A Cowboys defensive backfield that has been victimized repeatedly over the first eight games of the 2026 season could find itself once again stretched thin and scrambling to fill spots when the team travels to Indianapolis for their Week 9 matchup.
Wednesday's practice report listed 11 Cowboys players as either non-participants or limited in the day's work session. And while the impact of various injuries has been felt up and down the roster, the Cowboys are notably hurting in the secondary, with both first-round rookie Caleb Downs and veteran P.J. Locke currently in the league's concussion protocol following last weekend's 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona.
Both starters were on the practice field for workouts on Wednesday, but neither took part
in drills. On Thursday, both were in full pads, a promising step. According to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, though, the team has been exploring backup options for Sunday's tilt with the Colts.
"We've got some guys on the practice squad that we could elevate," Schottenheimer said in his Wednesday press conference. "Both those guys are doing good today, but there's a long process, obviously. But we've got some things in place, some guys that have experience playing both nickel and safety that we could move around."
First Cowboys-Colts injury report of the week: pic.twitter.com/oWdTUdil7M
— Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) November 4, 2026
Either would be a major loss for Dallas. Downs has played 92% of the defense's snaps so far this season. Locke's usage has been far spottier. He played sparingly in the season opener and then exited Week 2's game after just three snaps with a torn plantar fascia. After sitting out the next five games, he saw 84% of the unit's snaps against the Cardinals before leaving late in the overtime period.
Also on this week's watchlist are cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who was fully involved Wednesday but has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury, and safety Jalen Thompson, who suffered a hamstring injury back in Week 3 and is still awaiting the opening of his 21-day practice window. At this point, it seems very unlikely Thompson would be ready to take the field in Week 9.
"Not yet," Schottenheimer said on that potential development.
Replacing Downs and Locke in the Dallas lineup this week could mean another opportunity for Reddy Steward. The third-year man has already been elevated from the practice squad three times (versus Baltimore, Houston, and Tampa Bay) and would have to be added to the 53-man roster in order to play again. Juanyeh Thomas is another name to keep an eye on. While he has plenty of past experience as a safety, the vast majority of his usage since rejoining the club in October has come on special teams.
Malik Hooker, Markquese Bell, and Alijah Clark are the Cowboys' remaining safeties. Hooker has played over 60% of the unit's snaps in each game since Week 4, when he returned from a fractured forearm. Bell saw just three defensive snaps last week- filling in for Locke- but was on the field for as much as 80% of the defense's action during Locke's previous absence. Clark is a special teams staple but did log 40 defensive snaps in the Cowboys' visit to Philadelphia in Week 7.
As a defense, the Cowboys are allowing 232.6 passing yards per game, a mark that's 11th-worst in the NFL through eight games. Only four units have given up more explosive pass plays than Dallas's 27.
This week they'll face the Colts, who rank 28th leaguewide in passing yards per game, with 174.6.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Brian Schottenheimer says 2 Cowboys starters still in concussion protocol ahead of Week 9
