IRVING, Texas - Although the Cowboys will play without three starters (guard Kyle Kosier, safety Roy Williams, fullback Deon Anderson) on Sunday, there's a good chance key reserves Sam Hurd (ankle) and Anthony Spencer (knee) could return against the Redskins after participating fully in Wednesday's practice.
Hurd, a third-year receiver, hasn't played since suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale. Spencer, a second-year linebacker and last year's first-round pick, played in Week Two against Philadelphia but was held out of last Sunday's win over Green Bay because of soreness in his surgically-repaired knee.
"I'm encouraged that he may play also," Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said of Spencer, who would provide relief to starting outside linebackers Greg Ellis and DeMarcus Ware.
Hurd's return would give the Cowboys five healthy receivers for the first time all season.
Phillips said Anderson, who had his knee scoped last week, wouldn't be ready to return this week. Kosier will miss two-to-three weeks after re-injuring his foot against the Packers, and Williams is out another two-to-three weeks following surgery to stabilize a forearm fracture.
Williams' replacement at safety, Pat Watkins, had full participation despite aggravating a shoulder injury against the Packers. Phillips said nose tackle Tank Johnson was limited by a slight ankle sprain but should play Sunday.
Deon Anxious
Anderson said his injured left knee feels much better and was moving around comfortably Wednesday, six days after having a piece of partially-loose cartilage removed from his left knee.
Anderson is anxious to return to practice, but doctors have yet to remove his surgical staples.
In the meantime, tight end Tony Curtis will continue handling Anderson's backfield blocking duties. Anderson said he hyper-extended his knee during a punt return against the Eagles, and the Cowboys decided a clean-up scope was necessary.
"Tony Curtis is holding it down," Anderson said, smiling.
Holland Getting Reps
With Kosier out again, Phillips has said Cory Procter will start again at left guard Sunday. But veteran Montrae Holland, acquired in a trade with Denver before the season, got some first-team reps in practice Wednesday and could also be active against the Redskins.
"Cory played well. He did some good things," Phillips said of Procter's two starts against the Browns and Eagles. "He had a couple holding penalties, so we need to get that cleaned up a little bit. But he did a good job for us.
"And we're still looking at Holland some. We're working him in there some. He's a veteran player that I think can go in and play."
Zach's Sack
Although the Cowboys called the NFL about crediting DeMarcus Ware with a third-quarter sack on Aaron Rodgers, who ran out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage, the league maintained that Zach Thomas technically caused the sack.
"They said that he would've kept running if Zach wouldn't have been there, that he ran out of bounds because of Zach," Phillips said.
Short Shots
The Redskins lead the league with a plus-five turnover margin . . . With eight catches on Sunday, wide receiver Terrell Owens would become the eighth player in league history to reach 900 career catches. One touchdown catch would move him into sole possession of seventh place on the Cowboys' all-time list (32).
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