59 Anthony Hitchens MLB

Hitchens (knee) was going through rehab during the Cowboys' practice Thursday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

Hitchens is about a month removed from suffering a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee and is halfway through his recovery timetable, but it's still good to see him rehabbing at this point. The 25-year-old could return following the Cowboys' Week 6 bye at the earliest, but there remains a lot of work to be done before a definitely return date is set.

Hitchens (knee) will not need surgery after tests revealed he has no ligament damage, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

While this is definitely good news, Hitchens will still be sidelined about eight weeks with the tibial plateau fracture he suffered last week, potentially keeping him out until the Cowboys return from their Week 6 bye. The fact that he won't need surgery leads us to the notion that his recovery process will be somewhat smooth, or at least smoother than it would be trying to rehab from surgery. With Hitchens still out for half the season, Dallas will likely lean on veteran Justin Durant and Notre Dame product Jaylon Smith during his absence.

Hitchens (knee) has a tibial plateau fracture and will be out eight weeks, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

There are two ways to look at this. Obviously, the loss is devastating for Hitchens who was expected to start at inside linebacker this season. However, the break is not a torn ACL which would have cost Hitchens the entire 2017 season. Hitchens can theoretically be back for Week 7 which seems like the target return date as of right now.

Hitchens (knee) will undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the seriousness of his injury, which could be season-ending, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

This is potentially devastating news for Hitchens and the Cowboys. Not has he been the starting middle linebacker, but Hitchens has also been filling in for Sean Lee (hamstring) at weakside linebacker. If the injury does end up being season-ending, 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith (knee) will have to step up.

Hitchens (knee) went down during Saturday's game against Oakland, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

The Cowboys are crossing their fingers that Hitchens is all right, or else their defensive problems will escalate. Hitchens was the starting middle linebacker, but he has also been filling in for Sean Lee (hamstring) at weakside linebacker. If this injury is serious, Dallas will need 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith (knee) to seriously step up.