The latest Dallas Cowboys injury report raises serious concerns for the defense ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. The secondary is banged up, a key linebacker is suddenly on the list, and questions remain at tight end.

Let’s start with the biggest name on the list: cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Joey Porter Jr. takes a step back

Porter Jr. is dealing with an ankle injury, and he’s been on and off in the games he’s played for the Cowboys. Most notably, he wasn’t able to finish the game against the Arizona Cardinals, which sparked a debate about whether Dallas should give him some rest.

When Porter Jr. was a participant on Wednesday, those concerns eased a bit. On Thursday, however, the Cowboys listed him as a limited participant again.

That leaves real questions about his status for Sunday, and paired with the other injuries in the defensive backfield, it should raise significant concerns.

Caleb Downs and PJ Locke trending in the right direction

Speaking of the secondary, safeties Caleb Downs and PJ Locke remain in the concussion protocol. Each was upgraded from a non-participant on Wednesday to a limited participant on Thursday.

That’s good news. Still, head coach Brian Schottenheimer described the concussion protocol as “a long process.” Their statuses will likely come down to game day.

NFL players who enter the protocol often miss at least one week, but there’s no set minimum number of days a player has to sit. In 2023, CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones reported that the median return from a concussion is nine days.

If you ask me, that makes this a coin flip, and the Cowboys won’t know who their safeties are until the weekend. Dallas has until Saturday to make practice squad elevations, so we’ll learn more then.

At least Downs and Locke took a significant step forward by getting back to on-field activity as limited participants.

DeMarvion Overshown pops up

Sticking with the defense, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is a new addition to the report. He wasn’t listed on Wednesday, but he was limited on Thursday with a hamstring/back injury.

Overshown didn’t play from Week 1 against the New York Giants until he returned against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. Seeing him back on the injury report isn’t encouraging. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be out on Sunday.

As for the rest of the linebacker group, Dee Winters continues to trend in the right direction. He was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday’s practice and is in line to return to the active roster. 

George Pickens and the tight end situation

Wide receiver George Pickens remains on the report after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday. He’s now listed with only a hamstring injury, not a shoulder injury.

The Cowboys confirmed during the week that Pickens’ reduced snap count has everything to do with his injury and little to do with anything else. Speculation had been that Dallas was playing receiver Ryan Flournoy more for his blocking as the offense leaned into the run game. The Cowboys are denying that.

At tight end, Luke Schoonmaker was limited again on Thursday. He missed the last game against the Cardinals with a groin injury, and his status for Week 9 might matter more than expected. Jake Ferguson missed his second straight practice of the week after getting hurt early against Arizona.

Elsewhere, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence and returner KaVontae Turpin were non-participants. Offensive tackle Tyler Smith was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle injury, but the Cowboys didn’t appear concerned about his availability for Week 9.