Cowboys may have to dig deep for extra receiver help
By RICK HERRIN
rickherrin@star-telegram.com
IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys have a wide receiver problem.
With the season opener Sept. 7 at Cleveland, the Cowboys are left with only two healthy receivers with NFL experience in Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton.
All the preseason games have done is decimate the depth and leave the Cowboys without room for more bad news.
Sam Hurd, the team’s No. 3 receiver, has been ruled out for the opener after suffering a high left ankle sprain while running a reverse in the first quarter Thursday night against Minnesota. He joins Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback on the injury list.
Wade Phillips is considering keeping just two receivers active against the Browns, but only because he has Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
"Witten can be a third receiver," Phillips said. "He’s a force out there, so he can be a third receiver if you need him."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also isn’t interested in going after a new receiver — for now.
Here’s a look at the group:
Terrell Owens
The Cowboys should be collectively crossing their fingers that the 34-year-old Owens stays away from injury. His health is now even more magnified on a play-to-play basis. Owens has missed only one game in his two years in Dallas. He missed last season’s regular-season finale with an ankle sprain, but returned in the playoffs. Owens should be sharing his hyperbaric chamber with his good buddy Hurd.
Patrick Crayton
Crayton has smoothly dealt with talk of the Cowboys needing to add a No. 2 receiver by having a solid training camp and preseason. He missed one game last season with an ankle sprain but has shown the toughness to recover fast and play through injuries. Crayton replaced Terry Glenn with seven touchdowns last season.
Sam Hurd
Phillips didn’t plan on playing Hurd much in the preseason finale and it was still costly. Hurd was injured on the opening series after a 35-yard end around. He will be out for the opener, but the injury could linger for a few more weeks. High ankle sprains typically sideline players four to six weeks. Cornerback Anthony Henry missed three games last year with a similar injury.
Miles Austin
Austin, like Hurd, claims to be a quick healer and the Cowboys are hoping that’s true. Austin suffered an MCL sprain Aug. 16 against Denver on kickoff coverage and is dealing with his first knee injury. Austin, who was pushing Hurd for the No. 3 role, is expected to be sidelined for at least the first two games.
Isaiah Stanback
The news is better for Stanback and he could be available for the Cleveland game. Stanback is coming off a separated left shoulder he suffered on a kick return against Houston and he wants to put off surgery. It’s possible Stanback could wear a shoulder harness, which he wore last year, for support.
Mike Jefferson/ Danny Amendola
One of these two will likely make the team mostly because of the injury situation rather than performance. Phillips said neither player really separated himself against the Vikings, but also didn’t take a step back. Owner Jerry Jones and the coaches seem less thrilled by Amendola since the start of training camp. If Jefferson, a member of the practice squad last season, makes the team he could be active in the opener but only for the possibility of an injury to the starters.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
rickherrin@star-telegram.com
IRVING — The Dallas Cowboys have a wide receiver problem.
With the season opener Sept. 7 at Cleveland, the Cowboys are left with only two healthy receivers with NFL experience in Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton.
All the preseason games have done is decimate the depth and leave the Cowboys without room for more bad news.
Sam Hurd, the team’s No. 3 receiver, has been ruled out for the opener after suffering a high left ankle sprain while running a reverse in the first quarter Thursday night against Minnesota. He joins Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback on the injury list.
Wade Phillips is considering keeping just two receivers active against the Browns, but only because he has Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
"Witten can be a third receiver," Phillips said. "He’s a force out there, so he can be a third receiver if you need him."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also isn’t interested in going after a new receiver — for now.
Here’s a look at the group:
Terrell Owens
The Cowboys should be collectively crossing their fingers that the 34-year-old Owens stays away from injury. His health is now even more magnified on a play-to-play basis. Owens has missed only one game in his two years in Dallas. He missed last season’s regular-season finale with an ankle sprain, but returned in the playoffs. Owens should be sharing his hyperbaric chamber with his good buddy Hurd.
Patrick Crayton
Crayton has smoothly dealt with talk of the Cowboys needing to add a No. 2 receiver by having a solid training camp and preseason. He missed one game last season with an ankle sprain but has shown the toughness to recover fast and play through injuries. Crayton replaced Terry Glenn with seven touchdowns last season.
Sam Hurd
Phillips didn’t plan on playing Hurd much in the preseason finale and it was still costly. Hurd was injured on the opening series after a 35-yard end around. He will be out for the opener, but the injury could linger for a few more weeks. High ankle sprains typically sideline players four to six weeks. Cornerback Anthony Henry missed three games last year with a similar injury.
Miles Austin
Austin, like Hurd, claims to be a quick healer and the Cowboys are hoping that’s true. Austin suffered an MCL sprain Aug. 16 against Denver on kickoff coverage and is dealing with his first knee injury. Austin, who was pushing Hurd for the No. 3 role, is expected to be sidelined for at least the first two games.
Isaiah Stanback
The news is better for Stanback and he could be available for the Cleveland game. Stanback is coming off a separated left shoulder he suffered on a kick return against Houston and he wants to put off surgery. It’s possible Stanback could wear a shoulder harness, which he wore last year, for support.
Mike Jefferson/ Danny Amendola
One of these two will likely make the team mostly because of the injury situation rather than performance. Phillips said neither player really separated himself against the Vikings, but also didn’t take a step back. Owner Jerry Jones and the coaches seem less thrilled by Amendola since the start of training camp. If Jefferson, a member of the practice squad last season, makes the team he could be active in the opener but only for the possibility of an injury to the starters.
ONLINE: dallascowboys.com
posted by The Gryphon at 9:06 AM
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