For the second consecutive week, the Dallas Cowboys were able to avoid adding any names to the COVID-19 protocols, a positive sign for a team that hasn’t been able to avoid the bug much at all since their days of training camp. Combined with their ability to avoid injury over the last two games and the club is starting to inch their way back to their expected 53-man roster as the season turns into its second phase. There’s still plenty of coming back necessary though.

DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DTs Neville Gallimore and Carlos Watkins, CB Kelvin Joseph and Safety Donovan Wilson are all still missing from the planned starting lineup on defense. WR Michael Gallup and suspended OT La’el Collins are still not in the first 11 for the offense. Other players such as Trysten Hill and Dorance Armstrong are missing from the rotation as well, making the improvement on defense even more remarkable when one thinks about all of the missing pieces.

This week however sees the return of two players from the COVID list while a staple of the defense since 2017 prepares to start in Green Bay. Jaylon Smith is no longer on the roster, released in a not-so-shocking move with shocking timing. Who is left in the locker room, eligible to play this week against the New York Giants? Here’s who.