NFL Injury Report: Dallas Cowboys Hope To Field Hitchens, Free And McClain Against Detroit Lions

The Dallas Cowboys are hopeful that linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Rolando McClain and right tackle Doug Free will suit up in their playoff matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The rookie Hitchens was injured and had to be helped off the field in their 44-17 win over the Redskins last Sunday when he got caught up in a pile and did not return to play.

The Cowboys are checking if he could log in some practice this week and coach Josh Garrett said the team will take his status day by day. Meanwhile, McClain is recovering from various injuries while Free had a sprained foot that includes bone spurs. Jeremy Parnell replaced Free in the game against the Redskins and did well in helping DeMarco Murray rush for 100 yards on 20 carries. The Cowboys may not be able to utilize defensive tackle Josh Brent due to a calf injury and would likely tap either Davon Coleman or Ken Bishop from the practice squad. Kenneth Boatright replaced Brent in the Redskins game.

It is also unlikely that Henry Melton, who injured his right knee against the Redskins, will suit up for wildcard matchup against the Lions. Terrell McClain will likely take Melton's place in the lineup. McClain had four tackles and a sack and managed to strip Robert Griffin III in their game against the Redskins.

But Garrett's judgment on playing his starters for the entire game against the Redskins was questioned as the result would hardly affect their playoff seed. Murray is less than two weeks removed from a broken left hand, Tony Romo still has a sore back that bothered him the rest of the year while Jason Witten suffered a sprained knee last week.

In the Redskins game, Murray posted 1,845 yard to become the franchise's all-time single-season rushing leader, eclipsing Emmitt Smith's record of 1,773 rush yards set in 1995. Meanwhile, Dez Bryant also registered four touchdown passes to post a total of 16 in the season and surpass Terrell Owens' team mark of 15 set in 2007. Murray will likely not be bothered by Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in their game Sunday as the latter will be serving a suspension for inexplicably stepping twice on the leg of Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.