The Dallas Cowboys have been battling injuries on both offense and defense this season. In the latest injury news, tight end John Stephens tore his ACL for the second consecutive year. Head coach Mike McCarthy expressed his thoughts on the unfortunate situation.
“You could feel the energy drain from practice in that moment,” McCarthy said. “John has a bright future, and this is just another setback. He put in a lot of work—he was here every day, doing everything asked of him. In fact, we were planning to get him more involved after the bye week. So, it’s really unfortunate.”
McCarthy acknowledged that injuries are an unavoidable part of football and are the toughest aspect of the game.
“Injuries are the hardest part of this sport, no doubt,” McCarthy said. “They’re part of the business, just like personal life challenges. It never stops. The key is to keep the focus and energy consistent. At the end of the day, it’s all about beating San Francisco, and that’s what we’re focused on. These things happen, sometimes more than others.”
Cowboys still dealing with injuries over course of season
The Cowboys have experienced an up-and-down season, largely due to inconsistent performances and injuries to key players. Among them is Micah Parsons, who is still recovering from a left ankle sprain and may miss his third consecutive game when the Cowboys face the 49ers in Week 8.
Head coach Mike McCarthy provided an update on Parsons’ status, which didn’t sound too optimistic.
“There’s always a threshold for return to play, and he’s not quite there yet. Until he can fully cut loose, he’s not ready,” McCarthy explained. “Generally, for veteran players, if they don’t practice on Saturday, they’re unlikely to play in the game. So, if you’re looking for a marker, it would be full participation in Saturday’s practice. Ideally, we’d like him to practice in pads on Thursday, but Micah has a lot of experience and a strong grasp of our defense.”
Meanwhile, DaRon Bland is progressing in his recovery after foot surgery in August and could return before Parsons. For now, the Cowboys must keep the “next man up” mentality and persevere through these challenges.
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