The Dallas Cowboys have dealt with several injuries through the first half of the NFL season; S Malik Hooker (toe), RB Miles Sanders (knee/ankle), and G Trevor Keegan (neck) were all placed on Injured Reserve (IR) in October.
Star CB Trevon Diggs also remains out due to a concussion, while other starters on both sides of the ball have been limited at practice, including starting center Cooper Beebe, who hasn’t played since Week 2 after suffering an ankle injury that landed him on IR.
However, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters on Saturday that Beebe is “on track” to make his return in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals on “Monday Night Football.”
Schottenheimer also listed safety Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder) as roughly a 50-50 play for Monday night.
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A third-round pick out of Kansas State (No. 73 overall in 2024), Beebe transitioned to center with the Cowboys after playing his college career at guard, and started every game of his rookie season (97% of snaps in 16 starts).
He then began this season as the team’s Week 1 and Week 2 starter, headlining an offensive line that helped QB Dak Prescott throw for 361 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 against the New York Giants, his highest yardage output of the season.
In Beebe’s first two starts, the Cowboys also ran for 254 yards and four rushing touchdowns, showcasing his steadiness in both pass protection and the run game.
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Beebe suffered an ankle sprain with an associated foot fracture in Week 2 and was immediately placed on IR; the Cowboys put him on the 21-day return-to-practice clock in mid-October, and he returned to full participation in practice this past week.
Prescott has been one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks this season, completing 70.3% of his passes for 2,069 yards (third in the NFL), 16 touchdowns (tied for second), and just five interceptions, leading the league with a 79.5 QBR.
However, Prescott’s efficiency ultimately hinges on timing and communication up front, and Beebe’s return should bring much-needed stability to the interior while creating better structure for the run game.
Beebe’s activation would give Dallas a big boost in the trenches against a Cardinals defense that’s been one of the league’s toughest against the pass (199.9 yards allowed per game).
