Of all the negative aspects that have emerged following the Dallas Cowboys 28-17 Week One loss to the San Francisco 49ers, one of the rare positives has been the play of the Cowboys linebackers. The starting lineup of Bruce Carter, Rolando McClain and Justin Durant were responsible for a combined total of 22 tackles, two passed defended and one sack on Sunday. But according to a tweet by DallasCowboys.com football analyst and former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus, the Cowboys might be without one of those starting linebackers for the next 3-4 weeks.

“@austinmcox: @BryanBroaddus how has Toomer looked? More than just speed?” Practiced just last week Durant is gone for while so gets chance — Bryan Broaddus (@BryanBroaddus) September 10, 2014

Durant suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s contest with the Niners. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 11th best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL during the opening week of the new season. Durant signed a two-year deal with the Cowboys as a free agent back in 2013, following a career year with the Detroit Lions where he recorded 103 total tackles. Last season, he missed six games due to a hamstring injury. Durant was originally a second round pick out of Hampton by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2007.

Now, it appears, the eighth-year veteran will be spending the next month on the Dallas sidelines. Which opens the door for a number of unproven players to gain some much needed playing time. The top candidate to replace Durant at weakside linebacker will be the Cowboys 2014 fourth round selection out of Iowa, rookie Anthony Hitchens. Other possible options at linebacker could be third-year veteran Kyle Wilber and the newly acquired Korey Toomer, who was recently waived by the Seattle Seahawks.

This latest news is potentially devastating for a Dallas defense already riddled with injuries and suspensions. In May, Dallas lost it’s defensive leader, linebacker Sean Lee, to an ACL injury. All-Pro defensive end Anthony Spencer is still on the mend from microfracture surgery on his knee. The Cowboys second round pick in this year’s draft, Boise State defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, broke his foot in July and hopes to return by Week Nine to face the Arizona Cardinals. And both starting cornerback Orlando Scandrick and safety Jakar Hamilton have been suspended for the first four weeks of the season for violating league polices.

Durant’s absence would only place more pressure on this young group of defensive players to step up in his place. For the next four weeks, the Cowboys (0-1) will be on the road to face the Tennessee Titans (1-0) and the St. Louis Rams (0-1) respectively. Then Dallas will return home to face the New Orleans Saints (0-1) and the Houston Texans (1-0) in AT&T Stadium.