Dallas Cowboys Place Malachi Lawrence On Injured Reserve, Activate Marist Liufau Before Indianapolis Colts Game

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys placed rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence on injured reserve Saturday and activated outside linebacker Marist Liufau from Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return.

Ahead of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas also elevated wide receiver Jordan Hudson and tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard will stay on Reserve/Injured-Designated for Return, and his game status changed from questionable to out.

Malachi Lawrence Lands On Injured Reserve With Ankle Injury

Lawrence hurt his ankle in the 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 1. He did not practice this week, and the Cowboys ruled him out Friday. Sunday will be the first game he has missed this season. A player placed on injured reserve has to sit out at least four games.

The 23rd overall pick in April’s draft, Lawrence had started each of the last three games at outside linebacker. Through eight games, he has 13 tackles, 1 sack, 3 quarterback hits, and 2 passes defensed.

A day after the Arizona game, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team would keep testing Lawrence’s ankle.

“Fergie’s got an ankle, Joey Porter has an ankle, and then Malachi has one that might be a little bit longer,” Schottenheimer said.

“Looks like it could be a few weeks,” Schottenheimer continued. “So just keep doing some more testing, see how he moves around, but a little different than the other guys.”

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is questionable for Sunday with his ankle injury.

With Lawrence out, the outside linebackers on the active roster are Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston IV, Von Miller, Tyrus Wheat, and Liufau.

Marist Liufau Returns As Cowboys Elevate Jordan Hudson, James Mitchell

Liufau fractured his forearm in the preseason finale and had surgery. Dallas opened his 21-day practice window on Oct. 22, the day he practiced for the first time since the injury. After that practice, he told reporters he felt great physically.

“I’ll be ready to punch some stuff out,” Liufau said.

Before the Arizona game, Dallas weighed safety P.J. Locke and Liufau for its one open roster spot and activated Locke. Liufau came off injured reserve Saturday, 16 days into his window. Dallas had used six of its eight designations to return as of Oct. 29, according to DallasCowboys.com.

A third-round pick in 2024, Liufau played all 17 games in each of his first two seasons. He made 50 tackles with 1.5 sacks as a rookie and 30 tackles with 1 sack in 2025.

Hudson signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of SMU on May 1. In three preseason games, he caught 7 passes for 120 yards and 1 touchdown, and he signed to the practice squad Sept. 1 after clearing waivers. Returner KaVontae Turpin was ruled out Friday with a rib injury, and receiver George Pickens is questionable with a hamstring injury.

Mitchell was elevated for the Arizona game too. After tight end Jake Ferguson went down on the opening drive, Mitchell recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Ferguson is questionable for Sunday with the ankle injury, and Luke Schoonmaker is questionable with a groin injury. Mitchell played 35 NFL games before signing to the Dallas practice squad Sept. 3.

Bullard has been on injured reserve since Sept. 30 with a calf injury from the Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro. He had 3 tackles and 0.5 sacks over the first three games. Two days after the IR move, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that the injury would keep Bullard out three to five weeks. Dallas opened Bullard’s practice window Oct. 29, and if he is not activated before it closes, he stays on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Kickoff between the Cowboys (3-5) and the Colts (2-6) is at noon CT Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, with FOX carrying the game.