Cowboys RB Tony Pollard (groin) Inactive; Titans starting QB Joshua Dobbs on TNF

There may be a preseason feeling hanging over the NFL’s 2022 Thursday Night Football Conclusion.

The Dallas Cowboys (11-4) and Tennessee Titans (7-8) have both been weighing the risks of using motivated players in a short week as the playoffs approach, leading to a series of decisions that have more backups than usual. field.

For the Cowboys, it’s a running back Tony Pollard He will be inactive Thursday night, NFL Network’s Tom Bellisero reported. For Tennessee, with eight Titans already declared and Derek Henry (hip) too not expected to playthe team elected to start at quarterback Joshua DobbsPellisero and NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

Pollard was unable to practice all week due to a groin injury. He was successful in Dallas in his fourth season, spelling the team’s traditional backbone, Ezekiel Elliotwith 186 carries for 988 yards and nine TDs, as well as another 371 yards and three scores on 39 catches.

Malik Davis Numbers to receive the bulk of the workload that was vacated to Pollard as he juggled alongside Elliott in the backfield.

The Cowboys need a win on Thursday to force the Eagles to punt for the win in their game opposite New Orleans Sunday. would lose Waiver The NFC East fell to 13-2 Eagles before they took the field in Week 17.

It’s important for Pollard to rest, but it’s also not out of the question for Dallas to feel more comfortable exercising caution over his opponent’s approach to tonight’s contest.

Dobbs’ starting decision on The Apprentice Milk Willis Comes with the knowledge that titans can’t improve Standing in the playoffs No matter the outcome tonight. Instead, Tennessee is preparing for a Showdown week 18 Against the Jacksonville Jaguars that will decide the AFC South.

Dobbs joined the Titans out of Detroit for practice on December 21, and the unique situation of a meaningless Week 17 game leading up to the Week 18 game meant everything led to him making his first career start eight days later.

Since entering the league in 2017, Dobbs has thrown just 17 passes, completed 10 passes for 45 yards and 1 interception.

With so many pieces rotating in and out of both formations, the Thursday Night Football The end is sure to be an unexpected affair to start the penultimate week of the regular season of games.