Dee Winters Back For Individual Work, Malachi Lawrence Facing ‘A Few Weeks’ For Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Linebacker Dee Winters was set to do individual work at practice Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said, and tight end Luke Schoonmaker was expected to work back into practice.
Rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence is still looking at an absence of a few weeks with the ankle injury he suffered in Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Dallas plays at the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and Schottenheimer said the staff will make decisions after two more days of information.
“Get a few guys back rolling along a little bit. Again, Dee Winters, you’ll see him do some individual today. Joey should do good,” Schottenheimer said. “Schooney should be working back into practice. Fergie will be doing some stuff with the trainers. And then both Caleb and PJ are still in the protocol. And then Turp’s still working to continue his rehab. And then Malachi Lawrence is going to probably be a few weeks. So get some more information over the next two days and make a decision.”
Winters strained his Achilles in the Oct. 18 loss at the Green Bay Packers and was listed with a calf injury on the injury report. He missed the games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona. Schoonmaker was inactive Sunday with a groin injury after missing practice that week.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. played through an ankle injury Sunday. Dallas acquired him in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this season. Tight end Jake Ferguson hurt his ankle in the first quarter against Arizona and did not finish the game.
Caleb Downs, P.J. Locke Remain In Concussion Protocol
Safety Caleb Downs, the 11th overall pick in April, left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter. Safety P.J. Locke played Sunday for the first time since coming off injured reserve, after missing five games with a foot injury. Downs leads the Cowboys with 30 tackles.
Safety Jalen Thompson is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Schottenheimer said his practice window is not open yet. Wide receiver and returner KaVontae Turpin has been out with a rib injury and missed the Arizona game.
Malachi Lawrence Had Started The Last Three Games
Lawrence was the 23rd overall pick out of UCF. He has 13 tackles, 3 quarterback hits, and a sack in eight games, and he took over a starting outside linebacker spot three games ago.
“It’s just, again, we know it’s going to be a few weeks, so that’s what we’re looking into,” Schottenheimer explained.
The Cowboys’ active outside linebackers without Lawrence are Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston, Von Miller, and Tyrus Wheat. Dallas sacked Arizona quarterbacks 5 times Sunday, 2 of them by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The Cowboys are giving up 152.8 rushing yards per game, and Arizona ran for 202 on Sunday.
Winters has 23 tackles and an interception this season. Linebacker Marist Liufau had been on injured reserve with a forearm injury before the Arizona game.
On Monday, Schottenheimer said Lawrence’s injury was “a little different” from the other ankle injuries Dallas came out of the game with.
Indianapolis is 2-6 and has lost four straight. The Cowboys and Colts kick off at 12 p.m. CT Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
