Dallas Cowboys injury report: Micah Parsons’ availability clear ahead of Christmas Eve matchup vs Jalen Hurts-less Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys defense got a spark when they drafted linebacker Micah Parsons in 2021. The reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year has picked up where he left off last season and Dallas are headed to the playoffs once again this season.

On Christmas Eve night, the Cowboys will play the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC East showdown with postseason implications. If the Eagles win, they will secure the number one seed in the NFC, which will give them a first-round bye.

The Cowboys have been uncertain about Micah Parsons' status all week as he has been out with an undisclosed illness. The linebacker was away from the team's facility for two days this week as he recovered from the illness. He returned to practice on Thursday but was a limited participant.

Although Parsons will head into Saturday's Christmas Eve matchup with a questionable designation, the team expects him to take the field.

Parsons will face backup Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew as Jalen Hurts is out with a shoulder sprain.

Who would the Dallas Cowboys potentially play in Wild Card round?

There are still three weeks of the 2022 NFL season remaining. But as teams clinch divisional titles and wild card spots, the first-round matchups are starting to shape up. Dallas clinched a playoff birth last week and are 10-4. If they can get a win against the 13-1 Eagles, they will still be in play for the NFC East title. If the Eagles win, they will clinch the division title and Dallas will likely be the number five seed in the NFC playoff picture.

As the number five seed, Dallas would then play the number four seed, who is a division winner. At this point, that would be the winner of the NFC South, which is on course to see a winner with a losing record. That scenario would have the Cowboys traveling to Raymond James Stadium to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home.

That would be a rematch of the Week 1 game between the two teams that happened at AT&T Stadium. In that game, quarterback Dak Prescott injured his hand. Although the Buccaneers won the game, both teams' seasons have panned out differently and Dallas may have a better chance if the two met again. That said, anything can happen in the playoffs and no one can write off Tom Brady.