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October 2008
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Mat McBriar has fractured right foot 'We can still be just as explosive' The health of Felix Jones' hamstring just got much more important Lot of Cowboys limping after loss Anquan Boldin will not play vs. Cowboys Roy Williams returned to practice Terence Newman 'probably out' vs. Cardinals Categories
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October 13, 2008Todd Archer reports that P Mat McBriar suffered a fractured right foot when Arizona's Sean Morey blocked the punt in overtime. He's expected to miss 6-8 weeks. We'll let you know as soon as we have some info about potential punting replacements. UPDATE: Agent Jack Bechta said the doctor's recommendation was that McBriar be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Bechta also represents Jay Ottovegio, the rookie punter from Stanford who was in the Cowboys' training camp. Bechta said the team had contacted him about Ottovegio, but they were just putting together a list of punting candidates. The entry "Mat McBriar has fractured right foot" is tagged: Mat McBriar Sam Hurd re-injured his ankle that he hurt during the preseason finale and needs surgery. Wade Phillips wasn't sure how long Hurd would be sidelined, but the Cowboys will be without their No. 4 WR and a core special teamer for a while. Other injury news: P Mat McBriar (ankle) and RB Felix Jones (hamstring) will have MRIs today. OLB Anthony Spencer (hamstring) is week-to-week. By the way, Spencer's injury forced the personnel change on the punt team that Arizona's Sean Morey exploited on the game-winning block. Phillips stopped short of saying that QB Tony Romo (broken right pinkie) would be out a month. "We don't know how long that he'll be out," Phillips said. "It depends on how fast that'll heal." The entry "Sam Hurd needs surgery" is tagged: Anthony Spencer , Felix Jones , Mat McBriar , Sam Hurd , Tony Romo A lot of Cowboys, some of whom didn't hear about Tony Romo's anticipated absence until after arriving at Valley Ranch, tried their best to downplay the gloom-and-doom factor with Brad Johnson running the offense. "We can still be just as explosive," Patrick Crayton said. "I think that they're definitely two different quarterbacks. I think Coach Garrett and the offensive staff have to call plays more geared toward Brad's strengths, which I'm pretty sure is what they'll do." Miles Austin insisted that he didn't think the scheme would change too much, even though Romo has a significantly stronger arm than Johnson. "He earned his shot to back up Tony," Austin said. "Now he gets his shot to play. ... I have all the confidence in the world that he'll get the job done." We'll have to wait until Wednesday to find out what T.O. thinks. He snapped at an approaching cameraman and informed reporters that he wouldn't talk until his usual day. Johnson and Romo weren't available in the locker room. We might get a chance to chat with Johnson later today. The entry "'We can still be just as explosive'" is tagged: Brad Johnson , Patrick Crayton
Felix Jones should play a significant role in this offense no matter that. But the Cowboys especially need the rookie's explosiveness with Brad Johnson under center. The Cowboys obviously will have to rely on the running game more than when Tony Romo was running the show. And the running backs should play much bigger roles in the passing game with a QB teammates kiddingly call "Checkdown" operating the offense. Jones didn't say much after yesterday's loss, which he exited in the third quarter after straining his hamstring on a 14-yard run. "I'll be all right," he mumbled on his way out the locker room door. The Cowboys better hope he's right. UPDATE: Jones, who was getting stimulation treatment on his hamstring, said he expects to practice Wednesday. The entry "The health of Felix Jones' hamstring just got much more important" is tagged: Brad Johnson , Tony Romo October 12, 2008We'll know much more about the severity of these injuries tomorrow, but here's a list of Cowboys who were hurt during the loss to the Cardinals. QB Tony Romo (sprained right pinky finger) RB Felix Jones (strained left hamstring) P Mat McBriar (bruised right ankle) LT Flozell Adams (stinger) SS Keith Davis (cut left thumb) OLB Anthony Spencer (strained left hamstring) NT Jay Ratliff left the game briefly, but he returned. Not sure what his ailment was, but it wasn't mentioned in the injury rundown. The entry "Lot of Cowboys limping after loss" has no entry tags. October 10, 2008The official injury reports have been released. No shocking news from the Cowboys -- like Terence Newman suddenly popping up on the report last Friday. SS Pat Watkins has been ruled out. Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin also won't play two weeks after taking a frightening hit under the chin from Jets safety Eric Smith. That means Steve Breaston, who had seven catches for 77 yards in last week's whupping of Buffalo, will start opposite Larry Fitzgerald again. Arizona TE Ben Patrick (knee) is doubtful. Three-fourths of the Cardinals secondary -- CB Rod Hood (groin), CB Eric Green (groin) and SS Adrian Wilson (hamstring) -- is questionable. So is DE Bertrand Berry and LB Clark Haggans, who are both nursing sore groins. The entry "Anquan Boldin will not play vs. Cowboys" is tagged: Adrian Wilson , Anquan Boldin , Ben Patrick , Bertrand Berry , Clark Haggans , Eric Green , Pat Watkins , Rod Hood , Steve Breaston , Terence Newman October 9, 2008Roy Williams had limited participation in today's practice for the first time since breaking his forearm against the Eagles. He could play as early as next week against the Rams. No news on Terence Newman until he sees the sports hernia specialist tomorrow. The entry "Roy Williams returned to practice" has no entry tags. October 8, 2008Wade Phillips said CB Terence Newman is "probably out" of Sunday's game in Arizona because of an abdominal strain, not the groin injury that sidelined him from the first week of training camp through the season opener. SS Pat Watkins (shoulder) is also doubtful. In somewhat related news, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn't ruled out the possibility of WR Anquan Boldin playing against the Cowboys. Boldin is recovering from surgery after he took a vicious knockout blow late in the Sept. 28 loss to the Jets. The entry "Terence Newman 'probably out' vs. Cardinals" has no entry tags. I looked up at lunch and read on ESPN's Bottom Line that Terence Newman had been ruled out of Sunday's game because of his abdominal strain. That isn't the case, we're told. No determination has been made yet on Newman's status for the game against the Cardinals. Newman could miss his third game of the season, but we won't know whether that'll be the case until later this week. The entry "Terence Newman has not been ruled out" has no entry tags. October 6, 2008Wade Phillips was able to provide some concrete information on two injured starters. LG Kyle Kosier (foot) will not be available this week. SS Roy Williams (forearm) might return to practice, but he won't play against the Cardinals. The entry "No Kyle Kosier, Roy Williams this week" is tagged: Kyle Kosier , Roy Williams
Newman sat out Sunday's game after popping up on the injury report Friday afternoon as questionable (groin). Did he aggravate the injury he originally suffered the first week of training camp? "I don't know," Phillips said. "You'd have to ask him." Phillips also claimed not to know what kind of medical test Newman underwent today. The official word on Newman is that the Cowboys are "re-evaluating" his injury. (Photo: Vernon Bryant/DMN) The entry "What's wrong with Terence Newman?" has no entry tags. October 3, 2008Pro Bowl C Andre Gurode practiced today and said his sprained left ankle won't keep him from playing against the Bengals. "I'm good," he said while removing the tape from his ankle. That means Cory Procter will start at left guard again, although the Cowboys plan to give Montrae Holland some playing time there, too. UPDATE: Gurode was listed as "limited participation" on the official practice report. He's listed as questionable. The entry "Andre Gurode: 'I'm good'" is tagged: Andre Gurode , Cory Procter , Montrae Holland October 2, 2008Wade Phillips said Andre Gurode rolled his left ankle during yesterday's practice. "We're pretty optimistic that he can play," Phillips said. SS Pat Watkins (shoulder) is doubtful. Phillips confirmed that Keith Davis would start with Courtney Brown coming in with the sub packages. DE Stephen Bowen (hamstring) and NT Tank Johnson (ankle) were limited in today's practice. The entry "Cowboys optimistic Andre Gurode will play" is tagged: Andre Gurode , Courtney Brown , Keith Davis , Pat Watkins , Stephen Bowen , Tank Johnson Pro Bowl C Andre Gurode isn't practicing today. He walked out onto the field, wearing shorts and a sweatshirt and with tape on his left ankle, just before the media got booted. Cory Procter was working at center and Montrae Holland at left guard. More to come on this when we get briefed by Dr. Wade Phillips. The entry "Andre Gurode sits out practice" is tagged: Andre Gurode , Cory Procter , Montrae Holland September 29, 2008
The second-year fullback says the team's athletic trainers and doctors agree, too. He's getting in extra conditioning after sitting out two weeks due to minor knee surgery and expects to practice Wednesday. Maybe Jason Garrett will give the running backs more than eight carries next game with a fullback back in the mix. The entry "Deon 'Cricket' Anderson declares himself healthy" has no entry tags. September 26, 2008Tank Johnson (sprained ankle) is listed as questionable on the official injury report. He had limited participation in today's practice after rehabbing with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown yesterday. Wade Phillips said he thought Johnson would be ready to go, but that was before today's practice. The entry "Tank Johnson listed as questionable" is tagged: Tank Johnson September 25, 2008Wade Phillips said backup NT Tank Johnson (slight