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Updated: August 9, 2010, 4:46 AM
CANTON, Ohio - Second-year Cowboys tight end John Phillips will undergo further evaluations Monday to receive a concrete diagnosis on what the team fears may be a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee.
Phillips, who had four catches for a game-high 60 yards in Sunday's preseason-opening Pro Football Hall of Fame Game win over Cincinnati, limped off the field after feeling his knee twist awkwardly in the second quarter. He went to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Early word was that the 2009 sixth-round pick from Virginia may have damaged his ACL, but the team's official statement on the injury, released during the game, was a less serious knee sprain. Talk was not as optimistic in the post-game locker room, though Phillips was hopeful.
"It's obviously upsetting," Phillips said. "I was having a good game. It's disappointing right now to come out of a game early. But God has a plan for us all. We'll see tomorrow.
"I've got to stay positive and wait until tomorrow to see what the doctors get confirmed. Regardless of what they say, something's got to be confirmed on a screen. Until they show it to me I'm going to stay positive."
Phillips said the knee was not swelling, and he would ice it Sunday night. He had taken a shot to the shin on his first catch of the game, which he followed up by a nice back-shoulder catch for a 24-yard gain. The injury occurred on a play that was not directed at Phillips, however, when he was working with the third-team offense.
Phillips was scheduled for extra duty Sunday night because third-year tight end Martellus Bennett (ankle) did not dress. First-year tight end Kevin Brock had injured his ankle just a few plays earlier, and was wearing a light walking boot after the game. Still, Phillips' injury was the most concerning.
"It's pretty bad," Tony Romo said. "He's had a great camp. He had a great day tonight. If it is what we think it is with the ACL, then it's too bad because the kid's been a heck of a player and he's come a long way. He'll be in the rehab process, but he'll be back. He will be."
Rookie free agent Scott Sicko replaced Phillips in the lineup, continuing the success. He caught a game-high five passes for 44 yards.
The Cowboys sustained several other injuries in the game. Former Canadian Football League wide receiver Titus Ryan, who started the game as the primary punt and kickoff returner, broke his left thumb. Cornerback Cletis Gordon suffered a strained neck while filling in for Ryan on a punt return.
Tackle Alex Barron, who entered the game with a dislocated fifth finger, was pulled out after sustaining a right ankle injury and apparently re-aggravating the finger.
In addition to Bennett, eight other Cowboys did not dress because of injuries or practices missed for medical issues. Defensive end Marcus Spears (knee) and safety Pat Watkins (knee) did not make the trip, but a number of players watched from the sidelines in street clothes, including wide receiver Dez Bryant (ankle), linebacker Stephen Hodge (knee), safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (shoulder, hamstring), linebacker Sean Lee (quad), defensive lineman Sean Lissemore (groin) and guard Montrae Holland (groin).
Coach Wade Phillips is expected to update the team's injury situation on Monday during a 2:30 p.m. (CT) press conference on DallasCowboys.com.
CANTON, Ohio - Second-year Cowboys tight end John Phillips will undergo further evaluations Monday to receive a concrete diagnosis on what the team fears may be a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee.
Phillips, who had four catches for a game-high 60 yards in Sunday's preseason-opening Pro Football Hall of Fame Game win over Cincinnati, limped off the field after feeling his knee twist awkwardly in the second quarter. He went to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Early word was that the 2009 sixth-round pick from Virginia may have damaged his ACL, but the team's official statement on the injury, released during the game, was a less serious knee sprain. Talk was not as optimistic in the post-game locker room, though Phillips was hopeful.
"It's obviously upsetting," Phillips said. "I was having a good game. It's disappointing right now to come out of a game early. But God has a plan for us all. We'll see tomorrow.
"I've got to stay positive and wait until tomorrow to see what the doctors get confirmed. Regardless of what they say, something's got to be confirmed on a screen. Until they show it to me I'm going to stay positive."
Phillips said the knee was not swelling, and he would ice it Sunday night. He had taken a shot to the shin on his first catch of the game, which he followed up by a nice back-shoulder catch for a 24-yard gain. The injury occurred on a play that was not directed at Phillips, however, when he was working with the third-team offense.
Phillips was scheduled for extra duty Sunday night because third-year tight end Martellus Bennett (ankle) did not dress. First-year tight end Kevin Brock had injured his ankle just a few plays earlier, and was wearing a light walking boot after the game. Still, Phillips' injury was the most concerning.
"It's pretty bad," Tony Romo said. "He's had a great camp. He had a great day tonight. If it is what we think it is with the ACL, then it's too bad because the kid's been a heck of a player and he's come a long way. He'll be in the rehab process, but he'll be back. He will be."
Rookie free agent Scott Sicko replaced Phillips in the lineup, continuing the success. He caught a game-high five passes for 44 yards.
The Cowboys sustained several other injuries in the game. Former Canadian Football League wide receiver Titus Ryan, who started the game as the primary punt and kickoff returner, broke his left thumb. Cornerback Cletis Gordon suffered a strained neck while filling in for Ryan on a punt return.
Tackle Alex Barron, who entered the game with a dislocated fifth finger, was pulled out after sustaining a right ankle injury and apparently re-aggravating the finger.
In addition to Bennett, eight other Cowboys did not dress because of injuries or practices missed for medical issues. Defensive end Marcus Spears (knee) and safety Pat Watkins (knee) did not make the trip, but a number of players watched from the sidelines in street clothes, including wide receiver Dez Bryant (ankle), linebacker Stephen Hodge (knee), safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (shoulder, hamstring), linebacker Sean Lee (quad), defensive lineman Sean Lissemore (groin) and guard Montrae Holland (groin).
Coach Wade Phillips is expected to update the team's injury situation on Monday during a 2:30 p.m. (CT) press conference on DallasCowboys.com.