Pickens Limited, Quinnen on the Report, Locke and Liufau Knocking on the Door: What Wednesday Told Us About Cowboys-Cardinals

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RF Sports Radio branded title card with Cowboys star logo: Cowboys injury report Wednesday; Cardinals at Cowboys Sunday at noon CT on FOX

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

Cowboys Nation, Monday night in Philadelphia felt like a reset. Wednesday's injury report is the reminder that resets come with bumps and bruises, and Arizona is coming to Arlington on Sunday whether Dallas is fully healthy or not.

The facts

Dallas is 3-4 after the 38-21 win over the Eagles, and Arizona visits AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 1, at noon Central on FOX. The Cowboys did not hold a full practice Wednesday, so their report was an estimate, per the Cardinals' team site. KaVontae Turpin (ribs) and Dee Winters (calf) did not participate. Caleb Downs (ankle), George Pickens (shoulder/hamstring), Drew Shelton (hamstring) and Quinnen Williams (hamstring) were limited. Marist Liufau (forearm) and P.J. Locke (foot) were full participants, per DallasCowboys.com.

The team site described the group as "nursing bumps and bruises," in Brian Schottenheimer's words, and said Williams is dealing with a minor hamstring issue. The Dallas Morning News reported that Locke has been on injured reserve since hurting his foot in the Week 2 win over Washington, and that Liufau fractured his forearm in the preseason finale. If both are activated, the paper noted, Dallas will need one more roster move. The Cowboys already opened one spot by waiving running back Emari Demercado, who was claimed by Houston on Wednesday.

Arizona's own report was crowded. The Cardinals listed nine players who did not practice Wednesday, including right tackle Elijah Wilkinson (knee), right guard Jon Gaines II (ankle) and running back Tyler Allgeier (toe), plus veteran rest days for Josh Sweat, Budda Baker, Isaac Seumalo and Mack Wilson Sr. Quarterback Carson Beck (back) and running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) were limited, per azcardinals.com.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the Pickens line is the one that makes me nervous. A shoulder plus a hamstring is not a combination you want on your top receiver in a short-turnaround week. If he is limited again Thursday, I would rather see Dallas lean right back into the run game that worked Monday than force the ball to a guy who is not 100 percent.

Defensively, Quinnen Williams being described as minor is good news, but I want to see Downs practice fully before I relax. This defense has finally started to look like a unit. Losing the rookie safety now would hurt.

The upside story is Locke and Liufau. Getting a veteran safety and a young linebacker back at the same time could be the midseason boost this roster has needed since September. And look at Arizona's right side of the line. If Wilkinson and Gaines cannot go, this is a week for the Dallas pass rush to eat.

What to watch next

Thursday and Friday reports, then Friday's game designations. Watch whether Pickens upgrades, whether Turpin returns for kick duty, and whether Dallas activates Locke and Liufau. For Monday's angle on the play-calling, read our Oct. 28 Schottenheimer column, and follow the week on our Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: if Pickens is limited all week, do you sit him Sunday to save him for the long haul, or do you play him against Arizona?

Sources: DallasCowboys.com - Updates: Quinnen, Pickens limited in Wed. practice; DallasCowboys.com - Injury report; Dallas Morning News - Quinnen Williams, Caleb Downs added to injury report vs. Cardinals; AZCardinals.com - Injury Report: Week 8 vs Cowboys; FOX Sports - Cardinals vs Cowboys, Nov. 1, 2026.

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