By Carlos Mendez
cmendez@star-telegram.com
IRVING -- Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is looking forward to a "do-over" against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday because this time, he knows more about their offense and he'll have linebacker Sean Lee back in the lineup.
"There's no excuses. I had way too much on the plate last time. We got embarrassed, and it was completely my fault," Ryan said Thursday in his weekly media session at Valley Ranch. "But Sean Lee is our signal-caller. He makes all the checks and everything. When he goes down early, it had already been rough enough on us, and then it makes it really tough."
Lee, the Cowboys' leading tackler, went out with a dislocated wrist on the second series, with the Eagles ahead 7-0 in what turned out to be a 34-7 victory for Philadelphia on Oct. 30.
The Cowboys will likely be missing only backup safety Danny McCray and backup nose tackle Josh Brent, although nose tackle Jay Ratliff (rib muscle strain) and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (neck stinger) have been limited in practice this week.
"We're excited about having everybody," Ryan said. "We're at full strength. We have no excuses.... Any time you embarrass yourself, I think you want to go back out and get a do-over, so this is my chance."
Felix Jones watch
The Cowboys still are hopeful Felix Jones will play Saturday despite the running back missing another day of practice because of tightness in his hamstring.
Jones worked on the side with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown as the team began Thursday's practice. He was running and cutting, seemingly without problems.
Owner Jerry Jones expects Jones to be ready to go against the Eagles.
"He's going to be involved in all team stuff," the owner said Thursday. "He should be able to get anything he needs to get about the game plan, about what we're trying to do. We'll just let this thing get measured."
Felix Jones, who has 521 yards this season, has not practiced with the team this week. Coach Jason Garrett remains optimistic that Jones can play against the Eagles.
Otherwise, the Cowboys will have to use 12-year veteran Sammy Morris, signed off the street last week after spending the regular season out of football.
Morris gained 53 yards on 12 carries last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kevin Ogletree, who hurt a knee in a collision in practice this week, also sat out practice, as did Danny McCray (high ankle sprain), Josh Brent (knee) and receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring).
Kitna's future
Backup quarterback Jon Kitna is 39. He contemplated retirement before coming back for this, his 15th season. He is in the final year of his contract, and he is on injured reserve with a back injury.
But Jerry Jones said that as far as he knows, Kitna is undecided on his future.
"I'm sure he's very capable of being a player, apart from the impact of his back," Jones said. "I think that's going to be the [deciding] factor in his career plans."
Kitna was inactive for four games, as the Cowboys gave him time to see if his back would heal. They finally placed Kitna on injured reserve on Dec. 14. Stephen McGee is the only backup on the 53-player roster.
Jones said Kitna tried to throw two weeks ago.
"He got out and threw a few balls before the New York game," Jones said. "It didn't feel good. As a matter of fact, it actually bothered him a little bit. That impacted our decision a little bit, how much we were dreaming if we could get him back for the playoffs. Kind of discouraged us."
Kitna has passed for 29,745 yards and 169 touchdowns in his career with four teams. He has spent three seasons in Dallas.
cmendez@star-telegram.com
IRVING -- Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is looking forward to a "do-over" against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday because this time, he knows more about their offense and he'll have linebacker Sean Lee back in the lineup.
"There's no excuses. I had way too much on the plate last time. We got embarrassed, and it was completely my fault," Ryan said Thursday in his weekly media session at Valley Ranch. "But Sean Lee is our signal-caller. He makes all the checks and everything. When he goes down early, it had already been rough enough on us, and then it makes it really tough."
Lee, the Cowboys' leading tackler, went out with a dislocated wrist on the second series, with the Eagles ahead 7-0 in what turned out to be a 34-7 victory for Philadelphia on Oct. 30.
The Cowboys will likely be missing only backup safety Danny McCray and backup nose tackle Josh Brent, although nose tackle Jay Ratliff (rib muscle strain) and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (neck stinger) have been limited in practice this week.
"We're excited about having everybody," Ryan said. "We're at full strength. We have no excuses.... Any time you embarrass yourself, I think you want to go back out and get a do-over, so this is my chance."
Felix Jones watch
The Cowboys still are hopeful Felix Jones will play Saturday despite the running back missing another day of practice because of tightness in his hamstring.
Jones worked on the side with associate athletic trainer Britt Brown as the team began Thursday's practice. He was running and cutting, seemingly without problems.
Owner Jerry Jones expects Jones to be ready to go against the Eagles.
"He's going to be involved in all team stuff," the owner said Thursday. "He should be able to get anything he needs to get about the game plan, about what we're trying to do. We'll just let this thing get measured."
Felix Jones, who has 521 yards this season, has not practiced with the team this week. Coach Jason Garrett remains optimistic that Jones can play against the Eagles.
Otherwise, the Cowboys will have to use 12-year veteran Sammy Morris, signed off the street last week after spending the regular season out of football.
Morris gained 53 yards on 12 carries last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kevin Ogletree, who hurt a knee in a collision in practice this week, also sat out practice, as did Danny McCray (high ankle sprain), Josh Brent (knee) and receiver Andre Holmes (hamstring).
Kitna's future
Backup quarterback Jon Kitna is 39. He contemplated retirement before coming back for this, his 15th season. He is in the final year of his contract, and he is on injured reserve with a back injury.
But Jerry Jones said that as far as he knows, Kitna is undecided on his future.
"I'm sure he's very capable of being a player, apart from the impact of his back," Jones said. "I think that's going to be the [deciding] factor in his career plans."
Kitna was inactive for four games, as the Cowboys gave him time to see if his back would heal. They finally placed Kitna on injured reserve on Dec. 14. Stephen McGee is the only backup on the 53-player roster.
Jones said Kitna tried to throw two weeks ago.
"He got out and threw a few balls before the New York game," Jones said. "It didn't feel good. As a matter of fact, it actually bothered him a little bit. That impacted our decision a little bit, how much we were dreaming if we could get him back for the playoffs. Kind of discouraged us."
Kitna has passed for 29,745 yards and 169 touchdowns in his career with four teams. He has spent three seasons in Dallas.
