ARLINGTON, Texas _ From the looks of things on offense, the Dallas Cowboys might be able to survive the loss of star running back Ezekiel Elliott for the first six games of the season due to an NFL suspension for violating the personal conduct policy.
The offense is in good hands with quarterback Dak Prescott, who is showing no signs of a sophomore slump and could be an NFL MVP candidate in 2017. Of course, that's if new right tackle La'el Collins doesn't develop a penchant for drive-killing penalties. He had three penalties Saturday night, though only two counted.
But the player who currently holds the key to the team's fortunes this season is linebacker Anthony Hitchens.
When the often overlooked and unappreciated Hitchens, who is arguably the most versatile and indispensable player on defense, was helped off the field after suffering a right knee injury in the waning moments of the first half of Saturday's 24-20 preseason win over the Oakland Raiders, the anguish on the Cowboys sideline at AT&T Stadium was palpable.
Cornerback Orlando Scandrick swung his helmet in disappointment after watching the trainers tend to Hitchens with 27 seconds left in the second quarter of the preseason game.
And with good reason.
Hitchens likely doesn't play in the second half if he had survived those final 27 seconds in what is annually described as a "dress rehearsal" game.
The defense was already considered the team's weak link based on last year's questionable performance and lack of proven additions, as evidenced by the ease in which Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and his first unit gashed the Cowboys for two first-half touchdowns.
It already has availability concerns, with defensive ends David Irving and DaMontre Moore facing NFL suspensions to open the season and cornerbacks Chido Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis, two of the team's top draft picks, missing almost all of training camp with injuries.
The possible loss of Hitchens might be too much to take because of other questions of ability and availability at linebacker.
Strongside linebacker Damien Wilson, who was arrested July 4th on two counts of felony aggravated assault, could face an NFL suspension.
The Cowboys signed veteran Justin Durant to offset the possible absence of Wilson. He has yet to play in the preseason after spending the bulk of training camp getting back in shape.
This forces Durant on the field and makes him more than an insurance policy.
The real question is what impact it has on the team's deliberate rollout of linebacker Jaylon Smith. Smith missed all of last season recovering from a devastating college knee injury.
Smith played 12 snaps against the Indianapolis Colts last week in his first game since his final game at Notre Dame on Jan. 1 2016. He was in on about 15 plays against the Raiders, recording three tackles.
But he's not ready to be a full-time player. And the Cowboys have had intentions to not force his development.
While weakside linebacker Sean Lee is the team's best linebacker and best defensive player, Hitchens might be the most indispensable. Hitchens started 36 of 48 games since coming to the Cowboys as a fourth-round pick in 2014, mainly as an injury replacement for Lee, Durant and former linebacker Rolando McClain. He has never missed a game because of injury and has started at all three linebacker positions.
Durant took over in the middle for a suspended McClain last year, starting 16 games in the middle and finishing third on the team with a 104 tackles.
What will the Cowboys do if Hitchens is gone for an extended period of time or possibly all year at the worst?
The Cowboys open the regular season Sept. 10 at home against the New York Giants.
The issue with the pass rush was a known problem. It was also on full display against the Raiders as Carr never got pressured, completing 13 of 17 passes for 144 yards and touchdowns of 48 and 17 yards to receivers Amari Cooper and Cordelle Patterson, respectively.
Poor coverage by cornerback Anthony Brown and bad angles from safety Byron Jones can be blamed for Cooper's score.
Again there was no pressure.
But that was known.
The possible loss of Hitchens just might make this defense burst.
