Thursday's Cowboys Report: Porter Jr. Steps Back to Limited, Downs and Locke Move Up, and Ferguson Misses a Second Straight Practice
One step back in the secondary, two steps forward right beside it. Joey Porter Jr. went from full to limited on Thursday's injury report, Caleb Downs and P.J. Locke returned to practice as limited participants, and Jake Ferguson and KaVonte Turpin sat out again — three days before the Cowboys play the Colts in Indianapolis.
Thursday's injury report moved in both directions at once for the Dallas Cowboys, and the secondary is where all of it happened. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr., a full participant on Wednesday, was limited on Thursday with an ankle injury — the step back that leads the day's report. Beside him, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was also limited, with hamstring and back issues. Dallas's defense, already stretched thin, goes toward Sunday's game at Indianapolis with its cornerback room moving the wrong way.
The same report carried the week's best news. Rookie safety Caleb Downs and safety P.J. Locke both returned to the practice field as limited participants after beginning the week in concussion protocol and sitting out Wednesday — Downs is also listed with an ankle injury. Linebacker Dee Winters progressed to a full practice through a calf injury, and fellow linebacker Marist Liufau has returned to full participation inside his return-to-practice window. For a defense that may need every available body on Sunday, Thursday added two safeties and a linebacker back into the week's work.
The offense's absences did not move. Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson missed a second straight practice with an ankle injury, leaving his availability for Sunday in question, and All-Pro returner KaVonte Turpin remained out with a rib injury. Rookie edge rusher Malachi Lawrence also missed a second straight practice with an ankle injury and is in danger of missing another game. Wide receiver George Pickens was limited for a second consecutive day with a hamstring injury, as were tight end Luke Schoonmaker (groin) and guard Tyler Smith (ankle).
Indianapolis has its own two-man absence list: linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither and cornerback Justin Walley remained out of practice on Thursday, while tight end Drew Ogletree was upgraded to limited. Running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Charvarius Ward all returned to full participation after Wednesday rest days, and defensive tackle Grover Stewart took his rest day on Thursday. The Cowboys (3-5) and Colts (2-6) meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern at Lucas Oil Stadium, and Friday's final report — with game designations — is the next document that matters.
