ARLINGTON, Texas — Two more Dallas Cowboys defenders are out for the rest of Sunday’s home opener against the Washington Commanders. Safety P.J. Locke has a foot injury and cornerback Cobie Durant has a hamstring injury.
Jane Slater of NFL Network reported both designations. The third Dallas defender to leave the game, linebacker Dee Winters, went to the blue medical tent in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and returned, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Dallas came into the game without two defensive starters. Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker were ruled out Friday and were two of seven Cowboys inactive.
P.J. Locke Out After Replacing Malik Hooker At Safety
Locke got hurt on a third down during Washington’s first offensive drive of the first quarter. He walked off toward the sideline on his own and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation. Markquese Bell took his snaps at safety.
Locke signed with Dallas in March after six seasons in Denver, and he had the deep safety job on Sunday because Hooker fractured his forearm in the season opener at MetLife Stadium. Hooker had surgery Tuesday. Dallas did not place him on injured reserve.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday that Locke, not first-round pick Caleb Downs, would take the deep spot, and that Downs plays closer to the line of scrimmage.
“We love P.J. Locke,” Schottenheimer said. “I think Caleb played really, really well… Caleb’s a guy that can move around, but we like him down near the line of scrimmage.”
Cobie Durant Out As Dee Winters Returns
Durant signed with the Cowboys in free agency this offseason after four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He lined up in the slot and outside in his Dallas debut last Sunday night and was credited with 2 tackles in the 28-20 loss to the New York Giants.
Durant played 16 games for the Rams last season and had 3 interceptions. He has 141 tackles, 7 interceptions, 26 passes defensed, and 2 defensive touchdowns in four NFL seasons.
Winters left in the second quarter and Shemar James replaced him at linebacker before he came back. Rookie Jaishawn Barham started at middle linebacker in Overshown’s place and wore the green dot.
Dallas led 26-13 with 6:32 left in the third quarter. Both teams came in 0-1, with Washington off a 24-22 loss at Philadelphia in Week 1.
The Cowboys play the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27, with kickoff set for 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS.
