FRISCO, Texas – Having won last weekend without five starters, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones is hopeful he might get some reinforcements in Week 5 against Cincinnati.
During his weekly radio interview with 105.3 FM The Fan in Dallas, Jones was asked about the injuries facing several of his most valuable players. Specifically in reference to Tyron Smith, Orlando Scandrick and Dan Bailey, he was optimistic that all three would be able to suit up against the Bengals.
"I think there's a real likely that all three may be playing," he said. "But, again, whoever is listening needs to be prepared for them not playing, because they've got to get out there and see how it feels from getting work in this week. But I think there's a good chance they play."
Smith has missed two consecutive games with a back injury that cropped up roughly two weeks ago. It marks the first time in the All-Pro tackle's career that he has missed multiple games in a season. It was also the second-straight absence for Scandrick, who has been fighting two hamstring injuries since the Sept. 18 win against Washington.
Bailey is in a different category, as he played Sunday in San Francisco. But the Pro Bowl kicker is battling a back injury that arose Sunday morning. He's also coming off missed field goals in consecutive games – a rarity for the most accurate kicker in league history.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett intimated on Monday that the team might sign an additional kicker this week, but Jones said that would only happen to help with the workload in practice. He expects Bailey to be available this weekend.
"We wouldn't be looking at a kicker from a standpoint of having him in the game. We're planning on having Dan," Jones said. "You might bring in somebody that could do some kicking for you at practice a couple of days, to practice against, to work our protection against. But I don't think any of us think Dan's situation is not going to allow him to play."
There was also an update on Dez Bryant, who sat out against the 49ers with a hairline fracture in his knee. The Cowboys have classified the injury, suffered against Chicago on Sept. 25, as "day-to-day."
Jones said he's been told Bryant can't exacerbate the injury by playing on it, so the decision will hinge on how the receiver feels. He added "I wouldn't rule him out against Cincinnati, just because it's Dez."
"If he can do some work this week, then that might mean he can do more on Friday," he said. "If he can do that kind of thing, then he might be in line."
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