DMN Blog: Dallas Cowboys' Tank Johnson says he's ready to roll Sunday
By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Tank Johnson stood on the practice field Friday and started hopping up and down. If his ankle injury still bothered him, you couldn't tell.
The Cowboys' backup nose tackle has been limited in practice this week because of the injury. Johnson didn't practice Thursday, and when he arrived Friday, "He gave me the thumbs up," coach Wade Phillips said.
Johnson also was limited in practice Friday, but he's expected to play Sunday against Washington.
"It's just one of those deals where I needed a little bit of rest," Johnson said. "I feel a lot healthier than I did [Thursday]. I'll be my normal physical self."
The Cowboys had defensive end Marcus Spears work at nose tackle this week as a precaution. Spears said he isn't sure if he will play inside against the Redskins. "It all depends on Tank," he said.
Hurd in, Stanback out? Receiver Sam Hurd, who suffered a preseason ankle injury, is expected to play his first game of the season Sunday.
The Cowboys normally do not dress five receivers for a game. If Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd all dress, Isaiah Stanback could be inactive.
If Stanback doesn't play, rookie Orlando Scandrick could take Stanback's place alongside Felix Jones on kickoff returns. Stanback was inactive the last six games last season, including the playoff loss to the New York Giants.
"You can't suit everybody up," Phillips said. "But at least we get enough healthy guys that we have to make some decisions. So that's a good thing."
The Cowboys will dress all three tight ends, Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett and Tony Curtis. With injured fullback Deon Anderson (knee) still out, Curtis again will occasionally line up as a fullback.
Watching Moss: Redskins receiver Santana Moss had 17 catches in two games against the Cowboys last season. Moss may draw an occasional double-team, but cornerback Terence Newman said the defense won't have someone following Moss all over Texas Stadium.
"There have been limited times when somebody shadowed somebody here," Newman said. "The way this defense works, you line up on your side and play."
Williams update: Injured safety Roy Williams has been rehabilitating his broken right forearm and is on pace to return by mid-October. Phillips said Williams did some light running Thursday.
Williams suffered the injury against Philadelphia on Sept. 15 and had a metal plate inserted into his arm the following day. At the time, Williams was expected to miss three to four weeks.
cwatkins@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Tank Johnson stood on the practice field Friday and started hopping up and down. If his ankle injury still bothered him, you couldn't tell.
The Cowboys' backup nose tackle has been limited in practice this week because of the injury. Johnson didn't practice Thursday, and when he arrived Friday, "He gave me the thumbs up," coach Wade Phillips said.
Johnson also was limited in practice Friday, but he's expected to play Sunday against Washington.
"It's just one of those deals where I needed a little bit of rest," Johnson said. "I feel a lot healthier than I did [Thursday]. I'll be my normal physical self."
The Cowboys had defensive end Marcus Spears work at nose tackle this week as a precaution. Spears said he isn't sure if he will play inside against the Redskins. "It all depends on Tank," he said.
Hurd in, Stanback out? Receiver Sam Hurd, who suffered a preseason ankle injury, is expected to play his first game of the season Sunday.
The Cowboys normally do not dress five receivers for a game. If Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and Sam Hurd all dress, Isaiah Stanback could be inactive.
If Stanback doesn't play, rookie Orlando Scandrick could take Stanback's place alongside Felix Jones on kickoff returns. Stanback was inactive the last six games last season, including the playoff loss to the New York Giants.
"You can't suit everybody up," Phillips said. "But at least we get enough healthy guys that we have to make some decisions. So that's a good thing."
The Cowboys will dress all three tight ends, Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett and Tony Curtis. With injured fullback Deon Anderson (knee) still out, Curtis again will occasionally line up as a fullback.
Watching Moss: Redskins receiver Santana Moss had 17 catches in two games against the Cowboys last season. Moss may draw an occasional double-team, but cornerback Terence Newman said the defense won't have someone following Moss all over Texas Stadium.
"There have been limited times when somebody shadowed somebody here," Newman said. "The way this defense works, you line up on your side and play."
Williams update: Injured safety Roy Williams has been rehabilitating his broken right forearm and is on pace to return by mid-October. Phillips said Williams did some light running Thursday.
Williams suffered the injury against Philadelphia on Sept. 15 and had a metal plate inserted into his arm the following day. At the time, Williams was expected to miss three to four weeks.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:40 AM
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