The Cowboys start the season with the worst possible news: They've lost their linebacker to a broken forearm

The Dallas Cowboys have suffered an untimely injury blow just days before they begin the 2026 regular season.

Outside linebacker Marist Liufau fractured his left forearm during Friday’s preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints and is expected to miss several weeks.

The injury occurred late in the first quarter while Liufau was making a tackle during Dallas’ 27-24 loss. He was later seen wearing a sling and soft cast.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that Liufau will undergo surgery, potentially as soon as Monday.

While Schottenheimer said the third-year linebacker will miss “some weeks,” the injury isn’t considered season-ending, giving the Cowboys some hope that he could return relatively early in the campaign.

The timing is particularly frustrating because Liufau had put together an impressive offseason while preparing for an expanded role.

Liufau , a 2024 third-round pick out of Notre Dame, made the transition from an off-ball linebacker to an edge player during the offseason. The move was part of the changes under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker , who’s implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme in Dallas.

Liufau appeared to be adjusting well to the new responsibilities and had earned the confidence of the coaching staff. His versatility also made him an important piece on special teams.

Liufau’s injury creates a difficult roster decision

Schottenheimer emphasized just how valuable Liufau had become, particularly because of his contributions across all four special-teams units.

The coach described him as a “four-core” player, highlighting the importance of having someone who can consistently contribute regardless of the situation.

That versatility will now be missing as Dallas prepares for Week 1.

The injury also creates a complicated roster situation. The Cowboys must finalize their 53-man roster, and they’ll have to decide how best to handle Liufau’s absence. One possibility is placing him on injured reserve with a designation to return.

NFL teams have two such designations available, allowing them to temporarily open a roster spot while retaining an injured player. If Dallas takes that route with Liufau , he’d have to miss at least four regular-season games before he can return to the active roster.

Jerry Jones has sounded more optimistic about Liufau’s recovery than the initial “some weeks” assessment might suggest. The Cowboys owner and general manager said the fracture is located in a favorable position and indicated that, if surgery goes well, Liufau could potentially return “quickly.”

That optimism will be welcomed by Dallas, especially considering Liufau hadn’t missed a game during his first two NFL seasons. He appeared in all 34 games after joining the Cowboys from Notre Dame and was hoping to take another step forward in his third professional season.

The Cowboys will now have to turn to other linebackers and edge defenders while Liufau recovers. His absence could be felt most immediately on special teams, where his reliability and physical playing style had made him a trusted contributor.