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 SPOTLIGHT: OLB Devon Kennard. Kennard has been quite the addition at strong-side linebacker for the Lions. He’s tied with Eli Harold for the team-lead with three sacks, and this week will play a key role as an edge-setter in the run game against Ezekiel Elliott. Kennard saw Elliott plenty the last two seasons when he was with the New York Giants, and this week’s game will mark a bit of a homecoming for him as his father, Derek, played three seasons with the Cowboys in the 1990s. Kennard said he still remembers celebrating on his father’s shoulders after the Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
GAME PLAN: Maybe this is oversimplifying things, but the Lions need to stop Ezekiel Elliott by any means possible. The Cowboys have the second-worst scoring offense in the NFL and don’t get much out of their passing game, so if the Lions can limit Elliott’s touches, either through their own stout defense or by getting up early on offense, that would go a long way toward a road victory.
Of course, points won’t be easy to come by as Dallas has one of the better defenses in the NFL. There’s no reason for Matthew Stafford to hold the ball long against a Cowboys team that doesn’t allow many big plays and has Demarcus Lawrence rushing off one edge. Kerryon Johnson could play another feature role as the running game should have air to operate, and Sean Lee’s absence means the Lions could look to attack rookie Leighton Vander Esch, who’ll make his first start at linebacker.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence vs. Lions RT Rick Wagner. Wagner struggled through an ankle injury and scheme change last year, but he’s been arguably the Lions’ best offensive lineman this fall. On Sunday, Wagner will face a stern test in Lawrence, one of the game’s best pass rushers. Lawrence tied for second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks last year, and he’s already got 2.5 this year. Matthew Stafford is taking fewer sacks than he has in the past (just three so far), but he better beware of Lawrence on Sunday.
–Lions S Quandre Diggs vs. Cowboys WR Cole Beasley. The Cowboys don’t have much of a downfield passing game, but Beasley is one of the more underrated slot receivers in the league. He leads the Cowboys with 12 catches and 132 yards receiving, and earned praise from Lions coach Matt Patricia on Wednesday. Diggs will make his ninth straight start at safety, but he sees plenty of time at the slot cornerback position when the Lions go to their nickel package. While stopping Ezekiel Elliott is the Lions’ No. 1 task, Beasley is a chain mover who’s integral to the Cowboys’ offense.
