IRVING, Texas - When the questions about the health of starting cornerback Terence Newman arose, all Wade Phillips could say Monday was, "I don't know."
For once it didn't sound like Phillips was trying to conceal information or didn't understand the medical specifics. Instead it appears this nagging groin injury has Newman's status up in the air for at least Sunday's game in Arizona, if not longer. Phillips said Newman would undergo a test on the injury to see if the damage is worse than expected. The coach said the Cowboys were reevaluating the injury, and that his groin might not be the real problem spot.
Players have been known to experience pain in the area that is later revealed to be a sports hernia, a weakening of the muscles or tendons of the lower abdomen and an injury that could sideline players for several months. At this point, Cowboys trainers suspect there is some lower abdomen damage, but don't think a sports hernia is to blame.
For now anyway, all Newman and the team can do is give the injury time.
"That's what we've been trying to do. That's what we did this week," Phillips said. "Sometimes guys get nicked up and then they don't get hurt for a long time."
After playing in the previous three games, Newman was thought to have a clean bill of health. But he landed on the team's injury report with a questionable listing last Friday, and was scratched before the kickoff of Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Newman injured the groin early in training camp and missed every preseason game. He returned to practice late in the preseason, but the Cowboys still rested him in the season's first two weeks. After returning to action on nickel packages in Green Bay the third week of the season, he made his first two starts of the season against Green Bay and Washington.
Newman called the Redskins game the worst of his career. The sixth-year corner prides himself on not allowing touchdown passes, but he gave up two to the Redskins.
Adam "Pacman" Jones has replaced Newman in the starting lineup when he has been out, with rookie Orlando Scandrick stepping into the slot on the nickel package.
Jones has been one of the Cowboys better defensive players the last few weeks, and Phillips said he thought Scandrick played well Sunday.
Newman will host a fundraiser for his charity this evening and is expected to take questions from the local media, though he has never been one to freely answer injury-related questions.
The Cowboys left Sunday's game fairly clean, with no noteworthy injuries surfacing. Phillips said neither safety Roy Williams (arm) nor left guard Kyle Kosier (foot) would play this week. Defensive end Stephen Bowen (hamstring) was inactive Sunday, as was safety Pat Watkins (neck).
Watkins originally replaced Williams in the base defense, but experienced stingers in each of the four games to start the season. The Cowboys decided to give him the game off hoping a week without contact would allow the nerves between his neck and right shoulder to heal. Watkins said he would practice this week, but probably not during contact drills. Williams may practice as well, but Phillips has already ruled him out for the Cardinals.
Fullback Deon Anderson returned from knee surgery Sunday and wore a wrap around his left knee. He said there was some pain as expected, but overall he came out fine. Nose tackle Tank Johnson sported an electric stimulation device on his right ankle Monday. He sprained the ankle against Green Bay but has played in both games since.
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