The Cowboys' defense is far better than expected, but they might have lost a key player for the foreseeable future.Â
Embattled cornerback Morris Claiborne exited Sunday's 38-17 win with a knee injury and didn't return. Following the game, Jerry Jones told ESPN Dallas that the initial diagnosis for the nickelback is a torn ACL, but Claiborne will undergo more tests to confirm.Â
Dallas coach Jason Garrett was less revealing, only saying that the injury looks serious, but the team will know more Monday.Â
Claiborne's had a rough week. The 2012 first-round pick was benched following Orlando Scandrick's early reinstatement from suspension. After he received word of the demotion Tuesday, Claiborne bolted the Cowboys' facility, only to reconsider and return Wednesday.Â
Jones called Claiborne a disappointment, and it's hard to argue. He's been picked on all year, most notably by Austin Davis and the Rams.
Now, Claiborne might have to wait until the 2015 season to prove his critics wrong. In the meantime, fifth-year cornerback Sterling Moore replaces Claiborne in the slot.Â
*The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps every game from Week 4 and picks the best player in the NFL. *
