IRVING, Texas - Keith Davis has started 22 games at safety for the Cowboys over the past three seasons, and he'll probably get another opportunity Sunday against Cincinnati with Pat Watkins "doubtful" to play, according to head coach Wade Phillips.
Watkins has not practiced this week because of the neck stinger he re-aggravated last Sunday against Washington. The Cowboys are confident his condition will improve with rest, but they don't want it becoming a chronic problem.
That means the third-year veteran likely will sit out Sunday and Davis, a former starter, will take his spot in the standard defense. The Cowboys' full-time starting strong safety, Roy Williams, will miss another couple of weeks with a fractured forearm.
Second-year safety Courtney Brown would continue working in substitution packages so Davis, the Cowboys' special teams captain, could sustain a full workload there.
Davis signed with the Miami Dolphins in the off-season with expectations of competing for a starting job on defense. When that didn't pan out, the Dolphins released him and he quickly re-signed with Dallas, his home for five seasons.
"It's the exact same thing. Same coverages, same defense," Davis said. It's the exact same thing. So it's not like it's going to be a learning curve or anything. It's just getting back into the mix of things and do your job."
Brown got extensive playing time in the nickel defense two weeks ago at Green Bay and again last Sunday.
"I feel real good about myself," Brown said. "I know the defense. It's just a matter of going week by week and trying to learn as much as I can about the other team before Sunday comes around."
Palmer Limited, But Confident
Despite being highly limited again in practice, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (elbow) said Thursday he still expects to play Sunday at Texas Stadium.
Palmer, who was inactive with a sore elbow last Sunday against Cleveland, only threw lightly on the sideline Thursday and took handoffs on running plays, according to the team's official website.
Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick took all the passing reps and might start again Sunday if Palmer can't return to practice.
While Palmer is a Pro Bowl pocket passer, Fitzpatrick's mobility would present a different challenge for the Cowboys' defense. He rushed for a team-high 41 yards in last Sunday's loss.
"Yeah, it's a difficult situation when a team has two quarterbacks that are somewhat different," Phillips said. "Obviously they have the same offense. But one guy ran for 41 yards last week and can run with the football and will run with the football. Carson Palmer is going to be more in the pocket. He'll run if he has to, (but) he's going to stay in the pocket longer."
Ocho Uno's Success
Terrell Owens' role in the offense against Washington has sparked headlines all week.
But what about his history against Cincinnati?
In three career games against the Bengals, Owens has 21 catches for 366 yards (17.4 avg.) and two touchdowns. In his most recent meeting (2003), he caught eight passes for 127 yards and a touchdown as a member of the 49ers.
With a touchdown Sunday, Owens would tie Marshall Faulk (136) for fourth place on the NFL's all-time touchdowns list.
Short Shots
Cowboys nose tackle Tank Johnson (sprained ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis, and Phillips remains confident he will play Sunday . . . The Cowboys have played only five teams (Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City and San Diego) fewer than the nine times they've faced the Bengals . . . Seven of those nine games have been decided by double digits and four have been decided by 20-or-more points.
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