Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence are likely to miss time with injuries that are more severe than the team originally expected.
Head coach Mike McCarthy gave that assessment on Friday but said Parsons would be viewed as “week-to-week” because of the 10 days the Cowboys have before playing their next game. Lawrence has a sprained foot and could be placed on injured reserve, requiring him to miss four games.
Parsons said after the Cowboys defeated the Giants on Thursday night that X-rays on his ankle were negative. He was one of three key defenders who left the field injured in New Jersey and was captured by TV cameras following the return flight to Texas heavily limping and attempting to keep weight off of his left leg.
Back in Dallas, both players had MRI exams and McCarthy said the results are “worse than we anticipated.”
Both players are scheduled to have second opinions, McCarthy said, but Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said on 105.3 FM on Friday that the team hasn’t “ruled out” Parsons for Week 5.
Parsons briefly left the game with a neck injury but returned before he was carted to the locker room because of the ankle issue. He told ESPN on Thursday night he would ice his ankle and “try to get back next week.”
The Cowboys (2-2) have an extended break before Week 5 with what appears to be a challenging stretch ahead. The Cowboys play the Steelers (3-0) in primetime Oct. 6 at Pittsburgh and host the Detroit Lions (2-1) in Week 6 before a bye week. The Cowboys return for a Sunday night matchup with the San Francisco 49ers (1-2) on Oct. 27.
Parsons got hurt with 3:30 left as he was being blocked low by guard Greg Van Roten and high by center John Michael Schmitz Jr. Van Roten appeared to come down on the back of Parsons’ foot.
Both Parsons and Lawrence had two tackles and Monday, and Lawrence had one sack.
Parsons, 25, was selected a first-team All-Pro in two of his previous three NFL seasons and averaged 13.5 sacks per year.
Lawrence, 32, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He has 61.5 career sacks in 141 NFL games.
–Field Level Media
