Sophia
GREEN BAY, Wis. – As the Green Bay Packers prepare to host the Dallas Cowboys, both teams are grappling with significant injury concerns, particularly along their offensive lines. The question looms large: which team is more severely impacted by the final injury report heading into Sunday night’s crucial matchup?
Green Bay Packers: Offensive Line Woes Mount
The Green Bay Packers are expected to be without three of their top seven offensive linemen against the Cowboys, a significant blow to their offensive strategy.
- Right tackle Zach Tom (oblique): Out
- Rookie tackle Anthony Belton (ankle): Out
- Left guard Aaron Banks (groin): Doubtful
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich acknowledged the challenge, stating, “That’s the nature of the NFL. Some years it’s wide receivers, some years it’s running backs, some years it’s offensive line. So, it’s not like it’s new to us.” He emphasized the team’s no-excuses mentality: “The expectation is for the position. So, whoever’s playing right guard or left guard or whatever, the expectation is to go out there and help the Green Bay Packers win.”
A Shifting Right Tackle Position
The right tackle position has been a revolving door for the Packers this season, with four different blockers seeing at least 30 snaps. Last week alone, four players rotated at the position. With Tom and Belton sidelined, Darian Kinnard, a 2022 fifth-round pick by the Chiefs, is likely to step in. Kinnard, who has started only one career game, has played right tackle in every game this season since being acquired before final roster cuts.
Stenavich praised Kinnard’s work ethic: “Very diligent, works really hard. He’s kind of a quiet guy, not super-outgoing, but his work ethic’s great, really serious, and just takes his job seriously and is a professional.”
The depth behind the projected starting offensive line—Rasheed Walker (LT), Jordan Morgan (LG), Elgton Jenkins (C), Sean Rhyan (RG), and Kinnard (RT)—is thin, consisting of backups Donovan Jennings and Brant Banks, and practice-squad players Cooper Dalton and Lecitus Smith. Only Smith has played in a regular-season game among these reserves.
Other Key Packers Injuries
Safety Javon Bullard, a vastly improved player, is questionable due to concussion protocol, despite limited participation in practice. Encouragingly, several key players, including left tackle Rasheed Walker (quad), defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee), quarterback Jordan Love (thumb), running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), and tight end Tucker Kraft (knee), have been removed from the injury report.
Dallas Cowboys: Lamb’s Absence Looms Large
The Dallas Cowboys are facing their own set of significant injuries, with the most notable absence being star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
- Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (high-ankle sprain): Out
- Rookie right guard Tyler Booker (high-ankle sprain): Out
Lamb’s absence is a monumental loss for the Cowboys. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2022 (107 catches, 1,359 yards), a first-team All-Pro in 2023 (NFL-leading 135 receptions, 12 touchdowns), and a second-team All-Pro in 2024 (fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season). His consistent elite production makes him incredibly difficult to replace.
Packers defensive end Micah Parsons, a former Cowboy, highlighted Lamb’s impact: “When you’re watching it on film, they were a really explosive offense from Week 1 to 3 with CeeDee on the field.”
Who Steps Up for Dallas?
With Lamb sidelined, George Pickens, who led the NFL in yards per catch with the Steelers in 2023, will see an increased role. Pickens is known for his contested-catch ability, telling reporters, “I’m either going to get the flag or I’m going to make the catch, whether there’s two, three, four, five guys” in coverage. All-Pro kick returner KaVontae Turpin, who had 31 catches for 420 yards last season, will also be a key target. Dallas offensive coordinator Klayton Adams called Turpin “the straw that stirs the drink out there.”
Cowboys’ Offensive Line and Defensive Depth
Like the Packers, Dallas’ offensive line is also struggling with injuries. Rookie right guard Tyler Booker is out with a high-ankle sprain, and center Cooper Beebe, a 16-game starter last year, is on injured reserve.
Defensively, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, a 2023 third-round pick who had a breakout season last year (90 tackles, five sacks), is on PUP after a season-ending knee injury. Defensive end Payton Turner (first-round pick in 2021) and defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey are on injured reserve, along with receiver Jonathan Mingo, who could have helped mitigate Lamb’s loss. While the Cowboys boast one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, their secondary will be bolstered by the presence of cornerbacks Trevon Diggs (knee) and DaRon Bland (foot), both of whom are expected to play.
Which Team Faces the Toughest Road?
Replacing a player of CeeDee Lamb’s caliber is an immense challenge. While George Pickens and KaVontae Turpin are talented, and tight end Jake Ferguson remains a significant threat (eight more catches than any other tight end entering Week 4, and three touchdowns against the Packers in the 2023 wild-card game), the overall offensive firepower will undoubtedly be diminished. However, the biggest problem for Dallas could be its depleted offensive line going up against Green Bay’s formidable defensive front, led by stars like Micah Parsons and Rashan Gary.
Conversely, while the Packers’ offensive line injuries are concerning, they face a Cowboys defense that has struggled against the pass. This suggests Green Bay is in a better position to exploit Dallas’ weaknesses than the Cowboys are to capitalize on the Packers’ offensive line issues.
Advantage: Packers.
Final Injury Reports
Green Bay Packers
- Out: OT Anthony Belton (ankle), RT Zach Tom (oblique)
- Doubtful: LG Aaron Banks (groin)
- Questionable: S Javon Bullard (concussion)
Dallas Cowboys
- Out: RG Tyler Booker (ankle), WR CeeDee Lamb (ankle)
More Green Bay Packers News
Micah Parsons’ incredible production continues to defy double- and triple-team efforts. As he famously stated, “We all don’t get freebies, at least I’m not in that world. So, I got to work for them.” For more insights into his dominant play, check out this analysis on Packers On SI.
Published Sep 26, 2025
BILL HUBER has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008 and is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1995, where he played on the football team. Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019 and has grown it into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group. E-mail: [email protected]. Twitter: @BillHuberNFL.
