| Buster Skrine (22), D'Qwell Jackson (52) and Trevin Wade (26) of the Cleveland Browns combine to stop Dallas RB Felix Jones on Sunday. Jones has been battling knee, ankle and neck injuries for the last month. (AP) |
The Cowboys had their top two tailbacks out of practice Tuesday, just two days before facing Washington in the annual Thanksgiving Day game at Cowboys Stadium.
A minor setback for Felix Jones, who has a knee injury, sidelined him along with DeMarco Murray, who has been out since suffering a sprained foot against Baltimore on Oct. 14.
That left just rookie Lance Dunbar, who had to finish the game Sunday against Cleveland, and second-year back Phillip Tanner as the only healthy running backs in practice.
Dunbar, an undrafted rookie from North Texas who spent the first three games on the practice squad, had five carries for 10 yards Sunday, including a pivotal 7-yard run that gave the Cowboys a first down in overtime.
Dunbar has just 67 yards rushing on 20 carries this season, while Tanner has 61 yards on 25 attempts.
But the Cowboys might not have any choice but to use those two Thursday with Jones ailing. He’s been battling knee, ankle and neck injuries for the last month while Murray has been out, but has been healthy enough to play each week. That could be the case again Thursday, although he missed practice Tuesday after being limited Monday.
“Injuries are part of it and I’m proud of Felix,” coach Jason Garrett said. “Felix got banged up relatively early on in the ball game and he kept playing, he kept fighting through it. He just came off an injury that he’s been dealing with the last couple of weeks. It looks like he has a little bit of his burst and his juice back. But again, he’s dealing with this and he showed some toughness playing through it. Hopefully, he’ll be available for us on Thursday.”
Missing Coleman: The Cowboys tried a committee of players to replace injured defensive end Kenyon Coleman, who was placed on IR with torn triceps last week. Garrett said the combination of Marcus Spears and rookies Tyrone Crawford and Ben Bass were solid, but had a tough task.
“Kenyon is a good, strong run defender and that’s such an important role and characteristic for the position he plays, that left defensive end,” Garrett said. “We played with some different guys. They rotated in there, and I think they did fine. He’s a hard guy to replace, but the more and more they play, the better they’re going to play. It was a good experience for them.”
Spears had three tackles, Crawford had two and Bass had one.
WR Workout: The Cowboys took a look at former Redskins and Dolphins receiver Anthony Armstrong on Tuesday for a workout. Armstrong is also a familiar face, having played two seasons for the now-defunct Dallas Desperados, a Jerry Jones-owned Arena Football franchise. Armstrong is a speedy receiver who can stretch the field, with an 18.3 yard average. He’s played 34 games in three seasons, including five this year in Miami. Armstrong started 11 games in 2010 with Washington.
For more Cowboys information follow @CBSCowboys and @nickeatman.