7 Key Dallas Cowboys Players Missed Practice On Wednesday

Cowboys' lengthy Week 5 injury report

Smith, who played the entire game at left guard last week, was reportedly out Wednesday with a knee injury. But that seems to just be the beginning of Dallas' problems.

Guard Tyler Booker (ankle), left tackle Tyler Guyton (concussion), safety Malik Hooker (toe), wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle), running back Miles Sanders (knee/ankle) and wideout/kick returner KaVontae Turpin (foot) also didn't practice.

Meanwhile, cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), linebacker Kenneth Murray (knee), CB Caelen Carson (knee) and WR Jonathan Mingo (knee) were all limited in Wednesday's preparations.

Schottenheimer set to face former team

Sunday's game will mark Brian Schottenheimer's first trip back to MetLife Stadium since becoming a head coach — a place where he served as offensive coordinator of the Jets from 2006-2011.

“It’ll be good," the HC told the Dallas Morning News. "There’s still some people in the [organization] that I’m really close with. ... And it’ll be fun to be back there. ... We had great success. We won a lot of games. Proud of the fact that we went back-to-back AFC Championships and things like that. But it’s about people for me.”

“I learned a lot back then thinking that I had all the answers," he continued. "Here I was, a hotshot, 32-year-old coordinator that after one year is getting head coaching opportunities. This is a very humbling business. ... But I never stopped learning. I think the minute you take yourself too seriously in this business, you’re asking for problems.”

At 1-2-1, the Cowboys are actually off to a much better start than many anticipated given the Micah Parsons trade and their unproven head coach. Dak Prescott has played a lot better than his numbers might indicate and the run game led by Javonte Williams looks strong.

Defense remains a massive question mark though. And if things don't improve soon on that side of the ball, it might get late early for Schottenheimer's squad.