Cowboys outside linebacker Marist Liufau to have surgery for fractured forearm, expected to miss “some weeks”

The Dallas Cowboys announced that outside linebacker Marist Liufau is expected to miss “some weeks” after fracturing his forearm and undergoing surgery. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the procedure is planned as early as Monday, confirming the team’s plan to address the injury rather than manage it through practice and preseason preparations.

Liufau’s injury matters to Dallas because the outside linebacker position is central to how the Cowboys generate pass rush and maintain discipline in run defense. Like most NFL teams, Dallas will have to balance early-season availability with player safety during camp and the lead-in to the regular season, and that typically means reworking reps among backups and special teams candidates.

Schottenheimer’s comments also underscore the timeline the team is working with. “Some weeks” is not a precise return date, but it indicates that Liufau will be unavailable for a meaningful portion of the team’s mid-to-late camp period. That can affect how often Dallas uses its preferred base and sub packages, especially in practices where the staff wants to evaluate multiple looks under game-speed conditions.

With Liufau sidelined, the Cowboys’ coaching staff is likely to increase opportunities for other linebackers and edge defenders to take on heavier practice workloads. In that kind of situation, roles can shift quickly, and players who get first-team reps often become part of the decision-making thread for the coaching staff when the final roster is shaped.

The injury also changes the defensive depth chart in the short term. Even if Dallas has depth behind its starters, missing a player who can contribute at both ends of the linebacker spectrum can reduce flexibility for practice planning, such as how the defense simulates down-and-distance matchups and pass-protection assignments during team periods.

For fans, the key follow-up is how quickly Liufau progresses through the post-surgical phase and what the Cowboys report about his rehab timetable. Until there is a more specific update, Dallas will have to plan under uncertainty, preparing to operate without him while evaluating who can handle the workload and responsibilities tied to his role.