IRVING, Texas - Evidently when injuries rain around here, they absolutely pour.
Because when Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips was asked if he would have trouble coming up with his 45-man game-day roster, he sort of laughed and said, "I'm trying to get to 45. I've got about 42 healthy."
He only exaggerates slightly.
Here is what Phillips has known for sure: He will be without punter Mat McBriar (foot) and receiver Sam Hurd (ankle surgery), both placed on injured reserve earlier in the week. He will be without cornerback Terence Newman (sports hernia surgery) and guard Kyle Kosier (foot).
Here is what he discovered this week, besides quarterback Tony Romo, who is being listed as "questionable" for Sunday's noon start (CDT) in St. Louis against the Rams (1-4): He will be without running back Felix Jones (hamstring), outside linebacker Anthony Spencer (hamstring) and safety Pat Watkins (neck).
And on top of that, he is unsure of nickel backer/special teams ace Kevin Burnett, who is being listed an optimistically "questionable" (calf strain) after not practicing all week. That means, if Romo and Burnett are unable to play, he already would have seven players inactive because of injury, meaning only one player would have to be deactivated because of "coach's decision."
The potential of Burnett's absence is very troubling since he's been the Cowboys' best special teams player, and they have been experiencing special teams problems. Burnett thought he might be active on Sunday, but just wasn't sure how much he could play. Phillips pointed out Burnett has had a similar injury and was able to come back and play the next game.
"We'll see where he is," said Phillips, suggesting Burnett will be a game-time decision. "He'll have more time (to heal)."
If Burnett can't go, taking his spot on the sub-packages at the inside linebacker spot will be Bobby Carpenter, considered Burnett's backup there on those packages, Phillips said.
With special teams contributors such as Burnett, Hurd, Spencer and Watkins missing, Phillips said the recently-acquired Carlos Polk will be out there Sunday on the majority of the teams units. Phillips called the former San Diego linebacker "the Keith Davis of our team in San Diego." Burnett said Polk is capable of taking over all of his special teams duties, if needed.
Expected to play Sunday despite being on the injury report all week or limited in practice are Davis (lacerated thumb), Tank Johnson (ankle) and safety Roy Williams (forearm), who is expected to start for the first time since fracturing that right forearm in Week Two against Philadelphia.
The other troubling injury is that to Jones, tied for second on the team with four touchdowns, only one behind Terrell Owens. Jones will miss at least two games with his strained hamstring, and maybe more, robbing the Cowboys of that boost he has supplied while being sprinkled into the offense.
Rookie Tashard Choice will be prepared to give Marion Barber a breather now and then, but the Cowboys will be counting on Barber to shoulder even more of the running load. Barber, though, comes into the game averaging four yards a carry, and has not averaged more than 3.7 yards a carry in the past three games.
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Mickey Spagnola - 
