Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will be inactive for Thursday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans due to a thigh injury, according to multiple reports. Here’s what you need to know:
- Pollard, a 2022 Pro Bowler, did not practice during the week due to the injury.
- Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons was also listed as questionable after he was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday with a hand issue.
- The Cowboys (11-4) elevated running back Qadree Ollison from the practice squad to the active roster Thursday.
- Multiple starters for the Titans (7-8) will not play during the “Thursday Night Football” matchup, including star running back Derrick Henry and starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Titans are expected to start newly signed Josh Dobbs at quarterback on Thursday, The Athletic confirmed.
Backstory
Pollard, 25, has rushed for 988 yards and nine touchdowns on 186 attempts through 15 games for Dallas this season. He’s totaled 2,597 rushing yards through his four seasons with the Cowboys and 1,007 receiving yards and five touchdowns, including three TD catches this season.
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What to expect from the Cowboys with Pollard sidelined
Not playing Pollard on Thursday means more opportunities for No. 3 running back Malik Davis. The undrafted rookie free agent has carried 23 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys have a lot of confidence in his ability, even giving him an opportunity to run the ball in overtime at Green Bay. Ezekiel Elliott will be Dallas’ starter Thursday and get the bulk of the work, but Davis should get opportunities against one of the NFL’s best run defenses. The Cowboys also elevated Ollison from the practice squad to add depth. — Machota
How to look at the move by Dallas
This isn’t a surprising move considering how much coach Mike McCarthy focuses on getting the team as healthy as possible entering the playoffs. Depending on how the Eagles play Sunday, potentially locking up the NFC East title and overall No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, Dallas could choose to sit or limit several key starters in Week 18. Defensive standouts like Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence should be in consideration for some time off before the playoffs if the Cowboys cannot improve their seed. — Machota
What they’re saying
Elliott spoke about Davis’ capabilities on Tuesday, calling Davis a “true pro.”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever (run) across a rookie that’s just (as) mature as he is. He just handles all his business on and off the field. You can tell he had a great upbringing. Just a great dude all around,” Elliott said. “When you’re taking care of your business in all aspects of your life, it’s going to carry over to the game and you’ve seen that just with the way coming in undrafted, being elevated from the practice squad to the active (roster). Any moment he’s had, he’s played really good football, special teams and at running back. Very smart football player. He’s got very good running instincts. He can block. He can do it all.”
Required reading
(Photo: Mike Carlson / Getty)
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