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IRVING, Texas - Some of the best injury-related news the Cowboys have received in a long time came on Friday, when MRI results on DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber came back negative. Both players were to be considered day-to-day.
But Monday was not their day, as both missed practice. Each was seen in the Cowboys training room later on, Ware receiving treatments on the left knee he hyper-extended at the end of the third quarter, and Barber doing the same for his sprained right pinkie toe.
The two players gave positive responses when asked if they would play, though at this point nothing is certain. Coach Wade Phillips said that while Ware and Barber might miss more practices, they do have the benefit of daily walkthroughs.
"Ware will practice some this week," Phillips said. "I think he will (wear a knee brace) early in the week, and maybe for the game. He had a hyper-extension and a brace would keep him from hyper-extending it, so it may be that he wears it during the game."
Phillips said the team's trainers might also be able to help Barber get through Sunday's 3:15 p.m. (CST) contest at Heinz Field, with the aid of a special shoe or an insert to protect the toe. Barber came out of Thursday's game at the end of the first half, and halftime x-rays didn't show any damage, so he was allowed to return to the game. He left for good after his first carry of the second half.
"It depends on what the doctors say," Phillips said. "We want to make sure he can obviously do the things he needs to do. How long that takes and what we have to do as far as practice is concerned, I don't know. Earlier, they said he would have to stay out during the week, but I don't know if that is the case or not."
It appears Tony Romo is ready to ditch the splint he has worn to protect his throwing hand the last three games.
On Friday, the Cowboys moved guard Kyle Kosier (foot) to the injured reserve. They also have cornerback Mike Jenkins (hamstring) and receiver Miles Austin (knee) trying to work back into the lineup. Austin said he would have a better idea of his recovery timeline on Wednesday, and though Jenkins had said he hoped to be back for Sunday's game, Phillips seemed to downplay that on Monday.
Safety Pat Watkins (neck) was suited out and participating, though it's unclear how much he was allowed to do, still trying to work through the reoccurring stinger injuries that have kept him off the field in four games this season.
Both Jenkins and Austin worked with trainers off to the side of Monday's practice.
"I don't know that Jenkins will be ready this week," Phillips said of his first-round cornerback, who came up lame Nov. 23 against San Francisco. "We'll see more today and the rest of the week, but his prognosis wasn't basically this week. But we'll see on him."
Phillips was similarly noncommittal when asked about Austin. The third-year receiver suffered a sprained lateral collateral ligament against Washington Nov. 16.
"He's still about a week away, I think," the coach said. "Don't hold me to these things. If they come back, we'll let them play."
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Josh Ellis - 
