Dallas, Texas: Ferguson Tests Come Back Clean as Cowboys Place Downs and Locke in Concussion Protocol

The Dallas Cowboys got their best injury news of the day on tight end Jake Ferguson. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Monday that the tests on Ferguson's ankle came back clean, and that Ferguson has a chance to practice later this week and play on Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.

Ferguson could play Sunday

Ferguson hurt his ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals and did not return. He tried to come back during the game but did not have the strength in the ankle to finish, and he was ruled out at the start of the third quarter. He did not catch a pass before leaving. ESPN reported on Sunday that the injury is a low ankle sprain.

"Fergie actually we think came out okay," Schottenheimer said. "We will see how he moves around. It might be later in the week that he goes."

Dallas was already thin at tight end. Luke Schoonmaker missed the game with a groin injury, which left Brevyn Spann-Ford and James Mitchell to finish on Sunday. The team moved Mitchell from the practice squad to the active roster on Monday. Mitchell recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown against Arizona.

Two defensive backs in the protocol

Rookie safety Caleb Downs is in the concussion protocol, where he must complete the league five step return process before he can play again. Safety P.J. Locke is also in the protocol after a head injury on Sunday. Locke had just returned to action on Sunday for the first time in over a month.

Lawrence could miss weeks, Porter still testing

Rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence could miss time. Schottenheimer said Lawrence's ankle injury looks a little different from the others and could keep him out a few weeks while the team keeps testing it. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is also dealing with an ankle injury and is going through a bunch of tests. Porter said the ankle has bothered him since his first game with Dallas, on Oct. 4 at Houston.

"I just got to go back to the training room and just keep the treatment up and keep the main thing the main thing," Porter said.

The week ahead

Dallas is 3-5 after the overtime loss. The Cowboys return to full practice on Wednesday and play at Indianapolis on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon Central on FOX. Ferguson's status will turn on how the ankle responds when he gets back on the field later in the week.