Banged Up Romo, Bryant To Take Field Against Chiefs
By Shawn S. Lealos
The Dallas Cowboys head into their Week 2 game with the Kansas City Chiefs with their two biggest playmakers banged up after their Week 1 win over the New York Giants. Luckily for Dallas, both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant have been full participants at practice this week and both will be good to go against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Romo was sandwiched between two Giants defenders and actually had to leave the field of play temporarily on Sunday night. However, he returned to the game and continued to play, leading Dallas to victory. The injury was to his ribs, but after playing with broken ribs a year ago, sore ribs shouldn't be a problem for the Cowboys offensive leader.
Dez Bryant
More problematic is Dez Bryant's foot injury, which he suffered late in the Giants game. Bryant was frustrated for most of the game, double teamed while watching teammate Miles Austin pull in 10 catches while tight end Jason Witten nabbed eight. However, that made Bryant the perfect decoy until he hurt his foot late in the game.
Like Romo, his X-rays came back negative and an MRI showed no structural damage. At the end of the day, Bryant has a hurt foot but has been in full practice mode this week and will be good to go on Sunday. The question remains how dangerous Bryant will be running on a hurt foot.
Morris Claiborne
Cornerback Morris Claiborne is more dubious. He came into the season hurt and the shoulder injury he suffered against New York just made things worse. Claiborne said the injury was more frustrating than it was painful and that he won't let it hold him down. Claiborne has been limited in practice all week, and he still wants to play, but there is a chance that another big hit could take him out for an extended period of time.
Anthony Spencer
Anthony Spencer was supposed to come back this week to play his first game of 2013 after suffering a preseason setback after knee surgery. However, after a limited practice on Wednesday, he was back on the sidelines on Thursday. Even if Spencer does return this weekend, he will be limited. Missing practice on Thursday makes even that look doubtful.
Without Spencer and Jay Ratliff (who is out for five weeks) the Cowboys defensive line will continue to find limited help while trying to rotate players. With linebacker Ernie Sims and safety Danny McCray hurt, the Dallas defense is very depleted.
Third down running back Lance Dunbar said he will be back this week, shedding his walking boot and doing full work outs in practices this week.
The Chiefs Injuries
The Kansas City Chiefs come into the game with their best player banged up, as Jamaal Charles was injured in the Week 1 game, although he returned to play. He did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday, but all indications are that he will take the field for the game. If he is limited, Knile Davis will get extra playing time.
Two Chiefs players who did not practice at all are tight end Travis Kelce and cornerback Dunta Robinson. Kelce is working through a knee injury and there is a good chance he doesn't play on Sunday. Robinson is not out for an injury, but has been excused for "personal reasons."
Kansas City's other injuries are all minimal, as safety Husain Abdullah (foot), guard Jon Asamoah (calf), linebacker Nico Johnson (ankle), linebacker Dezman Moses (toe) and tackle Donald Stephenson were all full participants at practice this week.
Injury Reports
Dallas Cowboys
- Bryant, Dez - WR - Foot
- Claiborne, Morris - CB - Shoulder
- Dunbar, Lance - RB - Foot
- McCray, Danny - S - Hamstring
- Romo, Tony - QB - Ribs
- Sims, Ernie - LB - Groin
- Spencer, Anthony - DE – Knee
Kansas City Chiefs
- Husain Abdullah - S - Foot
- Jon Asamoah - G - Calf
- Jamaal Charles - RB - Quadricep
- Nico Johnson - LB - Ankle
- Travis Kelce - TE - Knee
- Dezman Moses - LB - Toe
- Dunta Robinson - CB - Non-Injury Related
- Donald Stephenson - T - Shoulder
For more Cowboys news and updates, visit Cowboys Central.
Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.
