The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles likely never saw these circumstances coming. Predicted to battle for the NFC East title, both teams are still in contention, but are hardly the type of outfits that look ready to make any noise come January.
Entering their Week 7 Monday Night Football matchup, the teams sport identical 2-4 records after six games, with injuries the underlying factor of both club's malaise. Dallas, implementing a new defense under first-year coordinator Christian Parker, has seen their back-seven progressively decimated week by week, undermining his attempt to get his footing as a scheme designer and playcaller. The Eagles have just lost body after body throughout their roster, losing key contributors to the offense.
Are the clubs trending in opposite directions despite losing streaks for both? Injury wise, Dallas is starting to get some contributors back, with the question being about whether they can actually make a difference or is Parker's scheme a bad one. The Eagles are trending down, still, though they will get a big boost from one returning member.
Running back Saquon Barkley is on track to appear for the first time since leaving the Week 4 game early, and should bring a huge boost to a running game that has floundered the last three weeks. Hopefully ready to meet him in the hole is linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who hasn't seen action since Week 1 for the Cowboys. The Cowboys also expect CB Cobie Durant to return to action, and he hasn't played since Week 2. Those are two big additions for Dallas.
Things are trending right for several other Cowboys, though they aren't quite ready to return to action. The Cowboys opened the 21-day practice window for LB Marist Liufau and safety PJ Locke. Both were expected to be key reserves this year and still could be activated before Monday's game, with corresponding roster moves.
Starting safety Jalen Thompson can have his window opened next week. Meanwhile, Dallas did rule out WR/KR Kavontae Turpin (ribs) and LB Dee Winters (calf), along with OT Drew Shelton.
For Philly, the injury discussion has centered around QB Jalen Hurts and the controversy over his blood clot diagnosis. Regardless of the inner workings there, he's been moved to IR and is done for the year, opening the door for Tanner McKee to get the start and raising the possibility if he flounders, the Eagles could turn to Joe Milton III at QB. Philly snatched him off of Dallas' practice squad last week.
McKee won't have his top two receivers as both DeVonta Smith and Dontarin Wycks have been ruled out. Barkley is one of seven listed as questionable, along with OF Landon Dickerson and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, who is expected to be a game-time decision.
Here's a look at the complete injury report from Saturday.
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys-Eagles final injury update has 7 ruled out including Smith
