Winters and Turpin injuries add to a Cowboys defense and return game already stretched thin

The Cowboys left Green Bay at 2-4 with two more injured players to account for, both of whom played their college football at TCU.

Linebacker Dee Winters strained his Achilles, and receiver and return specialist KaVontae Turpin hurt his rib cartilage, coach Brian Schottenheimer said after Sunday night's 23-13 defeat in Green Bay. Turpin's X-rays were clean, according to the coach's postgame update as relayed by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Schottenheimer did not offer a timeline for either player.

Dallas does not play again until next Monday night in Philadelphia, which gives the medical staff an extra day before the team issues its first injury report of the week on Thursday.

A linebacker group running short

Before he left in the first half, Winters made the first interception by the Dallas defense this season and appeared to return it for a touchdown, but replay ruled he was down by contact from Packers receiver Matthew Golden before the runback started, DallasCowboys.com reported.

Shemar James replaced him and finished with five tackles, Sports Illustrated's Cowboys site noted.

The injury hits a position that has been patched together since the opener. DeMarvion Overshown hurt his hamstring in the second half of the season's first game against the Giants and has not played since, with rookie Jaishawn Barham taking his place at inside linebacker.

Overshown sat out Wednesday's practice last week, was limited Thursday and Friday, and did not travel to Green Bay after Schottenheimer described him as a "long shot" to play. The team's website said Dallas is hoping to have him back soon, a return that would matter more if Winters is sidelined.

Special teams without their returner

Turpin got hurt on the game's first kickoff and was out the rest of the night. Because the All-Pro returner handles both kickoffs and punts, Dallas used fill-ins at both spots. Running back Tyler Goodson brought back five kickoffs for 122 yards, with a long of 30, and receiver Jonathan Mingo had three punt returns for 18 yards.

Bodies in the secondary

The defensive backfield has its own roster puzzle. Cornerback Cobie Durant was inactive again with a hamstring injury. Joey Porter Jr., acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh before the Oct. 4 game in Houston, played through an ankle injury he picked up in practice.

To fill out the group, Dallas brought up two practice-squad defensive backs, Derion Kendrick and Juanyeh Thomas, as game-day elevations. Sunday was Thomas' third elevation of the season, so the Cowboys would have to add him to the 53-man roster for him to play against the Eagles.

Reddy Steward, who was elevated for a third time before the Oct. 8 game against Tampa Bay, is in the same spot.

Quarterback Dak Prescott also took a shot to the ribs during the game. Schottenheimer said he was not aware of the quarterback having X-rays, SI reported.

What comes next

The Cowboys face the Eagles on Monday Night Football on Oct. 26. Practice resumes later this week, and Thursday's report will be the first indication of whether Winters, Turpin and Overshown can take part.

Sources

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys

Sports Illustrated

Yahoo Sports