Dallas Cowboys: Position Group to See Personnel Change for Monday Night

Only a day away from the Dallas Cowboys first NFC East game of the season, the team is having to play with the roster again. They will already likely be without TE Dalton Schultz (knee), as well as defenders S/LB Jayron Kearse (knee) and DT Quinton Bohanna (neck). It's looking like they will go into […]

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Sep 18, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Only a day away from the Dallas Cowboys first NFC East game of the season, the team is having to play with the roster again. They will already likely be without TE Dalton Schultz (knee), as well as defenders S/LB Jayron Kearse (knee) and DT Quinton Bohanna (neck).

It's looking like they will go into the Meadowlands without yet another defensive player, albeit at a smaller level.

First reported by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, LB and key special teams player, Luke Gifford is now listed as "questionable on the Dallas Cowboys injury report.

This would be a big loss for the Cowboys. He's played more special teams snaps (45) than any other Cowboy, both on kicking/punting and return teams. A unit that special teams coordinator John Fassell is highly coveted by.

If he does miss the game, it does open the door for Jabril Cox to finally see the field. Cox has yet to take a snap in the 2022 regular season, after missing most of his rookie season with a torn ACL.

In all likelihood, this move would mean that someone like LB Devin Harper or Rico Dowdle would see expanded snaps on special teams. Both players having played among the most ST snaps all year.

While nothing's yet official, the timing of this suggests Gifford won't play. Hamstring injuries typically take longer than a day to recover, even if it's limited mobility.

This could allow some younger depth players to see expanded playing time, but Gifford would be an underrated loss. Special teams is a unit that ranks among the leagues best on defensive and offensive special teams output.

Games can be won and lost on special teams and not having a key member is always a concern. Hopefully the drop-off won't be so glaring.

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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