Schoonmaker Added, Turpin and Winters Sit Again, Bullard's Window Opens: The Real Cowboys Practice Report Before Arizona

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

Cowboys Nation, Wednesday's report was a guess. Thursday's report was the real thing, because Thursday was the first time this team actually practiced after Monday night in Philadelphia. And the real thing has a couple of new names on it.

The facts

Dallas (3-4) held only a walkthrough Wednesday, so that day's participation was an estimate, per the Dallas Sports Journal and Cardinals Wire. On Thursday, KaVontae Turpin (ribs) and Dee Winters (calf) did not practice for a second straight day. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker was added to the report with a groin injury and did not practice. Guard Tyler Smith was also added, with an ankle, but he was a full participant, per the official report on DallasCowboys.com.

Caleb Downs (ankle), George Pickens (shoulder/hamstring), Drew Shelton (hamstring) and Quinnen Williams (hamstring) were limited again. Marist Liufau (forearm) and P.J. Locke (foot) were full again, and defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard practiced in full after Dallas opened his 21-day practice window, per Cardinals Wire and the team report.

Brian Schottenheimer had set expectations on Tuesday. "We got a few guys bumped and bruised," he said, per the Dallas Sports Journal. "We won't get a great read on them till probably Thursday." He added: "But nothing major." The same outlet noted Turpin was hurt on the opening kickoff of the Oct. 18 loss at Green Bay, and that Tyler Goodson handled kickoffs Monday, with a 99-yard return touchdown wiped out by a holding penalty.

Arizona's news was better. Per azcardinals.com, seven Cardinals returned to practice Thursday, and only guard Jon Gaines II (ankle) and defensive tackle Walter Nolen III (ankle) stayed out. Center Hjalte Froholdt showed up limited with a knee. Kickoff is Sunday at noon Central at AT&T Stadium on FOX.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the Schoonmaker addition matters more than it looks. When you just ran for 204 yards in Philadelphia, your tight ends are part of the reason. If he cannot go, Dallas has to keep that run identity without one of the guys who helped build it.

On Pickens, two straight limited days is not a crisis, but it is a trend. I said it Thursday and I will say it again: do not force it. Arizona just got healthier up front on defense, so the smart play is to keep running the ball and let Pickens be a weapon, not a workhorse.

The quiet win is depth. Locke full again, Liufau full again, Bullard back on the field, Smith practicing in full. That is four bodies this defense and line did not have two weeks ago. Two weeks ago this roster felt thin. Now it feels like a team that can absorb a hit.

And one more thing on Turpin. If he misses another week, Goodson has earned the job, penalty or not.

What to watch next

Friday's report brings game designations, so watch Pickens, Schoonmaker and Downs, and whether Dallas activates Locke or Liufau. For Wednesday's first look at the report, read our Oct. 29 Wednesday-report column, and keep up with the week on our Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: if Schoonmaker is out, do you trust this run game to look like Philadelphia again, or does Dallas need Pickens at full speed to beat Arizona?

Sources: DallasCowboys.com - Injury report; Dallas Sports Journal - Cowboys add Schoonmaker, Tyler Smith to Thursday injury report; Cardinals Wire - Cowboys injury report: George Pickens limited again; AZCardinals.com - Injury Report: Week 8 vs Cowboys; FOX Sports - Cardinals vs Cowboys, Nov. 1, 2026.