IRVING, Texas - According to third-year safety Patrick Watkins, doctors are now concerned the reoccurring stingers he's been experiencing in the neck area are the result of a bulging disk along the vertebrae in his lower neck.
That is why Watkins received an epidural shot when he missed practice a week ago Friday, the shot normally given to help reduce the swelling of a bulging disk that likely is putting pressure on the spinal cord. While Watkins was listed as fully participating in practice all three days this week, the Cowboys somewhat surprisingly ruled him "out" of Sunday's game on Friday.
Watkins likely will continue receiving treatment, doctors hoping the swelling will be reduced enough to prevent any sort of surgery to remove the disk, which would be season ending.
With veteran safety Roy Williams expected to start on Sunday for the first time since suffering the fractured forearm Week Two against Philadelphia, second-year safety Courtney Brown then is expected to continue coming in for pass coverage purposes on the sub-packages as he has been the past two games.
And with the Cowboys down two cornerbacks, Pro Bowler Terence Newman and the suspended Pacman Jones, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips would not say if the Cowboys would continue the practice of moving starting right cornerback Anthony Henry inside on the sub-packages to cover the tight end. If the Cowboys did that, then Alan Ball, the team's fourth corner, would be coming in at right cornerback.
If the Cowboys didn't want to go with that many young corners on the field at the same time - rookie Mike Jenkins will start for Newman/Jones and rookie Orlando Scandrick will continue to take over Newman's slot duties on the sub-packages - then they could leave Henry at right corner and use either another linebacker of safety up in the slot over the tight end.
New Roy Ready To Go
He might have only practiced three days with the Cowboys, but the recently-acquired Roy Williams is expected to contribute Sunday in St. Louis. Receivers coach Ray Sherman projected Williams to get at least 15 to 20 snaps against the Rams, even with his limited knowledge of the offense.
Sherman said the Cowboys expected to pair Williams and Terrell Owens in a few two-receiver formations and that the fifth-year veteran will be utilized in some three-receiver sets, likely with Owens and Patrick Crayton or Miles Austin. Because of injuries creating room, chances are Isaiah Stanback, inactive the past three games, also will be active.
Sherman said he got a better idea of what Williams was comfortable with on Friday.
"Gave him a game sheet and told him to mark off (plays) he's comfortable with," Sherman said.
Sherman estimated Williams has about 25 to 30 percent of the offense down pat, but that his familiarity with the Cowboys' numbering system - similar to that of Mike Martz' when he was with the Lions - should make the transition much easier for him.
"I don't know in what capacity but he'll contribute," Sherman said. "He's going to contribute; he'll be ready to go."
Dotting I's, Crossing T's
The Cowboys front office still is grinding away on the particulars of Roy Williams' new contract they will sign him to following Tuesday's trade. While the parameters of the six-year, $45 million deal are set, intensive work has continued on how the individual years are structured, and involves setting up roster bonuses.
The Cowboys would like to reduce the impact of Williams' 2008 base salary, the final 11/17ths of his $2.4 million base from Detroit hitting the Cowboys salary cap for $1.55 million. They can convert some of that into bonuses to be included in the entire package.
And because of the complications created when the NFL owners opted out of the CBA, at the moment creating an uncapped year in 2010, the structure of the 2009 and 2010 seasons for Williams becomes more difficult.
All Eyes On Jackson
What little offense the St. Louis Rams have generated this season has stemmed from the production of running back Stephen Jackson, who leads the club in rushing and receptions.
The Rams, ranked 31st in total offense (237.4) and dead last in scoring offense (12.4 a game), are led by Jackson's 348 yards rushing, 23 receptions and 243 receiving yards. Jackson ranks second in the NFL averaging 118.2 yards from scrimmage a game.
"We've told our linebackers to have one eye on him at all times," Phillips said.
Jackson has totaled at least 100 yards from scrimmage in three of the Rams' five games this year, including the 111 he had this past Sunday in a 19-17 victory over Washington.
Bring On Da '85 Bears
Phillips was asked if it's difficult to prepare for a team like the Rams, sitting there with a 1-4 record and having lost eight of their last night games going back to last year, along with their head coach, Scott Linehan, who was fired after the 0-4 start.
In fact the question went something like this: Are these types of teams more difficult to get the team prepared for mentally as opposed to lining up against the '85 Bears or something like that?
And Phillips quickly quipped, "I think we can beat the '85 Bears right now . . . they haven't played in a long time, be hard to get them all together, and they're probably all 60 years old."
Real funny guy, that Wade.
Beware The Blitz
No matter if Tony Romo is starting and for sure if the 40-year-old Brad Johnson is starting, count on new Rams head coach Jim Haslett, promoted from defensive coordinator, to blitz on Sunday, then blitz some more. That is his style.
Left defensive end Leonard Little, when healthy and eligible, is a load to handle when pass rushing. The former third-round draft choice in 1998 has had double-digit sacks four times in his career, the last in 2006 when he totaled 13.
"They do blitz," Phillips warned. "We're going to see some blitz stuff."
The Rams also have first-round draft choice Chris Long at the other defensive end spot, and like to come in with former Cowboys Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover on passing downs. Little leads the team with three sacks, and the rookie Long has two.
Shorts Shots
Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware will be gunning for a sack in his NFL record-tying 10th consecutive game on Sunday, trying to match the mark of Denver's Simon Fletcher, set in 1992-93. Ware currently is tied with Bruce Smith and Kevin Green for the second-longest streak at nine . . . .Ware's team-leading six sacks tie him for fourth in the NFL this season, just one behind NFL leader John Abraham . . . Brad Johnson still will handle the holds for Nick Folk in the kicking game, regardless if he's starting at quarterback or not . . . Punter Sam Paulescu, who spent a portion of training camp with the Cowboys in 2007, now will handle the Cowboys' punting chores with Mat McBriar on injured reserve (foot). He has punted in one NFL game, the 2007 season finale for Denver, averaging 44.2 yards on five punts . . . Former Cowboys fullback Lousaka Polite has been signed by the Miami Dolphins, reuniting with former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells, who signed him as a rookie free agent in 2004.
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Mickey Spagnola - 
