Cowboys Injury Report; Crayton Gets Demoted

The Cowboys used the bye week to get their injured players healthy, but it's still uncertain who will be ready for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Running back Felix Jones returned to practice for the first time since injuring his PCL against the Carolina Panthers. Jones wore a knee brace during the practice, and while signs were encouraging, it's unknown if he'll play on Sunday and how much he'll play if he does.

The Cowboys will wear pads for the first time this week on Wednesday and that should give head coach Wade Phillips and the rest of the coaching staff a good indication on how healthy Jones' knee is and if he can play at 100 percent this week.

Jerry Jones said today that Tashard Choice will get more carries this week than Marion Barber, who has been limited in the second half of the Cowboys' last two games due to his thigh injury and a nagging thumb injury which was diagnosed as a broken thumb.

Safety Gerald Sensabaugh didn't practice on Monday but said he will have his surgically repaired broken thumb re-evaluated today. However, he hasn't been ruled out of Sunday's game. Phillips said he wants Sensabaugh's thumb to heal for a few more days.

If Sensabaugh can't play, Pat Watkins will start in his place and rookie safety Mike Hamlin will be available, but the Cowboys will have to clear a spot on their 45-man roster for him to play.

Wide receiver Roy Williams also practiced on Monday and seems to have recovered from his bruised ribs he suffered during the Cowboys game against the Broncos. Williams missed week five against the Kansas City Chiefs, but will be ready on Sunday.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware was placed on the injury report this week with a stress fracture in his foot. Ware hasn't missed a practice or a game and is expected to play on Sunday against the Falcons.

Miles Austin to take over second receiver spot.

Head coach Wade Phillips said that receiver Miles Austin will take the place of Patrick Crayton in the Cowboys' base packages as the second receiver. Crayton will now be on the sidelines and will be in the slot when the Cowboys are in their three and four receiver formations.

Austin had a career day against the Chiefs two weeks ago, but this is more about the chemistry that Austin and Romo have and Crayton's bad route running.

Austin is a better route runner than Crayton, has more speed, and isn't afraid to compete for the ball in the air. Austin was supposed to be a huge part of the offense this season, but wasn't on the field a lot as the Cowboys run game limited the number of plays the Cowboys ran with three receivers.  

Crayton had four catches for 135 yards in week one against the Buccaneers, but since hasn't had more than four catches for 44 yards in any game.

Crayton, meanwhile, hasn't been the same receiver since dropping two big passes in the Cowboys divisional playoff game against the Giants in 2007. Crayton can only run drag routes and hasn't been able to get off man press at all this season.

While Crayton doesn't mind taking a hit, most of the routes he runs over the middle are under the defense so he doesn't get hit at the point of the catch.