It’s a brutal time to be a sports fan in North Texas. Honestly, looking at the Dallas injury report today, you’d think there was something in the water at the American Airlines Center. Whether you’re following the Mavericks as they struggle through a mid-season slump or checking in on the Stars’ defensive pairings, the news isn't great.
The rosters are basically a rotating door of G-League call-ups and "next man up" clichés.
It’s not just about missing a player here or there. It’s about the identity of these teams being completely rewritten by the medical staff. When you lose the literal faces of your franchise to the trainer’s room, the game plan doesn't just change—it evaporates.
The Mavericks’ MASH Unit: Luka and Flagg Side-by-Side
If you’ve been watching the Mavs lately, you know it’s been rough. The latest update for January 18, 2026, confirms what we all feared: Luka Doncic is out. He’s dealing with left groin soreness. It’s the kind of nagging injury that the team just can’t afford to rush, especially with the way the Western Conference standings are looking.
But the Luka news is only half the story.
The real gut punch has been Cooper Flagg. The rookie has been a revelation, averaging nearly 19 points a game and acting as the secondary engine for this offense. Then, the Denver game happened. He went down with a left ankle sprain, played only 14 minutes, and hasn't looked the same since. He’s officially listed as doubtful for today, though most insiders expect him to watch from the bench in street clothes.
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"With injuries, we've leaned on guys more than we probably should in terms of minutes and stretches," Jason Kidd remarked recently.
He's not kidding. Look at the rest of this list:
- Kyrie Irving: Out (Recovering from left knee surgery).
- Dereck Lively II: Out for the season (Right foot surgery).
- Dante Exum: Out for the season (Knee).
- Anthony Davis: Out (Left finger sprain/hand injury, expected back in March).
- Daniel Gafford: Doubtful (Right ankle sprain).
Basically, the Mavericks are missing their entire starting frontcourt and their two best playmakers. This forces guys like Jaden Hardy and Naji Marshall into roles they weren't necessarily built for. Marshall has been a bright spot, sure, but asking him to be the primary offensive creator is a tall order.
The Stars’ Defensive Hole and Heiskanen’s Status
Switching over to the ice, the Dallas Stars are facing their own set of headaches. The big news for the January 18 matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning is Miro Heiskanen.
There’s a bit of a silver lining here. Miro returned to practice on Saturday after missing time for a family matter. He’s expected to be back in the lineup today. This is massive. The guy plays over 26 minutes a night. Without him, the Stars' blue line looks incredibly thin.
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However, the "out" list still carries some heavy weight. Tyler Seguin is on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) with an ACL injury. At this point, he's out indefinitely. It’s a huge blow to the veteran leadership of the locker room.
Then there’s the young defenseman Lian Bichsel. He’s also on LTIR with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss at least another month. When you lose a prospect with that kind of size and reach, your penalty kill takes a visible hit.
The Stars are essentially surviving on the brilliance of Jake Oettinger right now. But even "Otter" can't stop everything when the defense in front of him is playing musical chairs every third shift.
What Happened to the Cowboys?
I know, I know. The Cowboys' season ended with a thud. They finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. But the Dallas injury report today still reflects the carnage of that Week 18 loss to the Giants.
Dak Prescott finished the season healthy, which was the one goal the team actually achieved. After that hamstring disaster in 2024, seeing him play all 17 games was a win. But the roster around him crumbled.
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By the time the final whistle blew in January:
- Javonte Williams was on IR (Shoulder/Neck).
- Malik Davis was on IR (Calf/Eye).
- DeMarvion Overshown was sidelined with a concussion.
- Shavon Revel was out with a neck injury.
It’s the same old story for Dallas. Talent on paper, but the training table is always full. The 2026 offseason is now officially about rebuilding the depth because, as we saw, the starters can't carry the load alone if they can't stay on the grass.
Navigating the Betting Lines and Fantasy Impacts
If you’re looking at the Dallas injury report today from a betting or fantasy perspective, proceed with extreme caution.
For the Mavericks, the "Under" has become a tempting play simply because they lack the firepower to keep up in high-scoring affairs without Luka and Kyrie. When you lose 50+ points of production from your backcourt, the game slows down. The pace drops. It becomes a grind.
In hockey, Heiskanen’s return usually stabilizes the puck movement. If he’s confirmed as a starter, the Stars' odds of covering the puck line improve significantly. He is the transition game. Without him, they get pinned in their own zone. With him, they're a top-tier contender.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Bettors
Keep your eyes on the official 90-minute reports before tip-off. NBA injury statuses are notoriously fluid.
- Check the "Probable" Tags: Max Christie has been battling an illness. If he’s a "go," it gives the Mavs some much-needed perimeter shooting.
- Monitor G-League Recalls: Watch for names like Miles Kelly or Moussa Cissé. If they’re getting 20+ minutes, you know the rotation is desperate.
- Stars' Morning Skate: Always check the beat writers on social media around 10:30 AM. If Miro is taking his usual turns on the power play unit, he's fully back.
- Value the Bench: For the Mavs, Jaden Hardy is the volume shooter today. If you’re playing daily fantasy, his floor is high just based on usage alone.
The sports landscape in Dallas right now is a test of patience. We're seeing the "depth" of these organizations being tested in real-time. Sometimes that leads to a diamond in the rough emerging, but usually, it just leads to a lot of frustrated fans at the American Airlines Center. Keep the ice packs ready; it’s going to be a long winter.