Organic Dallas Cowboys tank season: LG Tyler Smith, RG Zack Martin and CB Trevon Diggs inactive

The Dallas Cowboys are focused on doing whatever they can to win with the players they have.

But riding a five-game losing streak and all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 3-7, the Cowboys are closer to the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft than a dramatic miraculous finish.

That point of view was put further accentuated by the rash of injuries that have continued to plague the Cowboys since the start of the season.

It was announced on Saturday that the already-depleted Cowboys would be without right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.

And just before the game, the Cowboys announced that left guard Tyler Smith (ankle) would be inactive for the game. T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman will start at guard.

Cornerback DaRon Bland will make his season debut after missing the first 10 games of the season with a foot injury. But instead of getting on the field in tandem with Diggs for the first time, Bland will likely play opposite Josh Butler.

Additionally, receiver Brandon Cooks was expected to return to the lineup after missing the past six games with a knee injury. He practiced this week but was not made active for the game.

The Cowboys are playing their third straight game without quarterback Dak Prescott, who was put on injured reserve with a torn hamstring.