Cowboys notes: Starters all in for Sunday against Redskins
Tony Romo has injured his back the last two times he has played the Washington Redskins. Yet, he wants to play Sunday even though the game probably has no impact on the Dallas Cowboys’ seeding for the playoffs.
Other players want to play too despite the injury risk.
“We like to win, man,” cornerback Brandon Carr said Thursday. “And we just want to keep our sharpness. That’s the mindset around here. If you contribute to this team, if you’re a starter and give significant plays, you can go, we’re going to need everybody on board. It’s the last game of the season. Even though we’re already in the playoffs, we’ve still got a job to take care of, and it’s an opportunity to play this game one more day.”
The result of the Cowboys’ game Sunday matters only if there is a tie in the Green Bay-Detroit game. Dallas still can clinch the No. 2 seed and first-round bye with losses by Arizona and Seattle, whether the Cowboys win or not.
But the Cowboys don’t consider Sunday’s game “meaningless.”
“There are no meaningless games,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “… There’s a playoff scenario with us winning the game will give us an opportunity to get a first-round bye, so we’re going to take advantage of what we can take advantage of, and players are football players. There are 16 opportunities to play, and guys who are healthy are going to play in this game and practice this week and play in the game. Ballgames are important to us.”
Yet, the debate has raged outside the locker room whether the Cowboys should play Romo, DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant and some other important starters. If nothing else, the Cowboys want to keep the momentum they’ve gained from winning the past three.
“You think about momentum,” tight end Jason Witten said. “This game is a crazy game. You want to play well every opportunity you get. For one, there’s still stuff out there for us. And then, two, you want to be playing well going into the playoffs. You never want to back-door your way into it. I think this team has been playing well, and we want to continue to do that.”
Injury report
▪ Murray was sent home early Thursday, without practicing, with an illness. The running back was a full participant Wednesday, the first full practice he has had since breaking his left hand against the Eagles.
▪ Linebacker Rolando McClain returned to practice after missing for personal reasons Wednesday. McClain’s house in Alabama burned down earlier this week.
▪ Linebacker Dekoda Watson (hamstring) and right tackle Doug Free (ankle) did not practice again and are not expected to play Sunday. Both could return for the playoffs.
Martin solid
It didn’t take Zack Martin long to establish himself as an impact player. The guard was the only offensive rookie selected to the Pro Bowl.
“That wasn’t even on my radar,” Martin said. “I was just trying to come in and help the team and get on the field. It’s a tremendous honor, but we’ve got to focus on what’s ahead with the team.”
The 16th overall pick has allowed only one sack this season and has no holding penalties. He played through a sprained right ankle against the Eagles, and although he didn’t practice last week, he was in on 57 of 63 snaps, before being pulled after the game was out of hand.
That impressed the Cowboys as much as anything he has done this season.
“He played very well given the circumstances,” Garrett said. “He did a great job in the game against Philadelphia, fighting through that injury and continuing to play in that game. Then, he was a lot like DeMarco in his mentality. After the game, he wasn’t feeling very good, and his ankle was really swollen and he said, ‘I’m playing in this game,’ and that’s the mindset he had all week long.
“He wasn’t able to practice. He walked-through on Saturday, but in his mind he was ready to go. He prepared the right way mentally and then went out and played. I thought he played well certainly given the circumstances. For a young guy to be able to do that was very impressive.”
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published December 25, 2014 at 9:59 PM with the headline "Cowboys notes: Starters all in for Sunday against Redskins."