ankle sprain) is expected to return to practice and play Sunday. The entry "Tank Johnson's ankle should be OK" has no entry tags. Backup NT Tank Johnson told Wade Phillips that his ankle sprain was getting better "hour by hour," but he isn't on the practice field today. We'll address this during the always thrilling Phillips daily press conference and pass on whatever info we get. The entry "Tank Johnson isn't practicing" is tagged: Tank Johnson September 24, 2008Wade Phillips said OLB Anthony Spencer and Sam Hurd had full participation in today's practice, so it looks like both will be able to play Sunday against the Redskins. Hurd's return doesn't necessarily cut into Miles Austin's role. Phillips said the coaches would find ways to get both receivers onto the field, and they might even give the starters an occasional rest. In other news, Cory Procter returns to the starting lineup at left guard with Kyle Kosier out, but Montrae Holland is getting some first-team reps. UPDATE: Forgot to mention that NT Tank Johnson has a slight ankle sprain, which is getting better "hour-by-hour." And all Cowboys fans should check out this video!!! The entry "Anthony Spencer, Sam Hurd look ready to go" is tagged: Anthony Spencer , Cory Procter , Miles Austin , Montrae Holland , Sam Hurd OLB Anthony Spencer (knee) and WR Sam Hurd (ankle) are practicing today. We'll find out later whether they were limited. The entry "Anthony Spencer, Sam Hurd practicing" has no entry tags. September 22, 2008Wade Phillips confirmed that LG Kyle Kosier will be sidelined awhile after re-injuring his foot. Cory Procter returns to the starting lineup. LG Kyle Kosier's left foot was stiff and sore last night. He played well last night, especially in the running game, in his first game after suffering a sprain and hairline fracture in the foot Aug. 22. He re-aggravated the injury on the Cowboys' final drive after having no issues with the foot during practice last week. Kosier wore a protective boot on his left foot when he arrived at the Cowboys' Valley Ranch facility. He walked into Blue Star Imaging, the office connected to the facility where the Cowboys get MRIs done. S Pat Watkins, who replaced Roy Williams in the starting lineup, injured his right shoulder during the first half. Watkins played through the injury, and he'll be evaluated today. We'll have updates after Wade Phillips' press conference this afternoon. The entry "Injury concerns: Kyle Kosier, Pat Watkins" is tagged: Kyle Kosier , Pat Watkins September 19, 2008Well, OLB Anthony Spencer apparently didn't present his case very well. Less than an hour after telling reporters that he would try to talk the coaches and athletic trainers into letting him play Sunday night, he's listed as out on the official injury report. WR Sam Hurd is listed as questionable. LG Kyle Kosier (foot) is listed as probable, which means he'll be back in the starting lineup barring a setback. The entry "Anthony Spencer ruled out vs. Packers" is tagged: Anthony Spencer , Kyle Kosier , Sam Hurd
OLB Anthony Spencer and WR Sam Hurd hope to talk the coaches and athletic trainers into letting them play Sunday night in Green Bay. Spencer said he had an MRI on his right knee Wednesday, and the results were negative. He experienced soreness and stiffness in the knee, which was scoped in late August, after playing limited snaps against the Eagles. "I think it was just some scar tissue breaking down," Spencer said. Hurd, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale, said he would play against the Packers if it were up to him. But he acknowledged that the team's medical staff might want him to wait a week. The entry "Anthony Spencer, Sam Hurd hope to play Sunday night" is tagged: Anthony Spencer , Sam Hurd September 18, 2008Wade Phillips confirmed that OLB Anthony Spencer sat out practice today because of soreness in his right knee, which he had scoped last month. Phillips refused to speculate on whether Spencer would play Sunday night, but it doesn't sound good. "We're trying to be cautious there and will investigate that further," Phillips said. Spencer originally injured the knee in the preseason opener against the Chargers. It was diagnosed as a bone bruise, and he was expected to be day-to-day. He had arthroscopic surgery two weeks later after the swelling didn't go down. Spencer sat out the season opener and played "OK," according to Phillips, in Monday night's win over the Eagles. Follow the jump for a couple more injury tidbits. The entry "Anthony Spencer's knee aching again" is tagged: Anthony Spencer Wade Phillips said left guard Kyle Kosier, who sat out the first two games with a foot injury, fully participated in today's practice and looked good doing so. "He could have played a game today," Phillips said. "If he's real sore, it could be a problem. But other than that, I'm encouraged about Kyle being ready to play." Cory Procter performed well in Kosier's place at the first two games, but Phillips said there's no question about Kosier returning to the starting lineup if his foot is up to the task. |