IRVING, Texas - It happens to everybody, and maybe the Cowboys are a bit lucky their number didn't come up sooner.
In losing a tough, physical game 17-7 at Green Bay, several starting players suffered injuries that will cause them to miss significant time and test the depth of what has been a relatively healthy team over halfway through the season.
The biggest blow is Marc Colombo, who went down on the first play of the second drive and was replaced by Doug Free. The right tackle underwent surgery to repair ligaments damaged in his high ankle sprain, and is expected to miss at least six weeks, though there is hope the injury might not end his season if he responds well to the surgery and rehab, and his broken left fibula can heal as expected.
Also hurt for the Cowboys was free safety Ken Hamlin, whose high ankle sprain has the appearances of a two-to-four week injury. As of Monday, Wade Phillips wasn't divulging the Cowboys' plans to replace the two starters.
"We haven't decided exactly what we are going to do," Phillips said. "We want to discuss some things and see where we are injury-wise. . . . There is a possibility we could do a lot of things."
Up for debate before Wednesday's first practice in preparation for the Washington Redskins is whether to keep Free at right tackle or insert Pat McQuistan and move forward, or plug in Montrae Holland at guard and slide Leonard Davis into Colombo's spot. Phillips said Free was fine in relief of Colombo on Sunday.
At safety, the Cowboys will have to decide between either Pat Watkins or Alan Ball. The Cowboys have viewed Watkins as more of a strong safety the last couple of years, though he did start nine games at free safety as a rookie in 2006. Ball, who doubles as a cornerback and free safety, received the majority of the snaps in relief of Hamlin on Sunday.
The Cowboys also have left corner Mike Jenkins (bruised bicep) banged up, as well as Flozell Adams (ankle) and Kyle Kosier (ankle), though none are expected to miss the noon (CST) kickoff Sunday at Cowboys Stadium.
In the loss to the Packers, the Cowboys were also affected by Marion Barber's thumb injury, the running back's playing time limited because of the difficultly it caused him in pass blocking, and right corner Terence Newman missed some time after being gouged by an opponent's cleats. Bradie James was also out briefly after sustaining a stinger.
Even kickoff specialist David Buehler was hurt when the little toe in his kicking foot was stepped on.
"We ran out of people," Phillips said of the defense on Green Bay's first touchdown drive. "We had some guys hurt, even Newman went out, and we were trying to adjust people. Of course, Hamlin went out and Jenkins went out, so we were trying to adjust people and we didn't have the numbers that we needed for our sub-defense. It put our linebackers in a tough spot to play those guys because they were putting a lot of wide receivers in the game."
Whatever problems the rash of injuries created for the Cowboys on Sunday, they can't be allowed to continue. This type of challenge was inevitable, as it is for every team in the NFL.
"Guys just have to step up," James said. "Injuries happen, unfortunate things happen in the league. We won't be the only team that's going through this, so guys will have to just step up. I'm sure Doug Free has been dreaming for an opportunity to play. You never want to wish any misfortune on a player, but he's been practicing, he's been working his tail off just to get an opportunity, and he wants to show that he does belong in this league.
"That's what it's about. When your No. 1 guys are down, you've got to have the backups come in and play like they're No. 1's and not miss a beat."
On the rare occasions a starter has had to miss a game because of injury this year, the Cowboys' subs have had some good games.
Felix Jones and Tashard Choice combined for 176 yards when Marion Barber was held out versus the Panthers. Miles Austin went for 250 yards against the Chiefs while filling in for Roy Williams. Gerald Sensabaugh missing the Kansas City game is the only other time a first-teamer has been held out of the lineup.
With the Sunday-Thursday turnaround coming up against Washington and then Oakland on Thanksgiving, and a tough December-January stretch on the horizon, this will likely be an important turning point in the season. The Cowboys' ability to move past their health problems will be paramount, as will fixing the mistakes made at Lambeau Field.
Suddenly their penalty issues have arisen again. They've allowed nine sacks of Tony Romo in the last two weeks. Nick Folk is missing field goals with more regularity than in his previous two seasons.
The four-game winning streak is past, and the Cowboys have to try to get things back on track, even if it gets more difficult given the bumps and bruises.
"It's good to start over, and hopefully get the ball rolling again," James said. "We've had a good run, but from here on out we have to earn our victories, and it's just that simple. Yesterday we lost. This week we have the Redskins coming in, those guys won yesterday, and we always have our hands full with them.
"The best thing about the league in the middle of the season is if you lose, you've got another game. And it doesn't matter who it is or who you're playing."
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