Going into Week 4 against Green Bay, Dallas was the underdog at home. Sure, the Cowboys‘ defensive issues are known, but with CeeDee Lamb sidelined due to the ankle injury, confidence in their offense had also dwindled. The game against the Packers ended in a 40-40 draw, leaving many to believe that the outcome would have been different had the Cowboys’ best receiver been on the field.

That might be up for debate. After all, it was Dallas’ defense that gave away 40 points. However, Lamb’s presence perhaps would have given the offense more power. Most reports had stated that the player would miss the next two games, but there is some good news on the horizon. “Schottenheimer: CeeDee Lamb (ankle) ‘trending in the right direction’; currently no plans to place him on IR,” UnderdogNFL quoted HC Brian Schottenheimer on X.

That’s good news. Had he been placed on injury reserve, he would have missed a minimum of four games.

So, the update is a signal that he could be back on the field soon. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He is the engine that gets the team down the field, but he hasn’t yet been able to get into the end zone. In the first three games he played, he scored zero touchdowns.

While the Cowboys’ offense might manage to hold against the Jets and Panthers, they’ll need every weapon they have for the Commanders and Broncos. Until Lamb is back, the team will deploy a reshuffled receiving corps.

1. CeeDee Lamb (injured)
2. George Pickens
3. Jalen Tolbert
4. KaVontae Turpin
5. Ryan Flournoy

George Pickens becomes QB Dak Prescott’s primary target, while Jalen Tolbert slides into Lamb’s former role as the second option. The reshuffling forces Dallas to rely heavily on Pickens’ ability to command defensive attention and create separation.

After establishing himself primarily as a special teams contributor, KaVontae Turpin has carved out an offensive role that should expand by necessity. However, Dallas hopes Lamb’s absence won’t extend long enough to require Turpin to carry a significantly larger offensive workload.

The depth chart reveals a concerning lack of proven receiving talent beyond Pickens, creating pressure on Prescott to distribute the ball effectively among less experienced options while the offense adjusts to life without its star receiver. That being said, Pickens delivered a breakout performance against Green Bay, catching eight passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.

Once Lamb returns, his route-running precision and Pickens’ explosive playmaking ability will give Prescott elite weapons that should elevate the entire offensive attack and create matchup nightmares for opposing secondaries. For now, though, HC Schottenheimer will be concerned with the injuries he has to deal with while testing the depth charts.

Brian Schottenheimer’s other concern

Just as a little optimism creeps in for the offense, the defense springs a leak. Reporter Calvin Watkins laid out the situation from the locker room: “A few players are awaiting results from some testing. Safety Malik Hooker said he’s got some ligament damage in a toe. It’s been bothering him for a while. He didn’t wear a protective boot in the locker room today.”

The specifics of how it happened are even more unnerving. Patrik (No C) Walker of DallasCowboys.com got the details and tweeted: “I asked Malik Hooker if his toe got jammed into the turf in some way, and he said that it was actually re-aggravated when he planted to change direction on the offending play vs. Packers.”

It wasn’t a bone-crushing hit or a freak collision. It was a routine cut. The kind of movement a safety makes a hundred times a game, a thousand times a season. His body just gave. That’s the unnerving part. Walker’s tweet continued, noting Hooker “can’t definitely say if he’ll miss time, but clearly dealing with some pain/discomfort when walking.”

Before he left the Packers game, PFF had Hooker graded as the 4th-best defender on the field for Dallas. After 81 tackles and 2 INTs last season, he has become the steady hand in a secondary that has seen more than its share of turmoil. If he is out for any extended period, it’s Markquese Bell and Juanyeh Thomas who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

So, the team waits for Hooker’s toe and Lamb’s ankle to get better. While the whole franchise is holding its breath, stuck with that strange 1-2-1 record, fans will hope their healing is faster than the fall.