IRVING, Texas –The Cowboys still don't know how long Phil Costa will miss, but know it could be a significant amount of time. They're already essentially ruling him out for Seattle, however.
Jerry Jones confirmed on Monday that he doesn't expect the Week 1 starter to play against the Seahawks, as he rests from a nagging back injury.
"I don't," the Cowboys owner said. "I have not talked and gotten finals to know that we haven't. I don't expect him back this week."
It's likely that Ryan Cook, just acquired in a trade 10 days ago from Miami, will start the game. Cook played all but the first three offensive snaps against the Giants, following Costa's aggravation of the injury that knocked him out of three preseason games. The Cowboys acquired the 29-year old for just a seventh-round pick.
"I thought that it was amazing that he was able to come in and play," Jones said. "Like everyone, I knew how smart he is as a football player. He's certainly got some length and got some size, and so all of that is a plus, and yes, I'm really proud we've got him."
Against Seattle, it's possible 2011 fourth-round pick David Arkin will be active for the first time in his career. Right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau has some experience and could slide over in a pinch, but because he was out all offseason, only practicing as a Cowboy for the first time a week into training camp, the club is hesitant to move him over and elevate veteran Derrick Dockery to the first-team at right guard.
While Arkin is very inexperienced at center, having just picked it up in August, he did start three games at the position in the preseason.
"We'll probably proceed as we've proceeding on the offensive line," head coach Jason Garrett said. "We like how those guards are playing, so we anticipate probably playing them in those spots, but (Bernadeau) does have position flex, so we've got to make sure we have a guy who can snap the football if Ryan can't snap the football. Again, we'll evaluate Phil's situation day to day, and we'll see how he fits into our plans this week and going forward."
