Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware has not missed a game in his eight-year career. (US Presswire) |
OLB DeMarcus Ware's focus remains solely on the Redskins and stopping Robert Griffin III.
He says he’s not worried about his elbow, shoulder or neck injuries -- at least not now. But Ware didn’t rule out the possibility of needing offseason surgery. He’s just hoping the end doesn’t come Monday, following the Cowboys' Sunday night do-or-die game with the Redskins.
“I don’t know yet," Ware said. "It depends on what they say. We’ll wait to end of the season to see.”
Ware, who just made his seventh-straight Pro Bowl, said his health would determine if he would play in the game on Jan. 27.
He has missed two practices this week, but that likely won’t keep him from playing Sunday against Washington. Ware has never missed a game in his eight-year career and only one start. That was in 2009 when he had a neck injury that forced him to leave the previous game on a stretcher.
Ware didn’t start against the Saints in 2009 but thrived in a limited role with two sacks and two forced fumbles to ignite the Cowboys to a crucial late-season win.
This week, Ware said he expects to play every snap, but said he would be open to whatever the Cowboys chose to do throughout the game. The problem is, Ware’s top backup, Victor Butler, has also been limited this week with a groin injury.
But for Ware, he said playing this week comes down to a simple case of mind-over-matter.
“I think I’m healthy enough to play,” Ware said. “That’s what I’ve always said. It doesn’t matter how good you feel, I expect to play. You just have to fight through it.”
Ware leads the Cowboys with 11.5 sacks, but that’s a dip from last year when he finished with 19.5.
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