Bell (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Bell missed the Cowboys' Week 4 win over the Giants after sustaining an ankle injury the week prior, but following Wednesday's full practice session, it appears he's moved past the issue. Expect Bell to serve as a depth piece in Dallas' secondary as the season progresses.
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Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Not playing Week 4
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Bell (ankle) is inactive for Thursday's game against the Giants, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Bell wasn't able to practice all week, so he'll be held out of Thursday's NFC East showdown. His next chance at suiting up will be Week 5 against the Steelers on Oct. 6. Israel Mukuamu and Juanyeh Thomas are in line to see increased work as Dallas' reserve safeties behind starters Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker.
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Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Doubtful for Thursday night
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Bell (ankle) is listed as doubtful ahead of Thursday night's matchup with the Giants, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.
Bell was unable to practice all week after sustaining an ankle injury during the Cowboys' Week 3 loss to the Ravens, so it's no surprise that he's not expected to suit up Thursday night. Assuming Bell is held out in Week 4, expect Israel Mukuamu to see increased work as one of Dallas' reserve safeties.
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Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Estimated as DNP
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Bell (ankle) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimation, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
According to Harris, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday that the team will "know more tomorrow" about Bell's ankle injury after being estimated as DNP. The 25-year-old didn't return to Sunday's loss to the Ravens after sustaining the ankle injury, and if he's unable to suit up Thursday night against the Giants, expect Juanyeh Thomas to see increased playing time as the Cowboys' top backup safety.
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Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Waiting for results
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Bell (ankle) underwent an MRI on Monday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Bell is awaiting details on the severity of the injury that took him out of Sunday's 28-25 loss to the Ravens. More clarity on the backup safety's status for Thursday's game against the Giants should come when the team releases its first injury report.
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Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Doesn't return Sunday
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Bell left Sunday's 28-25 loss to the Ravens with an ankle injury and did not return, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The backup safety did not record a stat before exiting. Dallas' other three top safeties, Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker and Juanyeh Thomas, are all healthy.
Cowboys' Markquese Bell: Unlikely to repeat IDP performance
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Bell's production in 2024 is unlikely to match the career-high 94 tackles he collected over 17 regular-season games last season.
Undrafted in 2022 out of Florida A&M, Bell broke out in 2023 as one of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's favorites, filling a hybrid linebacker-safety role that put him in position for a high tackle total despite the fact that he was on the field for only 612 defensive snaps. Quinn left in the offseason to take the head coaching job in Washington, however, and new DC Mike Zimmer's scheme doesn't have the same history of deploying safeties in a flexible manner. The Cowboys also bolstered their linebacking corps over the winter with free-agent signing Eric Kendricks and 2024 third-round pick Marist Liufau, leaving less need for Bell to reinforce their ranks. If he's stuck in a rotational role as a pure safety behind Donovan Wilson and Malik Hooker, Bell's IDP numbers will have nowhere to go but down.
