Cowboys Injury Report: Durant, Overshown Out vs. Texans
Oct 3, 2026
The Cowboys head to Houston with a thinner defense
If you're staring at your survivor entry wondering whether Dallas is worth burning this week, the defensive injury news matters. The Cowboys travel to Houston on Sunday, and the inactive list just got a little more crowded on the back seven.
Two defenders are ruled out: cornerback Cobie Durant and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. Losing a starting-caliber corner and a linebacker on the same week is the kind of detail survivor players should weigh before locking in a pick — it's exactly the sort of thing that quietly tips a close game.
What the Cowboys get back
It's not all bad news for Dallas. Safety Malik Hooker returns, which steadies the secondary even with Durant out. And cornerback Joey Porter is expected to play on Sunday in Houston, so the Cowboys aren't walking into this one completely shorthanded at corner.
That combination — a key returner in Hooker and Porter available — partially offsets the losses of Durant and Overshown. The defense is dinged, not gutted.
The survivor-pick read on Dallas
So is Dallas a safe pick this week? Here's the honest framing from what we know:
- Against you: Durant and Overshown both ruled out thins the coverage and run-defense depth in a road game.
- For you: Hooker's return and Porter's expected availability keep the secondary from being overwhelmed.
When a team you're considering has mixed injury news like this, the smart survivor move is to lean on the matchup context and your own pool's depth rather than treating the Cowboys as a bankable lock. Two defenders out on the road is a nudge toward caution, not a hard no — but it's enough reason to double-check your alternatives before committing.
If you want to compare Dallas against the rest of your board, dig into more survivor analysis on the blog, and if you haven't locked in your entry yet, you can always start a free survivor pool and build your slate from scratch.
Bottom line
The Cowboys are playable but not pristine this week. Durant and Overshown are out, Hooker is back, and Porter is expected to go. Treat Dallas as a situational pick — one worth taking only if the matchup and your remaining future-week plan line up, not a default safe play. New to the format? The survivor pool FAQ covers how one bad week can end your run.