A much-needed victory for the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in their 20-15 defeat of the New York Giants took them to 2-2 on the season to end the month of September, but two games played in short order caught up to them as key players, including Micah Parsons, went down with injury at different points in the game.
Parsons left the contest with a neck issue that was evaluated before he'd return to the field, but when he fell to the ground with an apparent ankle injury in the fourth quarter and needed to be helped off by the team's training staff, that was the end of his evening. The good news is X-rays were negative on the ankle, per Parsons after the game, but he is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday once the team returns to Dallas.
"I just iced it," said the three-time All-Pro pass rusher. "I know very little. I've got an MRI tomorrow. I'm going to try to get back next week." The next game will involve taking on the Steelers in Pittsburgh but, unlike this week wherein Parsons and the Cowboys were forced to suit up twice in a span of only four days, the team is entering a mini-bye week that will allow for extra rest and recovery. As it stands, it's unknown if it will be enough time for Parsons to be ready for Week 5, but it does appear that, for now, the worst-case scenario might've been avoided. The MRI will tell the full tale, however.
Parsons was injured rushing the passer from the middle of the Giants' line. He was engaged with center John Michael Schmitz Jr. when guard Greg Van Roten fell on to the back of Parsons leg. He was tended to by the medical staff before limping to the sideline. Eventually, he was taken off by a cart to get X-rays. After the game, he took a golf cart to the team bus. "He's a helluva player. Big-time playmaker," quarterback Dak Prescott said. "I'm not watching a lot, but [he] made a huge run stop right there on one of those last possessions. And then honestly, I'm just hoping it's not anything serious. There's not a lot of doubts or negative thoughts that go through my head, so, yeah, I didn't even want to think anything major. Hoping that my thoughts are right and it's something small. He looked in good spirits, so I'm in good spirits. We're in good spirits."
The Cowboys were in good spirits in general because of how they entered Thursday's game. They lost back-to-back home games to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens in which the defense gave up a combined 464 rushing yards. The Giants had only 26 yards on 24 carries, but Daniel Jones threw for 281 yards and rookie receiver Malik Nabers had 115 yards on 12 catches before leaving the game because of a concussion. Prescott threw two first-half touchdown passes -- one to CeeDee Lamb and the other to Rico Dowdle -- and Brandon Aubrey made two of three field goal attempts, including a 60-yarder for the second straight game.
"Winning is always a great thing, especially on the road," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Road wins are the best. Division games, you can add another layer to it. So, yeah, we feel great about what we accomplished, but I think it's the fourth week in a row we realize we have a lot of work to do." The Cowboys will have a 10-day break before taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 6, which could aid in Parsons' recovery depending on the diagnosis. For Prescott, it was his 13th straight win against the Giants, tying for the second-longest winning streak by a quarterback against an opponent. But he knows there is a big difference between 2-2 and 1-3. "Huge, especially when you compare it to the alternative. What that would have been like, it was huge," Prescott said, adding, "Just allows to build momentum. Played on a bunch of different teams and some that when you got going, it just gets hot. And that's what we're looking to do. That's what it's about in this league is getting hot at the right time, building. That why I said it's about the process. Trusting the process no matter the results."
Parsons' X-Rays were negative, according to reporters on the scene. For now he is just icing to reduce swelling and he will undergo an MRI in Dallas on Friday. The All-Pro defender is not out of the woods yet, but these are all positive signs. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that Parsons was walking around the locker room with a "slight" limp. At the very least, it seems that Parsons has avoided a serious injury. Parsons was even able to catch up with the media after the win. In good spirits, Parsons said he's "gonna try to get back next week." By the time he departed the locker room, he just had a wrap around his ankle.
We are only getting breadcrumbs right now, but that is generally the case with in-game injuries. The MRI will reveal the extent of what Parsons is dealing with and whether he can play next week. He will do everything in his power to suit up against the Steelers, but the important thing is Dallas having Parsons for the long haul this season. If that means giving the ankle a week to rest, then so be it.
Parsons hasn't posted the numbers he would have hoped to start the season, but he's played exceptional in every game. Last week, Parsons had the second-highest pass-rush win percentage and pressure percentage among all pass rushers, per PFF. The sanity of Cowboys fans hinges on Parsons' MRI, but in the meantime a Dallas win and an encouraging update on No. 11 should be enough to allow fans to sleep easy tonight.
