Cowboys Notebook: Gerald Sensabaugh improving; practices in full

The Cowboys should be in good shape at the safety position. Not only has veteran free safety Gerald Sensabaugh showing progress from a concussion, but backup Danny McCray expects to play after missing the first game with a stinger/shoulder injury.

McCray is the team’s special teams captain and best player on the coverage units.

As for Sensabaugh, who practiced in full on Thursday, he should be fine to start the game alongside strong safety Barry Church.

Sensabaugh played all 56 snaps in last week’s game against the Giants, but apparently suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter.

After seeing a team of specialists this week and going through all the necessary tests to check his status, Sensabaugh is expected to play on Sunday.

Ratliff misses again: It’s starting to look rather doubtful for Jay Ratliff, who missed another day of practice Thursday with a high-ankle sprain. Ratliff suffered the injury on Aug. 25 and has not practiced since. In his absence, the Cowboys will start Josh Brent, but will rotate in Sean Lissemore, who received a three-year contract extension on Thursday worth $3.1 million guaranteed.

New sheriff?: DeMarcus Ware has had to chase Michael Vick around twice a year. He doesn’t seem too excited about doing the same for Robert Griffin III, who had a wonderful start to his career last week.

“That lets you know that it's sort of like a new sheriff in town," Ware said. "You've got Michael Vick, he runs the ball and plays really well, and now in the division you've got RGIII, he does the same thing. He runs the ball, he's really poised in the pocket and can throw the ball down the field and he got a lot of big plays and the division just got a little more stronger."

The Cowboys don’t play Washington until Thanksgiving Day and then meet again to end the season on Dec. 30.

Physical runner: DeMarco Murray said he made a mistake last week on his 48-yard run against the Giants when he elected to turn back into the field of play instead of running down the sidelines for what could’ve been a touchdown. Murray lowered his shoulder on a Giants defender, something he did often in last Wednesday’s game.

Murray said his style of running doesn’t avoid contact, but he knows he needs to pick his spots.

“There’s times where you’ve got to be smart and get out of bounds,” Murray said. “You’re by the sidelines and there’s five defenders there, just definitely got to get out. But there’s times where you feel you can create something and maybe make a few guys miss and get out of there.”

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