The goal for any team coming off a bye week is to get healthy again and have the batteries recharged, regardless when the bye occurs in the season.
For the Cowboys, it appeared to be a perfect time considering so many guys were either out, or banged up.
But looking at the first injury report the team sent out on Wednesday, it doesn't exactly look like a team that's completely healthy again.
In fact, they're far from it as three players did not practice and two more were limited. And we're talking about starting players such as Jason Hatcher (calf) and Derrick Dockery (knee/leg). Both of which missed Wednesday's practice entirely and while it's not a surprise for Dockery, there was a thought around Valley Ranch that Hatcher would be back after the bye. Now it appears he won't be ready to play Sunday, or at least won't be starting again.
In all, 13 players were on the injury report, including Kyle Kosier, who was limited with a foot injury and kicker David Buehler isn't 100 percent healthy from a nagging groin injury. Fullback Tony Fiammetta missed practice with a hamstring injury.
The good news among the laundry list of injured players is that many of them were able to practice. Eight of the 13 players practiced in full on Wednesday, including quarterback Tony Romo, who said this team took full advantage of not only the bye, but the new CBA rules that implemented four straight off days for players.
"For us, it helped just because we had a lot of guys banged up, myself included just with the ribs and everything," Romo said. "It was nice to have a couple of days where you felt like you could get your body right. I think that's going to help us going forward."
