Noon in Indy: Liufau Is Back, Lawrence Goes to IR, and the Cowboys Need This One Against a 2-6 Colts Team

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

Cowboys Nation, kickoff in Indianapolis is noon CT on FOX, and the last roster moves before this one told you exactly where the worry lives: the edge. Malachi Lawrence is on injured reserve, Marist Liufau is back, and a 3-5 team walks into Lucas Oil Stadium knowing a loss to a 2-6 opponent would be hard to explain.

The facts

Per Dallas Sports Journal's Grant Afseth and Saturday's AP transactions list, Dallas placed rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence (ankle) on injured reserve and activated Liufau from injured reserve. Lawrence was hurt in the 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona, and a player placed on IR has to sit at least four games. Liufau broke his forearm in the preseason finale, had surgery, and came off IR 16 days into his practice window. "I'll be ready to punch some stuff out," he said when the window opened. Defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard stays on IR and was downgraded from questionable to out. KaVontae Turpin (ribs) was already ruled out.

Dallas also elevated receiver Jordan Hudson, an undrafted rookie from SMU, and tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad. Mitchell is the player who recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Arizona after Jake Ferguson went down. Ferguson (ankle) and George Pickens (hamstring) are both questionable. Per SI, Brian Schottenheimer said the team is "hopeful" Pickens plays; he has not missed a game and has 39 catches for 533 yards. CeeDee Lamb has 60 catches for 709 yards and six touchdowns.

The outside linebackers on the active roster are now Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston IV, Von Miller, Tyrus Wheat and Liufau, per Dallas Sports Journal. On the other side, NFL.com reports the Colts downgraded safety A.J. Haulcy (ankle) to out, joining cornerback Justin Walley and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, whom Colts.com had already ruled out. Indianapolis is coming off a 42-7 loss at Jacksonville.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Liufau's return matters more than his sack totals suggest. He played all 17 games in each of his first two seasons. Durable, physical and fresh is exactly what an edge room missing Lawrence needs, and it lets Von Miller stay a situational weapon instead of an every-down answer.

The Hudson and Mitchell elevations are the tell on offense. Dallas is protecting itself in case Pickens or Ferguson cannot go. If both play, this offense has more than enough against a Colts secondary that is now missing two defensive backs. If neither does, Dak Prescott needs to live with Lamb and refuse to get cute.

Opinion prediction: Cowboys 27, Colts 20. The Colts are short in the back end, and Dallas is getting healthier on defense. But this is a 3-5 team that has given away close games. Nothing about Sunday is automatic, and the first quarter will tell you whether this team believes that.

What to watch next

Watch the inactives list about 90 minutes before kickoff for Pickens, Ferguson, Joey Porter Jr. and DeMarvion Overshown, and Liufau's snap count on early downs. For Saturday's final injury report, read our Nov. 7 final injury report, and follow the season on our Dallas Cowboys page.

Radio question: with Liufau back and Lawrence on IR, can the Cowboys' pass rush carry them to 4-5 in Indianapolis?

Sources: Dallas Sports Journal - Cowboys put Lawrence on IR, activate Liufau; AP News - Saturday's NFL transactions; NFL.com - News roundup, Saturday Nov. 7; SI - George Pickens injury update for Cowboys vs. Colts; Colts.com - Colts rule out Walley, Davis-Gaither.