Williams is day-to-day after suffering a shoulder contusion during the Cowboys open practice.

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IRVING, Texas - As Roy Williams left Thursday's public practice at Cowboys Stadium clutching his left shoulder and grimacing in pain, the team feared a long-term absence from their top wide receiver.

X-rays on Williams' left shoulder were negative, however, and the Cowboys are listing Williams as day-to-day with a "shoulder contusion" suffered during his slant-route collision with cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones on Friday did not offer a firm timetable for Williams' recovery, but indicated there's a good chance Williams could be ready for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener at Tampa Bay.

Jones said Williams had good strength and movement in his shoulder Friday morning, but emphasized the team will not "push anything" regarding his return.

The Cowboys have two preseason games left, including Saturday at Cowboys Stadium against San Francisco (the customary "dress rehearsal" game in which the starters typically play at least a half) and next Friday's preseason finale at Minnesota (where most starters might play a series or two at most).

"I'm not implying that we have a long-winded thing here," Jones said on the team's flagship radio station (105.3 FM The Fan). "Based on our review here, we're talking about a very short time span. I don't know that he'll go Saturday. But he'll be out there real quick.

"We had quite a concern there after practice. Right now it is just a bruise and we'll kind of see how that restricts him as far as the next few days, this weekend and into next week."

The Cowboys held a light walk-through Friday and aren't scheduled to have their next full practice until Tuesday. If Williams doesn't play Saturday, it would seem highly unlikely he plays next week against Minnesota because the Cowboys will play mostly reserves.

In the meantime, the team's medical and training staff will monitor Williams daily. Given Williams' chance for a relatively swift return, Jones said he doesn't envision the Cowboys signing another receiver for depth purposes.

They could be short-handed at the position Saturday, however. Fourth-year veteran Sam Hurd has missed practice this week with a sore quad and seems questionable to play against the 49ers.

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