Caleb Downs In Concussion Protocol, Joey Porter Jr. And Jake Ferguson Face Ankle Tests

ARLINGTON, Texas — Safety Caleb Downs has a concussion and is in the protocol after the Dallas Cowboys’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at AT&T Stadium, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said.

Schottenheimer said the team will see what comes with safety P.J. Locke. Tight end Jake Ferguson and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. have ankle injuries, and both will undergo more testing.

“Caleb’s got a concussion. He’s in the protocol,” Schottenheimer said. “PJ Locke, we’ll see what comes with that. A couple other guys got banged up. Joey’s ankle and then Ferg’s ankle. Those guys, we’ll get some more testing done and see where they’re at.”

Downs was ruled out with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter. He finished with 4 tackles and teamed with Kenny Clark on a fourth-and-1 stop at the Dallas 1 in the first quarter. Ferguson was listed as questionable in the first quarter, returned, and was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. He did not record a catch.

Locke was hurt on a 3-yard Tyler Allgeier run in overtime, on Arizona’s game-winning drive. He had 8 tackles. Porter was listed as questionable in the second quarter and returned later that period.

Joey Porter Jr. Says Ankle Has Bothered Him Since First Game In Dallas

Porter said the ankle has been an issue since his first game with the Cowboys, Oct. 4 at Houston. He wants to be a leader on the team, and not being out there frustrated him.

“It’s been going on since I got here, since the first game, since Houston,” Porter said. “So it was very frustrating when I’ve been playing. And then today I just was not on this good leg today. It was very frustrating to not be able to move how I want to and not be able to be out there with the guys running around. So I just got to go back to the training room and just keep the treatment up and keep the main thing the main thing.”

Porter had 1 tackle and was called for defensive holding in the second quarter.

“From my point of view, it’s just me not being out there with the guys,” Porter explained. “I want to be a leader on this team. I want to be a guy that they can lean on. So me not being out there is really frustrating for me. And I feel like that was the main, from my point of view, from what was going on. So I just got to get on the field no matter what.”

Kenny Clark Says Cowboys Have Confidence In Replacements

Clark said he did not notice the injuries as they happened because he was focused on his own job.

“To be honest, I didn’t notice. I’m just trying to do my 1/11th,” Clark said. “So for the guys that went out, hopefully we get them back for next week. But I got full confidence in the guys that we had out there.”

Arizona ruled out four players during the game and lost two running backs to first-half injuries, leaving Allgeier as the Cardinals’ only available back. Allgeier ran for 147 yards on 11 carries.

The Cowboys fell to 3-5. Dallas visits the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.