IRVING, Texas --Rookie free agent center Kevin Kowalski had barely spoken to Tony Romo, much less taken a snap from the starting quarterback, before he got word that he would start the third preseason game at Minnesota.
"Before that game? Maybe a quick introduction, that was about it," Kowalski said with a grin.
Starting center Phil Costa sat out with a sprained PCL that night, and the Cowboys made a business decision to deactivate five-time Pro Bowler Andre Gurode, releasing him two days later.
Kowalski played the entire game and held his own against the Vikings starters for more than a half. When Costa hurt his knee again this past Sunday against San Francisco, the rookie from Toledo stepped up once more.
Costa didn't practice Thursday, and if he's unable to play, Kowalski will get his first regular-season start. This time he's gotten a little more warning, though ironically, Romo wasn't around to take snaps from Thursday.
"Just kind of getting thrown in there the way that it happened (in Minnesota), you kind of end up prepared for anything and just any situation that might come your way," Kowalski said.
"The more reps, the practice you get the more experience you get, the more comfortable you get in there."
