PLAYER NOTES
–WR Tavon Austin did not practice on Tuesday with a groin injury. He missed the last four games and is questionable at best this week.
–DE Taco Charlton left the Tennessee game with a shoulder injury. He didn’t play in the last two games, but he returned to limited practice on Tuesday.
–DT Maliek Collins left the Philadelphia game with a knee injury and missed some practice last week. He played against Atlanta and went through limited practice on Tuesday.
–WR Michael Gallup remained in Atlanta after Sunday’s game upon learning of his brother’s death. He was still away from the team and missed practice on Tuesday.
–DL David Irving left practice three weeks ago with a high-ankle sprain. He hasn’t played the last three games and didn’t practice on Tuesday.
–LB Sean Lee missed the last three games with a groin injury that is expected to keep him out of action for several more weeks. He didn’t practice on Tuesday.
–RG Zack Martin came out of the Philadelphia game with a knee injury, but returned to the game. He played against Atlanta and went through limited practice on Tuesday.
–C Adam Redmond didn’t practice on Tuesday with a concussion.
–DE Daniel Ross injured his calf just before the start of the Philadelphia game and hasn’t played in the last two games. He went through limited practice on Tuesday.
–LT Tyron Smith missed some practice last week with back spasms and was reported to have a neck issue this week. But he went through limited practice on Tuesday.
–TE Geoff Swaim suffered a wrist injury against Atlanta on Sunday. He didn’t practice on Tuesday and isn’t expected to be available this week.
–LB Joe Thomas hasn’t played in the last five games, but he returned to full practice on Tuesday.
–LG Connor Williams injured a knee against Tennessee. He missed practice two weeks ago when he had arthroscopic surgery. He went through limited practice last week and did limited work again on Tuesday.
–DT Antwaun Woods didn’t practice last week with a concussion, but returned in full capacity on Tuesday.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: QB Dak Prescott seems to be finding his rhythm as a passer since Dallas acquired WR Amari Cooper from the Raiders a month ago. Prescott has passed for more than 200 yards in each of the last three games, something he didn’t do in the first three outings of the campaign. On Sunday, Prescott completed 22 of 32 passes for 208 yards. He didn’t throw a TD pass, but he ran four yards for a score that gave the Cowboys a 12-9 lead in the fourth quarter.
GAME PLAN: When the Cowboys and Redskins met in October, Washington focused on shutting down Ezekiel Elliott, opening up quarterback Dak Prescott for his best passing game of the season. Prescott passed for 273 yards and a TD and put Dallas in position to tie the game with a field goal at the end of regulation. Kicker Brett Maher missed a 52-yarder and the Redskins held on. But that was before the Cowboys acquired WR Amari Cooper. So it figures Dallas will attempt to burn Washington through the air again and, in doing so, loosen up running room for Elliott.
Defensively, the Cowboys have to make life difficult for backup quarterback Cody McCoy. Despite being thinned by injuries along the defensive line, Dallas pressured Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan last week. The Cowboys are likely to get a few players back this week, which should give defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence the support he needs to harass McCoy. Interestingly enough, the Redskins will pair former Texas Longhorn McCoy in the backfield with former Oklahoma Sooner Adrian Peterson. Dallas needs to keep the former Big 12 stars from having too much fun in the Dallas area on Thanksgiving.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch vs. Redskins RB Adrian Peterson. When the Redskins defeated the Cowboys earlier this season, Peterson had a strong outing with 99 rushing yards on 24 carries. Vander Esch, meanwhile, played a supporting role behind Dallas starter Sean Lee. But since Lee’s been out with injury, Vander Esch has grown into a star. So will he be able to outshine Peterson this time around?
–Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott vs. Redskins LBs Mason Foster and Zach Brown. Washington held Elliott to 33 yards on 15 carries, while Foster and Brown combined for 14 solo tackles and 1.5 TFLs. But playing in the friendly confines of AT&T Stadium could give Elliott the chance to shift around the Redskins more effectively this time around, especially with Amari Cooper in the mix for Dallas.
