Cowboys BREAKING: 'Ascending Player' Injured at Practice - LOOK

The Cowboys' arrow dipped down on Thursday inside Ford Center at The Star, with young defensive back Tyler Coyle sustaining an apparent injury to his right knee.

FRISCO - This week, as the Dallas Cowboys prep to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, there has been a feeling of optimism regarding the team's improving health.

"Everything is pointing up,'' coach Mike McCarthy said.

But the arrow dipped down on Thursday inside Ford Center at The Star, with young defensive back Tyler Coyle sustaining an apparent injury to his right knee.

The injury reportedly occurred during kickoff drills; Coyle, elevated last week from the practice squad to play in the Week 18 game at Washington that ended up being a loss, is working to emerge as a contender to play special teams for Dallas.

Every player on Cowboys’ 53-man roster practiced today. But it wasn’t all good news on injury front: practice-squad safety/nickel Tyler Coyle, who made season debut Sunday and was a candidate for elevation, exited practice during special teams period. Appeared to be right knee. pic.twitter.com/VsFrML3k1z

— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 12, 2023

Coyle, 24, has bounced about on the Dallas practice squad for two years since coming to The Star as a UDFA rookie in 2021 out of Purdue.

Said McCarthy about Coyle earlier this week: "He’s one of those young guys that we don’t talk much about but we’ve been excited about for quite some time. He has corner traits and his ability to play safety, even nickel. Then obviously on special teams. So I just think he’s an excellent, young ascending player.''

Dallas is planning on getting healthy help from Leighton Vander Esch, Johnathan Hankins and Tyler Biadasz, all starters who are looking ready to return to the field for the Monday night playoff game at the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Dallas and Tampa Bay kick off at 7:15 p.m. CT on "Monday Night Football'' ... with injury issues obviously central to the outcome.

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