The Dallas Cowboys eked out a 20-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that wrapped up early Monday morning, but they didn’t escape Acrisure Stadium entirely unscathed. Rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland and offensive tackle Tyler Guyton both left the game with knee injuries, adding to a long list of sidelined Cowboys.
So while coach Mike McCarthy fielded questions at Monday afternoon’s news conference about a come-from-behind victory, he also addressed the various injuries that piled up in recent weeks.
Here’s a rundown of updates as the Cowboys turn their attention to Sunday’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions.
On Kneeland
Kneeland’s injury delivers a blow to the Cowboys, because it’s significant enough to keep him off the field and it levels an already-battered Dallas defensive ends group. The knee injury is not season-ending, but Kneeland will undergo a scope Tuesday and is likely to miss four to six weeks, according to various reports.
“He’s scheduled for a procedure tomorrow is the initial plan,” McCarthy said, “so we’ll see how it goes.”
The Cowboys lost defensive end Sam Williams to a season-ending knee injury in training camp, and then Pro Bowlers Micah Parsons (high ankle sprain) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot sprain) went down in a Week 4 win over the Giants.
Williams and Lawrence are on injured reserve, while Parsons was not close to playing against the Steelers. By Monday afternoon, McCarthy was not ready to comment on the likelihood of the team signing another edge defender after they brought KJ Henry onto the roster last week.
“I just came from the training room,” he said. “One step at a time.”
On Guyton
Guyton, the Cowboys’ first-round rookie and starting left tackle, departed the field in Pittsburgh in the second quarter and remained on the sideline with his left knee taped for the rest of the game. Reports indicate that Guyton’s injury does not include structural damage, but the team will evaluate him as the week goes on.
As of Monday, Guyton’s likelihood of playing Sunday against Detroit remains unclear.
“When you have injuries … every timeline is not set in 24 hours,” McCarthy said.
Without Guyton in the lineup in Pittsburgh, the Cowboys shifted Tyler Smith from left guard to left tackle and brought T.J. Bass off the bench to fill Smith’s spot.
On Parsons
Parsons said last week he wanted to return to play as soon as possible, but high ankle sprains can often keep players out for several weeks. The All-Pro was at the team facility Monday getting treatment, according to McCarthy.
“I’ll have a better gauge of that Wednesday, if he has a chance for Detroit,” McCarthy said. “He has some work to do.”
Though the Cowboys have a bye week after playing the Lions, McCarthy indicated that Parsons’ health — and not the schedule or the team’s record — would determine his timetable for a return.
“We have to be smart with him,” McCarthy said. “I don’t think you make expectations for that.”
On cornerback Caelen Carson
Carson, a fifth-round rookie who started Dallas’ first three games, was the lone Cowboys player to enter the weekend listed as questionable to play against the Steelers and not suit up. A shoulder injury has kept Carson out the past two games. Veteran practice squad member Amani Oruwariye took his place in the starting lineup.
But Cowboys seem encouraged about Carson’s chances of getting back on the field against the Lions. He practice all last week in a limited fashion and said he felt his shoulder improving.
“Caelen — he’s close,” McCarthy said. “He was close this week. We should know by Thursday.”