Dallas Cowboys' training camp headache keeps getting worse with latest injury news
One of the biggest roster problems for the Cowboys is getting worse.
They say there's no such thing as "having too many cornerbacks" in the NFL. Well, the Dallas Cowboys have too many cornerbacks. . . on the injured list.
Caelen Carson is joining cornerbacks Trevon Diggs, Shavon Revel Jr., and Josh Butler among the Cowboys' injured players. The second-year defensive back suffered a knee hyperextension that's expected to knock him out for the next four to six weeks, ESPN's Todd Archer reported Tuesday.
The injury happened on Sunday, during the Cowboys' very first padded practice.
Even before Carson's injury, the lack of cornerback depth was one of the biggest headaches the Cowboys had been dealing with at training camp. Now they're forced to finish training camp without one of the team's rising players at the position. The former fifth-round draft pick appeared to have a legit shot at starting Week 1.
With DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam seemingly positioned as locks to start early on, the Cowboys are turning to backups Israel Mukuamu, Kemon Hall, Andrew Booth, Troy Pride Jr., among others, to rise as potential starters while the position group heals up. Diggs is expected to miss the start of the season, though it remains unclear how long he will be out.
It's a particularly important problem as the Cowboys are set to face quality wide receiver groups early in the season:
- Week 1: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Week 2: Malik Nabers (New York Giants)
- Week 3: D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears)
- Week 4: Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers)
Unless the Cowboys heal up in time for Week 1 or more significant reinforcements are announced, these injuries could cost them games early on.
Cowboys sign CB Christian Matthew as a replacement
In the meantime, the Cowboys are reuniting defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus with cornerback Christian Matthew, who played for the Chicago Bears in 2023. A former seventh-round draft pick (2022), Matthew has 20 games played under his belt. He spent 2024 on the Baltimore Ravens' Injured Reserve.
Matthew is a long shot to make the Cowboys' 53-man roster.
