Dallas placed Perrion Winfrey on injured reserve with a back issue. He hasn’t practiced since Aug. 31 and was helped off the field, a setback that opens a roster spot and shifts interior responsibilities. IR rules impose a four-week minimum offline, plus a 21-day practice window to rejoin the active roster, with eight total IR returns allowed and a cap of two activations per player in the season.

Winfrey’s absence could accelerate Mazi Smith’s return to the lineup, as Smith was inactive for the opener. Winfrey’s backstory—Cleveland’s 2022 fourth-rounder, a stint with the Birmingham Stallions before the Cowboys signed him—embodies the season-long roster shuffle. The development underscores depth-chart churn and the human side of NFL cutdowns, highlighted by a poignant team-wide moment as Schottenheimer and McClay celebrated the roster choice.

The development tightens interior rotation for Dallas and tests depth as Winfrey’s return timeline remains fluid. Smith’s status adds another variable to the defensive front, making Week 2 and beyond a test of Dallas’s adaptability and roster resilience.

Dallas and Philadelphia waged a back-and-forth opener in a high-octane battle that included a lightning delay and a pre-snap incident that defined the night: Jalen Carter was ejected after spitting toward Dak Prescott’s sideline. Prescott’s involvement in the early exchange kept fantasy watchers sharp on weapon usage and game flow. The stoppage paused momentum, but the duel underscored how Week 1 narratives—rookie spotlight, coaching rotations, and edge pressure—can swing fantasy value in real time.

Mazi Smith’s healthy-scratch chatter added another layer to Dallas’ Week 1 intrigue, coloring IDP and roster-move decisions. Carter’s ejection and the ensuing adjustments offer a lens into how Philly may patch interior pressure, while Prescott’s performance gave the Cowboys a path to heavy air-game utilization as the season unfolds.

Dallas struggled to slow Philadelphia’s rushing attack in the opener, even after adding Kenny Clark. Mazi Smith sat unused, signaling a cautious staff about his midseason role as they lean on veteran depth to shore up the interior. Dak Prescott endured a see-saw night as Philly piled up yards on the ground, leaving fantasy managers eyeing Dallas’ future interior rotations and backups while the Eagles’ ground game remains a defensive concern for opponents.

Fantasy takeaway: watch desk changes at tackle and how the Cowboys deploy Clark and Parsons as the season unfolds. The Eagles’ offensive line and Jalen Carter’s week-one presence add intrigue for Week 2 matchups, making interior line play a variable in both defensive stances and offensive schemes across fantasy rosters.

Lightning halted the Cowboys-Eagles opener at Lincoln Financial Field, triggering the NFL 30-minute resumption rule with a restart targeted around 10:30 p.m. Dallas time. The delay could shuffle game flow and fantasy projections for both offenses.

Dallas notes: Mazi Smith and Jaydon Blue inactive; Prescott and Williams will steer the offense when play resumes. The stoppage adds risk to DAL receivers and may tilt early drives toward the run. Eagles eyes include Jalen Carter, whose presence shapes PHI’s defensive upside when the game resumes.