IRVING, Texas –Nose tackle Jay Ratliff was out of practice again on Thursday, as the Cowboys continued their preparation for this weekend's trip to Seattle, making it appear increasingly doubtful he will play against the Seahawks.
Ratliff suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason dress rehearsal game, Aug. 25, and has stayed off the practice field for the most part ever since, only participating in a very light session on Monday.
While Ratliff is getting closer to full health, now walking without a noticeable limp, the team has been weighing the benefit of another week to rest.
Josh Brent and Sean Lissemore combined to fill in for him in the season-opener against the New York Giants last week.
Prior to last week's game, Ratliff hadn't missed a contest since the very end of the 2007 season, when he received precautionary rest in the regular season finale at Washigton. A second straight missed game to start the season would give him more inactive games in 2012 than he has had since his rookie year, 2005, when he made the team as a seventh-round pick.
The Cowboys were hopeful that because Ratliff has suffered a high ankle sprain before, his timetable for a return would be relatively quicker than the four to six weeks players are often sidelined. Week 3, against Tampa Bay on Sept. 23, would be roughly four weeks.
