The Dallas Cowboys are set to head into a critical matchup on Thanksgiving Day that could have a major impact on their playoff chances with a matchup against the Washington Redskins that could see them potentially move atop of the NFC East standings.

However, it is a contest that the Cowboys will be without some key factors on both sides of the ball as star linebacker Sean Lee, defensive tackle David Irving, and wide receiver Tavon Austin have each been ruled out of the game, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

This will mark the third straight game that Lee has missed due to a nagging hamstring issue that has flared up over the last couple of weeks. In five games played this season, Lee has 27 total tackles, a fumble recovery, a half sack, and a pass deflection. He is expected to miss somewhere between four-to-six weeks due to the injury, which he is approximately reached midway point of the entire recovery process that should see him make a return some time in the last few games of the campaign.

This will push more of the onus on linebackers Jaylon Smith and rookie Leighton Vander Esch to carry the bulk of the responsibility at the position with Lee still out. The two have already shown that they are capable of providing that much-needed stability in that unit of the defense. In fact, the two have been huge factors in the Cowboys possessing one of the league's best defenses ranking eighth overall including 10th against the pass and fifth against the rush this season.

Irving has played in just two games this season where he has just two tackles including a sack as he has been limited by a high-ankle sprain that typically takes a few weeks to recover fully. He hasn't been able to make the impact defensively as hoped as he hasn't had the chance to play in a large capacity this season.

Meanwhile, Austin has played in a limited role in the offense with seven receptions for 130 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. This has seen him record no more than three catches in a single game while he has reached double-digit receiving yards just twice this season. His absence will give more of the workload in the passing game to wide receivers Amari Cooper, Cole Beasley, rookie Michael Gallup, and Allen Hurns.