IRVING, Texas –Ben Bass and Robert Callaway might want to step up their game on the scout team this week.
Head coach Jason Garrett said it would make sense to activate a player from the practice squad to replace defensive end Kenyon Coleman, who tore his triceps against the Eagles, which could open the door for one of the practice squad linemen.
"We anticipate making a move to add to the defensive line, and those are the logical ones," Garrett said.
Bass, a defensive end, and Callaway, who played mostly nose tackle, are the only defensive linemen on the Cowboys' practice squad. Barring a move in free agency, Bass and Callaway are the likely options to join the 53-man roster.
Depth is already an issue on the defensive line with Sean Lissemore injured.
"We will see where his status is as the week progresses," Garrett said of Lissemore. "Marcus Spears has been a starter for us in the past. Tyrone Crawford has played some snaps for us. So we've got to get those guys going. Josh Brent has played a lot of football for us this year, certainly when Jay Ratliff was out the first four games. Those guys have to step up. It's a rotational position, anyway."
Garrett didn't indicate who his starter will be in place of Coleman, but he said he plans on working Spears, Crawford and Brent around the different spots of the defensive line. He said he hasn't had any specific conversations about the possibility of sliding Ratliff to defensive end, although the flexibility of each defensive lineman could give him the option to do so to replace Coleman, who will have surgery today and be placed on Injured Reserve.
"We feel like we have some good depth at the defensive line position, so the next guy is going to jump in there, and we will continue to have a rotation there at the defensive line," Garrett said. Hopefully, they will play as well as Kenyon was playing."
