IRVING, Texas - For the second straight day, running back Felix Jones was limited in practice and his status for Sunday night's game in Atlanta will be questioned.
But it doesn't sound like the Cowboys are questioning Jones' toughness or commitment here in the last few weeks as they fight through several injuries as a team, including one to starter DeMarco Murray, who will miss his third straight game Sunday with a sprained foot.
Jones isn't 100 percent, mainly because of a bruised knee, among other minor injuries, including a neck injury that bothered him early in the Giants game last week.
"I'm concerned because he's not healthy," Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones said during Thursday's practice."We've got one already that can't play, and he's banged up. I give Felix a lot of credit. There are other backs that probably just say, 'Hey, I need to get well before I get out there.' But Felix is tough and he wants to be out there and we know he's not 100 percent but he wants to play. We've had players in the past that wouldn't go out like that."
Jones missed two days of practice last week, only to return on Friday as limited and was considered a game-time decision for Sunday. While he scored a rushing touchdown, he had just 19 yards on 13 carries, with a key lost fumbled in the second half.
The Cowboys are running out of options, especially with anyone that has a lot of experience. Second-year back Phillip Tanner has filled in at times this year, rushing the ball 24 times for 61 carries. Rookie Lance Dunbar still has just one carry for 11 yards but might be called upon more this week, along with his kick-return duties.
It's certainly been a disappointing season for Jones, who had offseason shoulder surgery that kept him out of all minicamps and OTA practices. He failed his conditioning running test at the start of camp and never looked comfortable until the Ravens game, six weeks into the season when he replaced Murray. Jones had 92 yards rushing in Baltimore with a 22-yard touchdown run.
But as the starter the last two weeks, Jones not only has been banged up at times, but has 63 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
