Dallas Cowboys Injury Update: Is Miles Austin or Tony Fiammetta Return Bigger?

The Dallas Cowboys will see Miles Austin and Tony Fiametta back in practice on Wednesday. Austin is expected to see action on Sunday against the New York Giants after missing four straight games due to a hamstring injury. Fiametta is coming back from what Jerry Jones said was an inner ear infection. Fiametta had missed the last three games.

The Cowboys will certainly be happy to have both back in action on Sunday. Tony Romo will likely enjoy having Miles Austin back catching the ball. Austin had emerged as a major pass catcher for the Cowboys in the last two years. DeMarco Murray will likely be happy to have Fiametta back. Fiametta is the main lead blocker for Murray.

Without a doubt, Austin is the more anticipated return for the Cowboys and their fans. Austin is the one whose jerseys fans flock to wear. Austin is the fantasy football grab.

Austin is the one about whom Jones makes bold proclamations. Last Monday, Jones stated with great certainty that Austin would return against the Arizona Cardinals, only having to backtrack two days later, telling the Dallas Morning News, "Miles didn't practice today, so it doesn't look as good as I thought it was going to from the long weekend we had.

Maybe Jones should have considered restraining himself that week.

Anyway, Fiametta is the quiet worker. A fullback who has only one carry on the year and eight on his career. He dutifully clears the way for runners like Murray and Felix Jones. His work is less glamorous than that which Austin performs.

For Jones to make bold proclamations about his status would be crazy.

Nevertheless, Fiametta is an important player. At that, his role is more vital to the success of the Cowboys than that of Austin.

Fiametta, who has only played six games this season, is a vital cog in the Cowboys rushing game. The Cowboys are 5-1 in the games that Fiametta plays, averaging 145.8 yards per game on the ground and 5.8 yards per carry. When Fiametta is missing, the Cowboys are 2-4, averaging 83.8 yards rushing per game and 3.3 yards per rush.

That's the difference between being rocksteady running the ball and being dismal on the ground.

Meanwhile, Austin is good to have, but not the difference between success and failure. Austin has 28 catches for 403 yards and four touchdowns in the six games he's played this season. He had 150 catches and 18 touchdowns in the previous two seasons.

However, the Cowboys have fared just fine with the receiving corps without him. Laurent Robinson has stepped up and become a deep threat. Robinson has caught seven touchdown passes and nine balls for 20 yards or more. Jason Witten is steady as usual and Dez Bryant is doing fairly well.

Jones might be paying Austin more money, but Fiametta is a bigger difference maker.  Thus, while more people will be talking about the return of Austin on Sunday, Fiametta will be the one bringing the Cowboys closer to victory against the Giants as he returns to the field.