Dallas Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant is likely out for the season after suffering a torn biceps in the team's 20-17 overtime loss to Washington on Monday night, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. While no official roster moves have been made, the team and player both acknowledge his injury will force him into the role of spectator.
Cowboys LB Justin Durant out for season with torn biceps
Dallas’ defense took a major hit on Monday with the loss of Durant.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Durant has been one of the best performers this season on a defense that has surprised everybody. The 29-year-old is leading Dallas with 49 tackles on the year, along with a pair of forced fumbles and an interception, helping the defense to rank ninth in points allowed per game. The Cowboys are already without starting middle linebacker Sean Lee, who sustained a knee injury during OTAs and will miss the entire season.
Rookie Keith Smith is listed as Durant's backup on the depth chart, but has appeared in only two games and recorded no stats. Rather than Smith take over as the weakside starter, the more likely scenario is either Bruce Carter moving over from the strongside linebacker position or letting rookie Anthony Hitchens step into the role. Still, Durant's injury is a tough break, pointed out by owner and general manager Jerry Jones in MacMahon's piece.
“He’s in the top three or four performers we’ve had this year on defense,” Jones said. “He plays a key position, that weakside linebacker principally. That’s a significant loss for us.”
The Cowboys' next game is Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, a team that boasts the best record in the NFC at 6-1.
“It’s a big loss for us,” cornerback Brandon Carr said. “That was our guy that held down the middle for us, called all the plays, made a lot of plays for us in a short amount of time this season. We’re definitely going to miss him, but he’s going to be around. Now it comes to the next-man-up mentality.”
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