Cowboys' Injury Report Grows: Tyler Smith, Luke Schoonmaker Added
George Pickens is managing shoulder and hamstring issues and played just 41 of 68 snaps Monday — here's what the full Dallas report means for your lineup.
Limited but playing; WR16 on our board with the snaps trending up.
- Pickens played 41 of 68 snaps Monday night
- Pickens: 37 rec, 485 yds, 2 TD through 7 games (2026)
- Schoonmaker DNP Thursday with a groin issue
- Tyler Smith (ankle) added but full participant
- Turpin (ribs) and Winters (calf) remained out
The Cowboys' injury report got longer Thursday, and fantasy managers starting Dallas pieces have a few new names to track. Left guard Tyler Smith (ankle) and tight end Luke Schoonmaker (groin) both landed on the report after sitting it out Wednesday. Smith was a full participant, so the worry there is minimal. Schoonmaker, however, didn't practice at all Thursday.
The bigger fantasy story is George Pickens, who was limited again with a shoulder and hamstring combo. The snap count tells the tale: Pickens logged just 41 of 68 offensive snaps on Monday night, a notable dip for Dallas's clear WR1. He's still producing, with 37 catches for 485 yards and 2 touchdowns through seven games in 2026 — good for 98 PPR points.
Pickens isn't the only limited body. Defensive back Caleb Downs (ankle), defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and offensive tackle Drew Shelton (hamstring) were all capped Thursday. Downs still handled 56 of 66 defensive snaps Monday, while Williams was in for 38 — neither is a fantasy factor unless you're deep into IDP leagues.
The Names That Matter Less
KaVontae Turpin (ribs) and linebacker Dee Winters (calf) stayed out of practice entirely. Turpin sits at WR127 on our board and has managed just 15 PPR points across six games, so his absence barely moves a standard roster. Schoonmaker, meanwhile, ranks TE91 with a grand total of 6 PPR points — his groin issue is a non-event for anyone outside of the deepest two-TE formats.
On the return front, outside linebacker Marist Liufau (forearm) and safety P.J. Locke (foot) both appear ready to come back, with each inside his 21-day return-to-practice window. Again, IDP-only news, but worth filing away if you're chasing snaps and tackles.
The Fantasy Fallout
Keep starting Pickens. A limited tag with a shoulder and hamstring isn't ideal, and that 41-snap game is a yellow flag worth monitoring, but he's your WR16 on our board and his last five games are running +2.4 fantasy points above his season average. The form says the upside is still there — just check his Friday designation before lock to be safe. Turpin and Schoonmaker aren't startable in standard leagues, so there's nothing to react to there.
