Cowboys’ Randy Gregory moved to IR with calf injury, team to lean heavily on youth vs. Falcons

If it’s one thing Randy Gregory knows well, it’s adversity. His latest bout with it came by way of COVID-19 earlier this season, but he returned to the field in explosive fashion — going on to lead the team with five sacks in leading into Week 9. One of the few who left it all on the field in the embarrassing loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Gregory also sacrificed himself unknowingly — faced with another adversity — having suffered a calf strain that will cost him multiple weeks and forced the Dallas Cowboys to move him to injured reserve on Thursday.

The injury isn’t deemed severe, sources tell CBS Sports, but is deemed “more severe than initially hoped”, and he’ll now miss at least three games going forward. Gregory is eligible to return on Dec. 2, in a primetime fight with the New Orleans Saints, and his return will be key in how the end of the Cowboys season fleshes out.

Having returned last week from a calf strain of his own, quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for Gregory.

“I just hold him he’ll be fine,” said Prescott. “I know the way Randy takes care of his body and handles his business. He’ll get over [the injury], and we’re going to support him.”

The two-time Pro Bowler knows losing Gregory is a huge blow to the defense, however.

“Just for the defense — guys know they have to step up,” Prescott added. “That leaves an opportunity for some young guys to come in and make some big plays. I’m sure those guys are going to do exactly that.”

He’s exactly right, because the recipe for the Cowboys will be the younger class being asked by defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to come on even stronger than they already might’ve to this point. The most obvious will be rookie first-round pick Micah Parsons, who dropped back to linebacker after spending a couple of games at quasi defensive end following DeMarcus Lawrence heading to IR with a fracture in his foot, and will now take on…