NFL insider provides updates on Micah Parsons, Deebo Samuel ahead of Cowboys-49ers game

The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers go head-to-head on Sunday night in a rematch of last year’s divisional playoff round game. Unfortunately for both teams, each has a star player banged up heading into the weekend.

Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who played through a knee injury in Week 4’s win over the Patriots, was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. The former Penn State standout has given no indication that he plans to sit out of the Week 5 game against San Francisco, however, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Dallas doesn’t expect him to be at 100% health.

“Micah Parsons… already ballin’, four sacks, eight hurries, now he comes up with a bit of knee injury, he came out for five plays to get examined… This is not believed to be a major injury, no structural damage, just the kind of thing he has to get treatment on to get him close to 100% on Sunday,” Rapoport said on Good Morning Football.

“… I expect his participation to ramp up and no issues for Sunday.”

Despite Parsons’ injury, he played almost every snap on defense in the Cowboys’ win over New England. He had two tackles, including a tackle for loss. It was his first game this season without a sack after earning the NFC’s defensive player of the month award.

Parsons, Deebo Samuel banged up

On the other sideline, the 49ers are expected to have wide receiver Deebo Samuel active, despite an ongoing knee injury. Like Parsons, he played through it in Week 4 and according to the NFL insider, he’ll play again while managing the injury.

“49ers star Deebo Samuel was pretty limited last week, couple of carries, no catches,” Rapoport said. “He’s dealing with a knee injury… rib injury went away, still limited with that knee injury though… I don’t get a sense that his status for Sunday is in doubt, just going to have to manage that knee injury throughout the week.”

The series between the two teams is currently tied with 19 wins apiece, and one draw. The last time the Cowboys beat the 49ers on the road was in a late October matchup in 2017. Dallas dominated to the tune of 40-10.

If the Cowboys beat San Franciso, their odds of winning the Super Bowl will undoubtedly rise. They currently have the fifth-best odds behind the 49ers, Chiefs, Bills and Eagles (in that order). As they’re the visiting team on Sunday, it’s no surprise that Vegas has the Cowboys as 3.5-point underdogs for the SNF game.