential to be an efficient offense. Dallas needs to prove that as it did in its previous home game against the Giants.
The Cowboys have been much more dangerous on defense, especially up front. But the Cowboys’ secondary gave up too many big plays last week. When Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson hit wide receiver Tyler Lockett for a 52-yard touchdown, it swung the game’s momentum to Seattle in a huge way, not to mention giving them a 14-3 lead that proved insurmountable. With the Dallas offense trying to stay out of the absolute bottom of the NFL, the defense needs to be dominant and produce lots of sacks while allowing no big plays.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Cowboys QB Dak Prescott vs. Lions secondary. Prescott has been unable to stretch defenses with the vertical passing game all season. But that problem was compounded last week when the Seahawks got their hands on a couple of interceptions. Prescott has to be a worry for opposing secondaries in order for the Cowboys’ offense to click.
–Cowboys D-line vs. Lions QB Matthew Stafford. Stafford has stayed upright most of the time as he’s only been sacked three times. That contrasts sharply with Dallas’s main strength. The Cowboys ability or inability to get to Stafford could dictate the momentum of the game.
