Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s idea of football, even in practices, is going head-on into the opponent. Just take their brutal training camps, for instance. In July 28’s session, safety Malik Hooker laid a hard hit on running back Phil Mafah. It didn’t put the RB to the ground, but you could hear the pop it created on the sidelines, enough to spark a reaction. His theory is simple: he wants his players to remain on edge, especially with the kind of travel they had to endure through the regular season. Too bad it didn’t work after their nine-hour flight to Brazil.

Entering their Week 3 international game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, the Cowboys’ defensive unit was already coming in beaten up with four key players missing. Expecting to put up the same defense they had in their Week 2 win, they kept going hard on the opponents. The tables turned, however, and they left Brazil not only with a stinging 34-31 loss but also with a long enough injury list.

Dallas’ secondary loses one more starter

After safety Malik Hooker suffered a fractured forearm in Week 1 and backup PJ Locke tore his plantar fascia, Jalen Thompson was the only remaining starting safety for the Cowboys. Against the Ravens’ biggest threat on the ground, running back Derrick Henry, Thompson was spectacular. But things took a turn.

While going for a tackle in the second quarter, he seemed to be stuck in an awkward position and later remained on the ground in visible pain. It first looked like a head injury. But when he struggled to get off the field on his own, it was apparent that it was a leg injury before we got more information.

Before the second-half kickoff, CBS’ sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said it was a “struggle” for Thompson to get to the locker room. The safety was listed as questionable to return with a hamstring injury. He was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. Markquese Bell is likely to replace him in Week 4. Talking about Bell, he also had a difficult time in Brazil.

Marquese Bell alarmed the Cowboys

It was a bad day for Dallas’ secondary yesterday. While the temperature was decent at 77 degrees, Wolfson had reported at the very beginning that it was quite humid in the area, 79% to be specific. So much so that the players were slipping on the grass. But Bell’s condition got worse.

In the second half, the safety left the game due to dehydration. Alijah Clark stepped in to substitute for him. However, Bell returned later. Yet, the way things were going, it certainly could’ve raised some concerning alarms for DC Christian Parker and Schottenheimer. His issue still appeared less concerning compared to how the day went for the Cowboys’ defense.

The Cowboys’ secondary took yet another hit

In the very first offensive drive of the fourth quarter, the Ravens, leading 24-21, were at Dallas’ 23-yard line, facing a 1st & 10 when their wide receiver Zay Flowers made a run for the end zone. But CB Shavon Revel stopped him at a 20-yard run. However, while trying to hold Flowers by his back collar, he lost his balance and went straight to the sideline.

He stayed on the ground holding his right leg, squinting his eyes in pain, before he was taken off the field. Caelen Carson took the spot after Revel’s departure. But the cornerback’s injury is concerning.

He tore his ACL while practicing at East Carolina in September 2024, just three games into his final season, ending his college run. Due to that injury, he went from a potential first-round pick to a third-round pick to the Cowboys. The injury also kept him out for the first 10 games of his rookie season with Dallas in 2025. Entering this season, he was still hopeful.

“My knee is 100%, so now it’s time to focus on situational ball and I’ve got to see what I need to fix or get better at,” he said in June.

For now, there’s no return timeline for him.

A defensive player making an injury return goes down again

Throughout the offseason, defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard’s availability to begin the season was a question mark. He was kept out of some training sessions due to his groin injury. While the veteran did play all three games this season, active on 36% of the snaps against the Ravens, his stay was not long enough.

One of his biggest plays, where the injury may have truly originated, was in the second quarter when he tackled Justice Hill along with teammate Dee Winters but was stuck underneath the pile. He ultimately left the game with a calf injury later on.

Cowboys address their defensive injury woes after losing three players in Brazil

The Cowboys had entered the game without Hooker, who was dealing with a forearm injury, and Locke, who was dealing with a foot injury and is currently on injured reserve. Cobie Durant and DeMarvion Overshown were also unavailable because of hamstring injuries.

Schottenheimer, who was ready to play anyone anytime despite all these injuries piling up, acknowledged just how difficult the night was for his team.

“We got beat to hell. I don’t have all the injury report, we got beat up pretty good. Next man up was real tonight,” Schotty said.

The Cowboys now have to wait for further evaluations before knowing which of those players could return for Week 4 against the Houston Texans. However, it is projected that three of the four players already out in Week 3 could play in Week 4.

With several defensive starters already sidelined, the extent of the latest injuries could have a major effect on Dallas’ preparation for the next game. The injuries also made a painful loss even harder to take for Schottenheimer. Dallas had fought its way back into the game after falling behind, but ultimately came up short when Tyler Loop hit a 56-yard field goal to give Baltimore the win.

“At the end of the day, I just really feel bad for [the players],” Schottenheimer said after the loss. “You know, we played hard, we fought back, after a long trip, and we had our chance to win. Unfortunately, we didn’t get it done.”

But the Cowboys were not the only team dealing with an injury scare in Brazil.

Ravens also face injury concerns after Cowboys win

Lamar Jackson’s one of the primary targets, tight end Mark Andrews, left the game in the second quarter after suffering a hand injury. The Ravens initially listed him as questionable to return, although there was no immediate clarity on how the injury occurred.

Andrews had one catch for nine yards on three targets before leaving, while also playing an important role as a blocker alongside Durham Smythe.

There was some reason for optimism after halftime when Andrews returned to the field and warmed up with Lamar Jackson. He entered Sunday’s game having caught ten passes for 98 yards after two games, so his availability was important for an offense already dealing with injuries.

The Ravens were without rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who was expected to miss several weeks with a fractured wrist during the team’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. Zay Flowers was also dealing with a hamstring injury and was expected to have a limited role against Dallas, although he proved quite helpful in the team’s win.

Both teams now face a quick turnaround to prepare for Week 4, with the Cowboys needing answers in the secondary and along the defensive front.