If it wasn’t the Dallas Cowboys winning 34-0, then it was the rash of injuries that spoiled the Houston Texans’ dress rehearsal Saturday night at AT&T Stadium.
On the second play for the Texans’ offense with 13:48 to go in the first quarter, running back Lamar Miller left the game on a cart as he took a helmet to the knee from Dallas defensive tackle Maliek Collins. Preliminary reports indicate the Pro Bowler may have sustained a torn ACL.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson was unimpressive as he played a solitary series, the same one where Miller was injured. The Pro Bowl signal caller recorded no passes and took a 7-yard sack from defensive end Taco Charlton and fumbled the ball. Backup Joe Webb succeeded Watson for the remainder of the first half, completing 8-of-21 for 62 yards and two interceptions.
Also in the first half, Zach Fulton, who was starting left guard for the Texans as rookie Tytus Howard recovers from a broken hand, left the game with a mild turf toe injury. In the second half, Senio Kelemete, who started 14 games for the Texans last season, limped off the field and needed help from trainers, but returned to the game.
Dallas got on the board with quarterback Dak Prescott hitting receiver Michael Gallup for a 12-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead with 11:00 in the first quarter.
The Cowboys added to their lead on the ensuing drive by blocking a Trevor Daniel punt and recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 14-0.
Dallas added a 36-yard Brett Maher field goal with 2:32 in the first quarter.
The Cowboys’ Alfred Morris rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to give Dallas a 24-0 lead with 4:48 in the second quarter.
The Cowboys took a 27-0 lead to halftime as Maher connected on a 23-yard field goal with five seconds to go in the first half.
Third-string quarterback Mike White hit running back Jordan Chunn for a 12-yard touchdown with 5:20 to go in the third quarter and establish the game’s 34-0 final score.
Houston heads home to NRG Stadium to host the Los Angeles Rams. Dallas stays in Arlington to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
