The Dallas Cowboys continue to get bad news about their star players. DeMarcus Lawrence was recently placed on IR with a foot injury, and fellow defensive end Micah Parsons is also out with a high ankle sprain. Parsons could return soon, but he has been limited leading to Week 6.
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Now, the Cowboys could face a reality where All-Pro right guard Zack Martin misses Week 6. Martin did not practice on Wednesday due to a vet rest day. However, he subsequently missed Thursday’s practice due to a back injury.
Martin is now in danger of missing Week 6 if he also misses Friday’s practice. Back injuries can be tricky and become worse as time goes on. The hope would be that Martin rests and heals up by Sunday’s game, but Friday’s injury report is sure to offer more clarity on the severity of the injury.
Martin has been one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, and losing him right now is sure to cause issues for the Cowboys’ offense. Quarterback Dak Prescott relies on Martin to protect him, and losing such a force on the line could lead to head coach Mike McCarthy having to try out new offensive line combinations.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Martin #70 of the Dallas Cowboys blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 26, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Cowboys OL Zach Martin is dealing with a significant back injury.
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
The Cowboys are a little thin on their line right now. Martin is listed as the only right guard on the depth chart, but there are linemen listed elsewhere that would need to be moved off. Backup center Brock Hoffman could move to guard, along with backup left guard T.J. Bass.
An offensive lineman like Martin will be hard to replace, but McCarthy has a couple of days to figure out who to put in Martin’s stead should he miss the game.
The Cowboys are currently 3-2 on the year and are attempting to challenge the NFC for a playoff spot and secure the NFC East crown. The Washington Commanders are surprisingly in first place with a 4-1 record and are looking like they could be the team to watch in the conference.
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Sunday will bring a tough contest for the Cowboys, as they are set to face the Detroit Lions. The Lions were the favorite to make the Super Bowl in 2023, though they lost in the NFC Championship to the San Francisco 49ers.
Thankfully, the Cowboys have a bye week after the Lions. Should Martin miss the game, he is likely to heal in time when Dallas takes on the 49ers in Week 8.
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