With just one day left until the Cowboys’ game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, the injury report is sure to send shivers through the Dallas fan base.

After two straight tough losses to the Lions and 49ers, the Cowboys have been looking for a source of positivity. Instead, they have continued to receive bad news about injuries to some key players.

Dallas’ health is looking particularly poor on defense, and that will likely impact the outcome of the game against the Falcons.

This week is crucial for the Cowboys. So let’s look at the injury report and what it means for these two NFC teams.

Dallas Cowboys

No designation:

A rather strange injury report states that the Cowboys will only bring two unnamed players into the game.

Just like last week, Dallas special teams star Brandon Aubrey appeared on the injury report with a NIR-Other listing because he had jury duty. Of course he will play, and his role should be significant, as always.

The bigger news here in the No Design section is that rookie cornerback Caelen Carson will return this week.

Dallas’ defense has been missing the former Wake Forest star, and with the secondary still suffering from injuries, Carson’s return this Sunday will be crucial for Mike Zimmer’s group.

Questionable:

• CB Trevon Diggs (calf)
• DT Linval Joseph (back)
• LB Eric Kendricks (shoulder)
• G Zack Martin (shoulder)
• LB Nick Vigil (foot)

After the good news with Carson, let’s start with the scary stuff here in the questionable section.

The Cowboys have two of their All-Pros listed as questionable, as well as three of their key role players on the defensive side.

Starting with Trevon Diggs, his season is becoming increasingly difficult.

He’s struggling with his performance as he continues to recover from that torn ACL, media issues and now a torn calf from last Sunday’s game in San Francisco. When it rains, it pours.

Diggs is really questionable for this game, and that’s exactly what the Dallas secondary will be if he can’t go.

Guard Zack Martin is also here, which spells bad news for the Cowboys’ already struggling offensive line. They cannot afford to lose their captain.

If Martin is unable to don the suit, Dak Prescott may be forced to resort to the agility he used to use while flashing.

After all, there are three former Zimmer players here in Eric Kendricks, Linval Joseph and Nick Vigil, and while none of them will decide the game, their collective absence could be a major blow to the already weak Dallas defense.

Out of:

• CB DaRon Bland (foot)
• LB Micah Parsons (ankle)
• DT Jordan Phillips (wrist)

If the questionable section of the Week 9 injury report was scary, the out section is absolutely terrifying.

The Cowboys will once again be without two of their key defensive players this week: All-Pros’ DaRon Bland and Micah Parsons are missing from the game.

In Bland’s case, the Dallas defense has been hoping for his return for several weeks, but his recovery appears to be slow. This is a big problem for the Cowboys, especially since the secondary is both struggling and struggling.

Parsons wasn’t expected to play this week, but any game without him is a tough pill to swallow for the defense.

The perennial DPOY candidate is still working to recover from his ankle injury, and while we may see him soon, it won’t be this week against the Falcons.

Finally, veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is out with a wrist injury.

Atlanta Falcons

No designation:

• TE Charlie Woener (NIR rest)
• DL Grady Jarrett (NIR rest)
• DL David Onyemata (NIR rest)
• EDGE James Smith-Williams (NIR remainder)
• EDGE Matthew Judon (NIR remainder)
• LB Nate Landman (NIR rest)
• OT Kaleb McGary (NIR rest)
• OT Jake Matthews (NIR rest)
• WR KhaDarel Hodge (NIR-Personal Matter)
• LB Kaden Elliss (knee)
• S Justin Simmons (thigh)
• CB Antonio Hamilton (back)

As you can see, it was a restful week for the Falcons as they practiced for this week’s match against Dallas.

Unlike the two Cowboys, Atlanta had 12 players appear in the no-design section, the vast majority of which were NIR rest designations. In this group, the main names are guys like Grady Jarrett and Matthew Judon, but everyone plans to play.

When it comes to actual injury designations, there is no bigger name than former All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.

The former Denver Bronco is expected to play this week, although he was limited in practice on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.

Questionable:

• G Chris Lindstrom (knee)
• C Drew Dalman (ankle)
• LB Troy Andersen (knee)

In the questionable area, the Falcons have three key players, all of whom are expected to play after full participation on Friday.

Two of those three are starters on Atlanta’s offensive line, with All-Pro Chris Lindstrom and starting center Drew Dalman. Both guys are dealing with lower body injuries, but the Cowboys defensive line will have to deal with that on Sunday as well.

The last one here is also a key player for Atlanta’s starting linebacker Troy Andersen. Andersen, a true speedster at the position, was expected to return to the Falcons after suffering a knee injury in recent weeks.

Out of:

• DT Ruke Orhorhoro (ankle)
• LB JD Bertrand (concussion)

Rounding out Atlanta’s injury report are their second-round picks this year: defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and special teamer JD Bertrand, whose 2024 season was derailed by a concussion.

The main player here is of course Orhorhoro, who is considered a starter for the Falcons when healthy.

We’ll see how his absence impacts both Atlanta’s front seven and the Cowboys’ struggling running game this week.