EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With wide receiver Lucky Whitehead scratched from Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants for violating team rules, it opens up a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' 46-man roster

Had Whitehead not gotten into trouble, the Cowboys likely would have gone with Mark Sanchez, Darius Jackson, Chaz Green, Ryan Davis, Mark Nzeocha, Morris Claiborne and J.J. Wilcox as their inactive players.

Claiborne (groin), Wilcox (thigh) and Green (back) have already been ruled out. Jackson isn’t needed as an extra tailback.

But the Cowboys’ final roster spot Sunday will come down to taste.

As a linebacker, Nzeocha isn’t necessarily needed with the return of Justin Durant from a one-game absence because of a hamstring injury. Durant is questionable but practiced all three days this past week. Nzeocha would provide some special-teams snaps and cover in case Durant is hurt again.

The Cowboys don’t need to dress nine defensive linemen, but they could look to keep their group fresher by having Davis active. With DeMarcus Lawrence, who did not practice Thursday or Friday, questionable because of a back injury, the addition of Davis to the active roster makes sense. It would give the Cowboys some cover if Lawrence’s back flares up. Davis was the odd-man out last week, with Benson Mayowa getting his spot back and coming up with a sack.

Considering where the Cowboys are with their pass rush, Davis makes more sense being active than Nzeocha.

So the guess at Sunday's inactives is: Sanchez, Jackson, Whitehead, Green, Nzeocha, Claiborne and Wilcox.