Dallas Cowboys injury timelines: potential return for Parsons, Kneeland, Bland, Lawrence...

The Cowboys have had some pretty bad luck with injuries this season, even from before it began. They‘ve lost several significant players throughout the season, but the majority have been on the defense. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is the only key player on offense who’s had to sit out (although the mainly healthy offense has not helped their play).

Let’s take a look at some of those injured players and where they stand now before the Cowboys head into their Week 9 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday.

Cowboys injuries: Week 9 update

CB DaRon Bland (foot)

Cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a stress fracture in his foot during the last week of training camp ahead of the regular season and has been kept off the field ever since. It looked like he’d be able to make his return for their Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions, but had a setback that kept him out for that game and then some. He did not participate in practices leading up to their Week 8 game against the San Francisco 49ers.

As for their Week 9 Game against the Falcons, the Cowboys will have to make a decision by later today, as Bland’s 21-day practice window will close and he’ll need to either be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve or elevated to the active roster. On Tuesday, owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy said it was too early to tell if Bland would be ready to play this week.

LB Micah Parsons (ankle)

Edge rusher Micah Parsons suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cowboys' Week 4 win against the New York Giants and has been out ever since, but was not placed on IR. He did not practice ahead of the game last week and this week, Jones and McCarthy say it‘s still too early to say if he’ll play in the game against the Falcons.

DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot)

Like Parsons, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was also injured during the Giants' game in Week 4. Unfortunately, his injury, a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, was severe enough to put him on IR. He’s missed three of the required four games already and will still be required to sit out of the game against Atlanta this weekend.

As for their Week 10 game against the. Philadelphia Eagles on November 10, Cowboys vice president and COO Stephen Jones said Lawrence is considered week-to-week, but has not been ruled out.

DE Marshawn Kneeland (knee)

Rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland left the Cowboys' Week 5 Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee injury. He had an arthroscopic procedure the next week and was placed on IR on October 9, so he will still be required to sit out two more Games. The earliest he can return is Week 11 when the Cowboys play the Houston Texans for Monday Night Football on November 18.

NT Jordan Phillips (wrist)

Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has been out since after the Cowboys' Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints, when Jones said he was “favoring his wrist”. Despite the fact that Phillips himself said his wrist was feeling just fine, he was placed on IR. He’s missed the required four games plus one more. On October 23, the Cowboys activated his 21-day practice window and he practiced all week last week, but was ruled out of their Week 8 game against the 49ers. He could be making his return in Week 9 to face the Falcons.

OT Chuma Edoga (toe)

Guard Chuma Edoga has been out the whole season so far and placed on IR after suffering from a toe injury during the Cowboys' preseason opener. The Cowboys have yet to open his practice window, but he is eligible to return whenever he’s ready.

WR Brandin Cooks (knee)

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, like Parsons and Lawrence, suffered from an injury during the Giants game in Week 4. He had a procedure on his knee which resulted in an infection and clean-up surgery and was placed on IR. He‘s missed three games and will be required to sit out for the Cowboys’ Week 9 game against the Falcons this Sunday. He did return to practice last week as a limited participant, so his chances to play Week 10 against the Eagles look good.