Cowboys Corner

Cowboys inactives vs. Rams

Safety Courtney Brown, S Keith Davis, FB Oliver Hoyte, G Joe Berger, T Doug Free, T James Marten, WR Terry Glenn, WR Isaiah Stanback.

Rookie FB Deon Anderson will start in Hoyte's place.

_ Rick Herrin

Ellis active vs. Rams

Cowboys outside linebacker Greg Ellis has been activated for his first game of the season today against the Rams. Ellis will likely see minimal time in pass-rush situations.

Ellis elevated his rehabilitation this week working in pass rush drills during the team portion of practice. Wade Phillips said Ellis had a 50-50 chance of playing and was listed as questionable. Ellis did not play in the preseason.

_ Rick Herrin

Carpenter has quad tendon tear

Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter has a slight tear in his right quadriceps tendon. Carpenter, who did not practice Wednesday, had an MRI on Monday which revealed the tear.

   Carpenter said he doesn't expect to be 100 percent this year. He said he suffered the injury in the final preseason game at Minnesota. If he fully tears the tendon he would be lost for the year.

   ``Hopefully it's something I will be able to play through,'' Carpenter said.

_ Rick Herrin

Ellis going for more

Cowboys outside linebacker Greg Ellis said he is ready to test his repaired Achilles' tendon more in practice this week.

Ellis has mostly been limited to individual drills. He ran scout team Friday for the first time and said it went pretty well. He will try to do the same today. Ellis had surgery last November.

"I am going to see how much I can do,'' Ellis said. "That is the plan.''

_ Rick Herrin

Newman will play

   Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman is back. He will play for the first time this season tonight against the Chicago Bears. He missed the first two games with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot.

   Newman will not start but is expected to be used in nickel situations, which he has been working in practice. Jacques Reeves will make his third start in Newman's place.

   Also, fullback Oliver Hoyte (neck) is inactive and will be replaced by rookie Deon Anderson.

   The rest of tonight's inactives include: CB Evan Ogelsby, S Courtney Brown, T Doug Free, T James Marten, WR Terry Glenn, WR Isaiah Stanback and LB Greg Ellis.

_ Rick Herrin

Witten the most patient of men

Normally the team hotel of any visiting NFL team is loaded with fans and autograph seekers. They often hang out in front of the hotel hoping to grab a player or two as they walk in the door. What I witnessed on Sunday morning at the Cowboys' team hotel reached a new low in taking advantage of the situation.
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten walked into the same elevator as myself, as well as an eldery woman.
"Are you Jason Witten?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am, tha'ts me," Witten responded.
"Can you sign something for me?" she asked.
"Sure. Sure," Witten said.
Remember, she said can you sign some thing.
The woman then pulled out about 10 or so glossy action photos of Witten. She went on and on about how these were for her grand children. I gave the woman a hard time and told Witten to expect the autographed photos to appear on E-Bay in less than an hour.
But Witten patiently signed every picture and listened to the woman talk.
Players may not always sign autographs - and Witten's experience on Sunday showed me a good reason why they don't stop for everyone - but when they do be sure not to ask too much from them.

- Mac Engel

Injury Report for Sun.

Officially, the Cowboys said linebacker Greg Ellis did NOT practice on Friday. He was dressed, just didn't do anything.
Officially, cornerback Terence Newman's practice was "limited." He did not speak to reporters today in the locker room.
And from the Bears side of things ...linebacker Brian Urlacher (back) did not practice on Friday.
As far as game status for the walking wounded in Chicago:
Punter Brad Maynard (groin), defensive end Alex Brown (ankle), center Olin Kreutz (ankle) and Urlacher are all probable.

- Mac Engel

To Test Devin Hester or Not Test Devin Hester?

Facing Bears returner Devin Hester has been likened to pitching to Barry Bonds when he was in his prime: Do you even bother?
When the odds and statistics suggest Hester is going to do some damage, do you try to muscle up and prove can be one of the few to stop him?
"Oh, I think yeah," Cowboys special teams coach Bruce Read said.
That doesn't mean the Cowboys will kick to Hester. It means Read is like anybody else - you want to try to see if you can.
"All of this is fun. It's scary stuff and our guys have been fantastic," Read said. "It's been a great challenge. Hester is different because of his numbers and what he's done. He can take a game over on his own. So we have to do all we can to prevent him from scoring points and getting good field position."
The last time the NFL saw a returner this explosive was Dante Hall when he was in his prime with the Chiefs; in '04, he returned two punts and two kicks for touchdowns. He also returned one in the postseason for a score.
"I was at San Diego when he was with the Chiefs, and we covered him before he was 'Dante Hall' and I was saying this guy is really good," Read said. "They were like, 'We don't know who he is.' At least these guys know who (Hester) is."

- Mac Engel

Practice update

From the 20 or so minutes we were allowed to watch practice ...
Cornerback Terence Newman was dressed and practicing.
Greg Ellis was dressed and doing some drills.
Newman should - and stress should - talk to the media today. But it's looking as if he's close to playing. He remains a game-time decision. Coach Wade Phillips said if Newman plays, he may not start but play nickel situations and that it's doubtful he would return punts.
As for Ellis ... well, time marches on.

- Mac Engel

Wade Wilson Assistance Program?

No, sorry but Cowboys assistant coach Wade Wilson doesn't have secret red-colored bat phone to coach Wade Phillips. He could have helped a little this week with scouting; Wilson was the Bears quarterbacks coach last season.
But Wilson is currently serving a five-game suspension for violating the league's banned subtance policy. By NFL rule, Wilson can have no contact with the team during this suspension.
However, Phillips said before the season Wilson did talk to the team a little bit about the Bears, mostly about schemes.
This is what he probably said: Don't kick it to Devin Hester. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are two of the best linebackers in the league. Rex Grossman can be easily throttled.

- Mac Engel