NFL injury report: Players return to Cowboys during bye week

After being forced to play with a myriad of defensive injuries the first few weeks of the season, the Dallas Cowboys will get a handful of players back onto the defense, including Jay Ratliff, thanks to the bye week.

The defense got the biggest boost from the bye week, getting three big contributors back onto the practice field with no game to worry about on Sunday.

Ratliff, Dallas' usual starting nose tackle in Rob Ryan's 3-4 defense, will be the biggest name to return to the field when the Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens. He had been out since the preseason with an high ankle sprain that forced Josh Brent to take the reps at NT while he was out.

Also returning to the defense will be defensive end Kenyon Coleman and safety Matt Johnson. All three should help shore up a defense that gave up 20 points to the Chicago Bears in their last game before the bye. (The other 14 scored by Chicago that game came on interception returns.)

The Cowboys are currently 2-2 on the season going into their game against the Ravens on Sunday.