| If starter DeMarco Murray is unable to play Sunday, the Cowboys will likely counter with a tandem of Felix Jones and Phillip Tanner at tailback. (US Presswire) |
The Cowboys haven’t always split time with their starting tailback, but with DeMarco Murray likely out this week with a sprained foot, this could be an opportunity to get more than one back involved.
Felix Jones received more carries last week in Murray’s second-half absence, but the Cowboys are also getting second-year pro Phillip Tanner some snaps this week in practice.
Jones will likely start if Murray doesn’t play, but could be closer to a 50-50 split in playing time with Tanner. Also, rookie Lance Dunbar might even get a few carries. He ripped off an 11-yard run in his first and only career attempt last week.
“It varies week to week what our plan is,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “But we want multiple backs ready to carry the load. If Murray can’t go, we’ll get these other guys ready. Felix has been running the ball well for us and the young guys – Tanner and Dunbar – showed us some things, too. So we’ll be confident with the guys we’ve got this week.”
Romo on final play: Tony Romo met with Dallas media for the first time this week so the topic of the final 26 seconds in Baltimore was addressed again. Romo said the receivers who didn’t hurry back to the line of scrimmage before the final field goal is something that needs to be improved. But he said not running another play was probably the right decision
“I know those situations and what certain things we needed to do,” Romo said. “Once it got under a certain number, I also knew that at that point you shouldn’t take a chance to snap under 10 seconds just for penalty reasons and things of that nature when you have a timeout. There are certain things and certain times when you know exactly and you’re looking at the clock: What you need to do and we weren’t in position to do it before with enough time. After that point, then you had to do it. It was right at that point.
Costa returns: The Cowboys appeared to have big issues at center on Wednesday when both the starter and backup were out with injury. But starter Phil Costa returned Thursday despite a recent knee injury. Costa had missed all but three plays of the first four games with a nagging back injury. He returned last week with arguably the best game of his career against the Ravens
Backup Ryan Cook (hamstring) missed last week’s game and has not practiced yet this week. David Arkin has taken plenty of snaps but has yet to play in an NFL game at either guard or center.
For more Cowboys information follow @CBSCowboys and @nickeatman.