Malachi Lawrence could miss weeks with ankle injury for Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Nov. 2, 2026, that rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence suffered an ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals and could miss multiple weeks. Schottenheimer said the club will continue testing and monitoring Lawrence to determine a timetable for his return. The announcement followed Lawrence’s 38 snaps in Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Cardinals.
Schottenheimer provided limited specifics in his update and quoted the player status directly, saying, “Malachi has [an injury] that might be a little bit longer…” and “Looks like it could be a few weeks. So just keep doing some more testing, see how he moves around, but a little different than the other guys.” He also noted that tight end Jake Ferguson and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. dealt with ankle issues in the same game. The coach said the team will continue to evaluate Lawrence as it determines the next steps.
Lawrence, the Cowboys’ 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, has appeared in eight games this season. He played 38 snaps in the most recent contest and recorded four quarterback pressures in that game. Entering the week, Lawrence had 13 tackles, three quarterback hits and one sack for his rookie campaign.
Finding consistent pass-rush production has been a stated priority for Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, who registered five team sacks against the Cardinals. Schottenheimer singled out Quinnen Williams and Von Miller for strong play while noting there remains work to do. With Lawrence expected to miss time, Dallas’ outside linebacker room on the active roster includes Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Houston, Von Miller and Tyrus Wheat, and the team has Isaiah Land on the practice squad.
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Lawrence’s absence would remove a young starter who had begun to earn significant snaps at the edge, so the Cowboys will lean on the experienced pieces and depth already on the roster. The five-sack performance against the Cardinals showed the group can generate pressure, but maintaining that consistency will be important without Lawrence. Expect increased roles for Rashan Gary and the other listed outside linebackers while the team monitors Lawrence’s recovery and completes further testing.