All Systems Go for Pickens and Durant, While Philly's Injury List Grows: Jonathan Greenard Joins the Eagles' Sit-Out Crowd

By Jake "Star" Whitfield, RF Sports Radio Cowboys voice

Cowboys Nation, Thursday's injury report gave us hope. Friday's report gave us a trend. Dallas is getting healthier by the day, Philadelphia is getting thinner by the day, and that is exactly the kind of week you want before a Monday night road game in a building that has not been kind to you.

The facts

On Friday, five Cowboys were upgraded to full participation, per DallasCowboys.com: corner Cobie Durant (hamstring), left tackle Tyler Guyton (calf), receiver George Pickens (shoulder), outside linebacker Marist Liufau (forearm) and Von Miller (rest). ProFootballTalk notes that should put Pickens, Durant and Guyton on track to play Monday. Pickens said his shoulder will not be an issue, per The Dallas Morning News. Safety P.J. Locke, whose 21-day practice window was just opened, was limited in his first practice, and tackle Broderick Jones popped up on the report with a wrist injury and was limited.

Three Cowboys still did not practice: tackle Drew Shelton (hamstring), receiver KaVontae Turpin (ribs) and linebacker Dee Winters. The Morning News reports Dallas is expected to be without Turpin, with special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen saying running back Tyler Goodson will return kicks and Jonathan Mingo will return punts. DeMarvion Overshown, out since the opener, and Durant, hurt in Week 2, were both full participants. Both were opening-day starters.

Philadelphia went the other way. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (ankle), limited Thursday, did not practice Friday after what Eagles Wire called an apparent setback. Receivers DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), tight end Dallas Goedert (knee), edge Nolan Smith (concussion) and defensive back Michael Carter II (abdomen) were out again, per ProFootballTalk. Saquon Barkley (hamstring) stayed limited and is hoping to return Monday. Both teams are 2-4, and the Eagles are trying to end a four-game losing streak with Tanner McKee at quarterback. Final injury reports and game designations come out Saturday.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: this is the healthiest the Cowboys have looked on paper since September, and that removes the last excuse. A secondary with Durant, Joey Porter Jr. and a full-speed Overshown behind it is a real defense. Christian Parker finally gets to call the game he wants to call.

The Greenard news is the one that matters most to me. Philadelphia's pass rush was already stretched with Nolan Smith in the concussion protocol. If Greenard can't go, Dak Prescott should have time, and Pickens and CeeDee Lamb should see one-on-one coverage all night. That is a matchup Dallas has to win by a lot, not a little.

Losing Turpin on returns hurts, and I do not love inexperience back there in a loud building. Simple job for Goodson and Mingo: catch the ball, protect the ball.

My call: Cowboys 27, Eagles 17. I am bumping my number from 24 because the Eagles' list keeps growing. That is a prediction, not a report.

What to watch next

Saturday's final reports and game designations for Greenard, Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Goedert, plus whether Locke is activated. Kickoff is Monday at 7:15 p.m. Central. For Thursday's report, read our Oct. 23 Cowboys column on Thursday's injury reports, and follow the Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: if Greenard and DeVonta Smith both sit Monday, is anything less than a two-score Cowboys win a disappointment?

Sources: DallasCowboys.com - Updates: 5 Cowboys become full participants; ProFootballTalk - Pickens, Durant, Guyton up to full practices for Cowboys; The Dallas Morning News - Cowboys likely missing Turpin, Winters vs. Eagles; USA TODAY Eagles Wire - Eagles face more injury uncertainty before Monday night; ProFootballTalk - Saquon Barkley remained limited in Friday's practice.