The Dallas Cowboys have been stocked with injuries to key players this preseason. Players like Trysten Hill, Chauncey Golston, Josh Ball and Amari Cooper have all been hampered before camp even started. Even worse, Dallas has been hit hard by new injuries.

Neville Gallimore, Sean McKeon and Ty Nsekhe all left the second preseason game against Arizona with injuries.

Gallimore will be out for 4-6 weeks after suffering a dislocated elbow, McKeon is dealing with a high ankle sprain, and Nsekhe left gripping his knee, although it doesn't appear to be serious.

The Dallas Cowboys already dealt with injuries last season, and starting off like this on the injury report is not the desired beginning.

The NFL will carryover their COVID injury rules from a year ago. Here's a reminder:

• Unlimited players can return from Injured Reserve.
• Eligible players to return are after 3 weeks instead of 8
• Only players on the 53-man roster after cuts can be designated to return. September 1st 4 PM ET.

A reminder on the IR rules: if a player goes on IR now, he's done for the year; can't return. Player has to spend at least 1 day on the 53 at the final cuts before going to IR and being eligible to return.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 14, 2021

The Cowboys have already stashed Sewo Olonilua, Reggie Robinson and Mitch Hyatt on injured reserve. Since it was done in the preseason, any player put on IR won't be able to return during the regular season.

Players like McKeon and Gallimore don't have injuries sever enough to put them on season-ending IR. Which means they'll have to be among the players on the initial 53-man roster.

The issue becomes that a player who gets cut as a formality will be subject to the waiver wire. This could be risky, since the Cowboys would have to hope that players they want to come back can go unclaimed.

For example, all four players (Gallimore, McKeon, Golston and Hill) are all likely to return this season but won't be ready for week one.

In order to avoid losing them for the season, they'll need to be on the 53-man roster for a day. Afterwards, they'll start the season on IR designated to return.

The Cowboys might plan to fill in those spots with players such as Malik Turner or Azur Kamara. This means they run the risk of losing them to the waiver wire.

This also factors in the amount of players each positional group keeps.

The Dallas Cowboys have a certain number of players they want at each group, but might have to give on some. Another example is the defensive line.

Initially, the popular opinion is that the Cowboys would keep 10 defensive linemen:

• DeMarcus Lawrence
• Randy Gregory
• Terrell Basham
• Chauncey Goslton
• Bradlee Anae/Dorance Armstrong (final spot)
• Neville Gallimore
• Brent Urban
• Carlos Watkins
• Osa Odighizuwa
• Quinton Bohanna

Now Golston and Gallimore will likely be out at least the first three games, and both Anae and Armstrong are on target to make the roster.

This avenue allows fan-favorite Azur Kamara and Justin Hamilton to make the team if they clear waivers.

This will affect the rest of the roster as well. Bubble players like Ron'Dell Carter and Simi Fehoko are getting closer to becoming virtual locks, even if it overloads a position that didn't need the extra player. Don't be surprised when the Cowboys keep more edge rushers over tackles, or more receivers than linebackers.

The initail thoughts of what the day one roster will look like have been warped. Now, it will be interesting to see which players they designate to return, as well as who they have in their place.