In a devastating blow to their defensive line, the Dallas Cowboys may be without their top two players when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 6. Edge rusher Micah Parsons suffered a severe left ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of their recent 20-15 win against the New York Giants, while defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will be out for multiple weeks with a right midfoot sprain.
The injuries are a significant setback for a defense that has struggled against the run in recent losses, but showed improvement in their latest game, holding the Giants to just 26 yards on 24 carries. Parsons and Lawrence are the team’s top pass rushers, with Lawrence leading the Cowboys with three sacks this season and Parsons recording at least 13 sacks in each of his first three seasons.
Coach Mike McCarthy expressed concern about the severity of the injuries, stating, “D-Law’s is worse than Micah’s. I don’t have a specific timeline, but we’ll get into that probably a little deeper Monday.” Parsons was injured while rushing the passer from the middle of the Giants’ line, while Lawrence suffered his injury in the third quarter while chasing Daniel Jones.
The Cowboys’ defense will need to rely on rookie Marshawn Kneeland and Chauncey Golston at defensive end, with veteran Carl Lawson available as an option after being elevated from the practice squad. The team will face a tough stretch of games, including critical NFC matchups against the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers, before their bye week.
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