Cowboys' win over Steelers feels slightly better after bittersweet injury update
When Dallas Cowboys' second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland went down injured on Sunday Night Football, it was clear the team's defense was in serious trouble. No Kneeland meant the Cowboys were down their top three defensive ends, including Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Fortunately, the Cowboys seem to have avoided a worst-case scenario, as Kneeland did not […]
When Dallas Cowboys' second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland went down injured on Sunday Night Football, it was clear the team's defense was in serious trouble. No Kneeland meant the Cowboys were down their top three defensive ends, including Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Fortunately, the Cowboys seem to have avoided a worst-case scenario, as Kneeland did not suffer a torn ACL, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
However, Kneeland did partially tear his lateral meniscus, and will undergo a procedure to get it trimmed, per the report. The news is far from great but the fact that the Cowboys dodged a season-ending injury at a position that's already been hit hard is massive.
A second-round rookie, Kneeland is a promising defensive end with very good play strength and a ton of upside as a pass rusher. The Cowboys will miss him at DE but it might not be that long of an absence, which makes a hard-fought win over the Steelers feel slightly better.
When will Marshawn Kneeland return?
There is no timetable set for Kneeland, yet. Nick Harris reported the procedure Kneeland will go through on Tuesday will determine the time he misses.
However, it's worth noting the Cowboys defender is likely to miss several weeks. ESPN's Todd Archer reported Kneelands is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which makes him a prime candidate for IR. According to Dr. Kyle Trimble in a 2018 article for Banged Up Bills, "2-6 weeks or even longer based on the severity of the tear and corresponding damage."
The news certainly has a bittersweet taste to it: On the one hand, the Cowboys are losing Kneeland at a time where they couldn't afford to lose any more depth. On the other, this team should be getting Kneeland and Lawrence back at some point deeper into the season.
It's a tough spot to be in against quality, physical offenses like the ones in the schedule. However, at least the Cowboys will have their guys back later in the season.
