The Dallas Cowboys are facing a massive uphill battle as they pack their bags for South America. Set to square off against the Baltimore Ravens in a high-stakes Week 3 international matchup at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Cowboys have officially ruled out four key defensive players due to injury.
With both teams sitting at an identical 1-1 record entering Sunday afternoon’s showdown, Dallas will take the field severely short-handed. Head coach and training staff confirmed that cornerback Cobie Durant, safeties Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and will not even make the trip to Brazil.
For a defense already scrambling to find its rhythm, losing four pivotal contributors all at once creates a glaring vulnerability against a high-powered Ravens offense.
Secondary Takes a Brutal Triple-Blow
The most alarming damage is concentrated in the Cowboys’ secondary, which has been decimated by injuries over the opening fortnight of the season.
- Cobie Durant: After arriving in Dallas this offseason following a four-year stint with the Rams, Durant quickly locked down a starting role, logging 84 snaps across the first two games. However, a hamstring strain suffered during last Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders has grounded him, and he is expected to miss multiple weeks.
- Malik Hooker: Hooker’s nightmare start to the season continues. The veteran safety suffered a fractured forearm in Week 1 against the New York Giants, limiting him to just 12 snaps. Though the training staff held out hope for a rapid recovery, he remains sidelined.
- P.J. Locke: Stepping in to cover for Hooker against Washington, Locke suffered a brutal plantar fascia tear in his foot after playing 31 defensive snaps.
With three-quarters of their primary defensive backfield rotation in the medical room, the Cowboys’ coaching staff will be forced to lean heavily on depth pieces. Second-year cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. is expected to see a massive uptick in snaps to help plug the leaks left by Durant’s absence.
Overshown’s Hamstring Woes Persist
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is another glaring omission. He is set to miss his second consecutive game after picking up a troublesome hamstring strain during the season opener against the Giants, a game in which he racked up seven tackles before being forced off the field.
In his absence, Jaishawn Barham is slated to maintain an expanded role in the heart of the defense, tasked with filling the massive void left by Overshown’s sideline presence.
High Stakes in Rio de Janeiro
Despite the severe injury clouds hovering over the franchise, the show must go on. The Cowboys and Ravens are scheduled to kick off from Maracanã Stadium at 3:25 p.m. CT on Sunday, with Dallas technically designated as the home team for this historic international spectacle.
Whether backup players like Barham and Revel can step up on the global stage and withstand the Ravens’ offensive onslaught will ultimately dictate whether the Cowboys can survive their Brazilian trip with a statement win—or limp home with a mounting injury list.
Do you think the heavily depleted Dallas Cowboys defense can pull off an upset against the Ravens in Brazil, or will Lamar Jackson and company exploit their missing starters?
