The Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans meet this Thursday night, and it's a game that might just feature a couple of backup running backs in key roles. Malik Davis for Dallas, and Hassan Haskins for Tennessee might be worth waiver adds.
Technically, there might be injury concerns. Derrick Henry didn't practice on Monday, listed with a hip issue, and got in a limited practice today. Haskins would be next in line if Henry couldn't go.
And Tony Pollard (thigh) didn't practice either of the last two days for Dallas. The Cowboys have used a tandem backfield with Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott all season; it could be Davis and Elliott as the tandem this week.
But the bigger issue is that the game has virtually no meaning for Tennessee, and minimal meaning for Dallas. Those teams could look to hold out any slightly banged-up players, saving them for more important games.
Tennessee plays at Jacksonville in Week 18, and that game will decide the AFC South no matter what Tennessee does against Dallas. Why risk getting Henry hurt in a game that doesn't matter? The Titans aren't saying they'll hold Henry out, but it has to be on their minds as a possibility, with injury a reason/excuse.
Dallas can technically still win the NFC East. All that needs to happen is they need to win their final two games, while Philadelphia loses their final two. At home, starting with Andy Dalton and the Saints coming into Philly and getting the win this week. Totally plausible.
We will hopefully get more info in the next day or two. But Haskins should be added, and so should Davis. You never know.
--Andy Richardson