The Dallas Cowboys will have a depleted roster for "Sunday Night Football" in Pittsburgh, with star pass rusher Micah Parsons ruled out of the Week 5 clash.
Parsons and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence were both injured last week in Thursday's win over the New York Giants, with the latter being placed on IR. Lawrence suffered a significant foot injury, and while Parsons' ankle issue isn't deemed as serious, he will miss Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There could be further injury issues ahead of Sunday, as Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle) was added to the injury report on Thursday and did not practice on Friday. Linebacker Marist Liufau (quad) and cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder) are also questionable heading into Week 5.
The Cowboys are currently 2-2 following an inconsistent start, while the Steelers are 3-1 and leading the AFC North ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns. Facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh was already set to be a challenge for the Cowboys, with Parsons showing a lot of respect to quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields has made a stunning start to the season with the Steelers, despite arriving at the organization expecting to be backup from Week 1. A transitional offseason in Pittsburgh saw the organization acquire Russell Wilson from the Denver Broncos, and Fields from the Chicago Bears.
Head coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson as his starter, and the Steelers traded for Fields as the Bears occupied the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears selected Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams out of USC, leaving no future for Fields.
Wilson is yet to play for the Steelers due to a calf injury he carried into the new season, but with Fields performing so well, Tomlin now has a tough call to make. Parsons believes that Fields has won the team over, and has questioned Chicago's decision to let him go.
"I think Justin [has] won the team over," Parsons said of Fields ahead of Sunday. "Justin is really, really good. ... I'm glad that the Steelers and Mike Tomlin [have] been able to get his confidence back because the Bears probably stripped him of it.
"They kinda said, 'We don't need you anymore. You're less valuable.' They kinda just shipped him off. I thought the Bears should've kept him. And I thought Justin was a legit talent, and now he's somewhere else flourishing."
Wilson is listed as questionable for Week 5, and it's expected that Fields will remain Pittsburgh's starter for Sunday's primetime game. Moving forward when Wilson is officially cleared, Tomlin may find it harder to keep Russell on the bench.
