IRVING, Texas - The Cowboys' injury situation heading into Sunday night's game at Green Bay has been pretty much defined following Friday's final full practice.
While starting left guard Kyle Kosier will resume his starting role after missing the first two games recovering from a hairline fracture in his foot, the Cowboys will be without safety Roy Williams, fullback Deon Anderson and now outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. All three are listed as out on Friday's official injury report.
The only questionable player heading into the nationally-televised game (NBC, 7:15 p.m. CDT) is wide receiver Sam Hurd, who practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday for the first time since suffering his high ankle sprain in the final preseason game. Hurd fully participated on Friday, and while he says he's ready to go, he will be a coach's decision come Sunday night.
"It's just a matter if they believe I'm truly 100 percent," Hurd said.
Much of that decision will depend on special teams, since the Cowboys must adequately fill in for the absences of Williams (fractured forearm), Anderson (knee) and Spencer (knee). Plus, the Cowboys still will keep wide receivers Isaiah Stanback and Miles Austin active, but are unlikely to be used on coverage units since they still are coming off recent injuries. And it's unlikely Hurd would be used on special teams if active.
The Cowboys also might consider keeping an extra offensive lineman active since Kosier will be playing for the first time since suffering the foot injury in the Aug. 22 preseason game against Houston. He was projected to be out nearly six weeks but is making it back in four.
But adding any players to the 53-man roster does not seem likely, even if the Cowboys will not have an active fullback on the roster Sunday night.
"It would be hard to do it this time," said Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips, who did point out there was one possibility.
What Phillips doesn't want to do is cut a player from his 53 to add a fullback knowing Anderson should be back in two weeks.
"We like our team, our 53," Phillips said. "I feel like they all have a purpose for being on our team. Always hate to lose somebody for quick fix."
See Ya Soon
Chris Canty walked by Anderson on his way out of the locker room at the end of the work day Friday, knowing the Cowboys starting fullback just had his knee scoped to remove a piece of partially-torn lateral meniscus and said, "You just needed a vacation."
Anderson's "vacation" probably will last at least two games, the scope to remove a tiny piece of meniscus obviously causing him to miss Sunday night's game at Green Bay and more than likely next Sunday's home game against Washington. Anderson said the staples closing the two scope entrances into his knee would come out in eight days, which would only give him a full day of practice before the Washington game.
While the partial tear probably has existed for some time, Anderson said he felt a problem after having to cover the re-punt during the Eagles game, and when it bothered him again the next day - he did finish the game - "I told Jim (Maurer) let's get this over with," he said.
Replacing Anderson on special teams likely will be more difficult than at fullback, where the Cowboys will use the tight ends to pick up the slack. One of the guys who will replace him on the coverage teams is rookie tight end Martellus Bennett, who said he played very little special teams in college. He worked on the coverage units during training camp, and is expected to be on punt and kick-off coverage.
Replacing the injured Roy Williams on kick-off coverage is expected to be safety Courtney Brown, who will be active this Sunday.
Spencer Still Not Feeling Right
After seemingly recovering from arthroscopic surgery he had the second week of preseason but returning for Monday night's second regular-season game, Spencer says he's once again feeling pain in his knee.
"Just (felt) a little discomfort after the (Philadelphia) game," Spencer said. "It was just a little bit sore, stiff, so (I'm) just a little worried"
Wednesday's MRI was negative, but Spencer has not practiced all week, and why the Cowboys are listing him as "out" for the Green Bay game.
"It's probably just scar tissue breaking up in my knee," Spencer said.
Spencer had his knee scoped prior to the Houston preseason game to remove a loose particle.
One For Wade, Too
Phillips will be one of nine people, along with the 1967-68 basketball team, to be inducted into the University of Houston Hall of Honor this fall.
The Cowboys head coach was a three-year lettermen for the Cougars, playing linebacker from 1966-68. He left UH as the all-time career leader in assisted tackles with 228 and kick-started his coaching career as a graduate-assistant for the defensive unit under legendary Houston coach Bill Yeoman in 1969.
Other notables being inducted during the Nov. 14 ceremony will be quarterback David Klinger and tight end Riley Odoms, both going on to NFL careers. The Cougars basketball team UCLA's winning streak in the famed televised game from the Astrodome.
Diminishing Returns
Pretty soon Packers linebacker Nick Barnett will not be able to afford to continue playing football, having been fined by the NFL $15,000 the past two games.
But if that were not bad enough, Barnett also was fined his entire game check in the season opener for violation of the league's personal conduct policy. So when he also was fined $7,500 for a horse-collar tackle, he actually paid to play in that game. Then he was fined another $7,500 this past game for his shoulder-to-helmet hit on Detroit quarterback Jon Kitna.
Short Shots
The Packers are listing only starting safety Atari Bigby (hamstring) as out for Sunday's game, while leaving starting fullback Kory Hall (knee), backup tight end Troy Humphrey (knee), wide receiver Ruvell Martin (finger) and guard Josh Sitton (knee) as questionable . . . Moved to probable after either limited or no practice participation are cornerback Rod Woodson (toe), running back Ryan Grant (hamstring), defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) and center Scott Wells (back) . . . While the Cowboys may have never won a game at Lambeau Field, Phillips sure has. While defensive coordinator in Atlanta, the Falcons defeated the Packers in a playoff game following the 2002 season . . . Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is five catches away from passing Bob Hayes (365) for the sixth most receptions in club history . . . This is rather amazing for such an inexperienced quarterback. While Tony Romo holds a 21-7 record as a starter, he is an impressive 12-2 on the road.
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Mickey Spagnola - 
