IRVING, Texas - For two years, he's been asking for another opportunity.
While it took an injury to Roy Williams, who is out for probably a month with a broken right forearm, the opportunity to start has now arrived for third-year pro Patrick Watkins.
While he started nine games as a rookie in 2006 at free safety, Watkins will apparently replace Williams at strong safety this week in Green Bay, starting alongside free safety Ken Hamlin, a Pro Bowler last season.
"Everyone wants to be a starter," Watkins said. "It's no different with me. I hate that Roy got hurt. I hate that he's going to be out. Roy is a great teammate. But at the same time, it's a great opportunity for me and I have to take advantage of it."
Watkins has played the first two games primarily in the defensive sub-packages in the dime and nickel defense. He has also been one of the team's better special teams players, leading the team in tackles in that area last year with 25.
Watkins said he expects to remain on the coverage units, particularly the kickoff team, despite his starting role.
"I doubt they'll pull me off of all of it," Watkins said. "I still want to play on special teams, too. But I know there's more on my plate now."
And not just a starting role, but a more physical one at that.
While he's one of the NFL's taller defensive backs at 6-5, Watkins has the range that is usually typified in a centerfielder-role. However, he said he has no problems mixing it up closer to the line of scrimmage at strong safety.
"That's fine with me . . . it doesn't matter," Watkins said. "There's not really a big difference. You're a little closer to the line of scrimmage at strong. It'll probably be a little more physical, but that's fine."
Williams had surgery on Tuesday to insert a metal plate and screws in his arm to stabilize the fracture.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips was asked Wednesday if Watkins could give the defense a boost in the secondary, considering he has more coverage skills than Williams.
"Well, Roy is the starter," Phillips said. "We feel like he's the best one we had to play that position. We'll utilize them differently, sure."
Phillips said he thought Watkins' communication skills could improve, which is one reason why his first stint at free safety might not have gone so well. But that's why the Cowboys are relying so much on Hamlin, whom Phillips deemed last year as the quarterback of the defense.
"Ken does that for us. That's what he does. He's the guy that communicates," Phillips said of Hamlin. "If you see him out there during the game, he's telling everybody what's coming up. He's a communicator. He'll tell Pat what to look for."
But Watkins is hoping Hamlin doesn't have to tell him too much.
"It's not like I haven't played before," he said. "I'm going to get myself ready to play. I think I've learned a lot about how to handle these situations. Your job is to stay ready at all times. And so now, I'm ready."
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Nick Eatman - 
