Cowboys Country

Cowboys Injury Update: Is Randy Gregory OK for Panthers Game?

While rookie Micah Parsons has been a force on defense, the threat of Gregory on the end is also important.

Mike Fisher

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys on Thursday conducted practice here inside The Star without the benefit of one of two early-season playmakers, one on each side of the ball.

Running back Tony Pollard was not present during the open-to-media portion of the workout, a source telling CowboysSI.com that that the absence is not related to injury. And defensive end Randy Gregory is officially listed as a "did not participate'' due to a knee issue that the club does not believe is serious.

It can therefore be assumed, for now, that Pollard - dealing with a “personal matter”” - will be fine when it comes to his status for NFL Week 4 on Sunday. And, hopefully the same for the pass-rusher Gregory.

Dallas at 2-1 is obviously hoping everyone is good to go against a Carolina Panthers team that comes to town with a 3-0 record.

Pollard has added an explosive component to the Dallas offense this season, rushing for 183 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. He also has eight receptions for 65 yards.

All of this works to complement the Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott, with both Zeke and Pollard carrying the ground-game load on offense. And of course, it all ties together with a Dak Prescott-led passing game that makes the Cowboys so multi-dimensional.

“Everybody can eat,” as Elliott said.

A slimmed-down Zeke remains a centerpiece of what the Cowboys do on offense; he’s got three rushing TDs in these first three games. But what makes Pollard such an important piece - “a 1-2 punch,” as tight end Dalton Schultz labeled the pair of backs - is his presence as a long-ball threat following the handoff. Pollard currently ranks second in the NFL with 7.4 yards per carry on first down this season.

Meanwhile, while rookie Micah Parsons has been a force on defense, the threat of Gregory on the end was important in the Monday win over Philly and should be the same against Panthers QB Sam Darnold.

READ MORE: Zeke - Feed Me ... Video Games!

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983 and the Dallas Cowboys since 1990, is the author of two best-selling books on the Cowboys.

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