Receiver Miles Austin gave the expected answer when asked if he has any doubt he will play in the season opener.
"No," Austin said.
Austin has been out since straining his hamstring Aug. 4. The Cowboys have taken their time nursing Austin back to health considering he had two separate hamstring injuries last season.
Austin missed six games in 2011, finishing with 43 catches for 579 yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff's status for the game against the Giants on Sept. 5 is more in doubt. He is not in a boot but is on crutches while hoping his high-ankle sprain will heal quickly. Ratliff attended the team's kickoff luncheon but did not participate in the introductory walk across the field to the head table.
The Cowboys have not ruled him out of the opener, and owner Jerry Jones spoke of Ratliff's toughness during his speech at the kickoff luncheon. But a high-ankle sprain typically is a 2-4 week injury, and Ratliff has only 11 days from the day he was injured -- Saturday's preseason game against the Rams -- until the season opener.
-- Charean Williams
Comments