Cowboys lose Jones, may get Barber back
The Dallas Cowboys have the top rushing attack in the NFL this season (193.7 ypg), leading the second-place New Orleans Saints by 23 yards. But the problem for Dallas is it can’t keep its tailbacks healthy.
Marion Barber, who was off the best start of his career, sat out Monday’s win over Carolina with a quad injury. Well, Dallas didn’t miss much of a beat as No. 2 back Felix Jones had eight carries for 94 yards against the Panthers. But then he got hurt.
Jones reportedly sprained his posterior cruciate ligament on a 40-yard run in the third quarter of Monday’s win. Jones was in on two more plays after the 40-yard run but did not get another carry and spent the rest of the game on the sideline.
Typically PCL injuries take two weeks to get better, which would keep Jones out through the bye week, which means he would miss this week’s game at Denver and next week as Kansas City. The Cowboys, who are 3-point road favorites on WagerWeb.com for this week’s game against the Broncos, aren’t sure how much time he will miss.
“It could get well quickly,” coach Wade Phillips said. “We’ll see how he feels. It’s yet to be determined how long, or if he will be out very long.”
Jones does not need surgery, just rest and rehab. In his two seasons Jones has been slowed by hamstring, quadriceps and now a knee injury during games.
It looks like Barber might play this week, as he was close to playing Monday night and wanted to badly, but the Cowboys exercised caution.
“We couldn’t take a chance on losing him for a longer period of time,” Phillips said of Barber. “He was upset and I appreciate that. He’ll want to play again this week. Hopefully, we won’t have to keep him out, but I still don’t know the answer to that.”
Either way, it appears that Tashard Choice is in line for a lot more work. He carried 18 times for 82 yards against Carolina, scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion. Is Barber can’t play, Dallas would have to call up a back from the practice squad to backup Choice.
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