IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys placed defensive end Edgar Jones on injured reserve/designated to return on Friday afternoon.
The move will make Jones unavailable to practice for six weeks, which is the week of the Thanksgiving game against Oakland. He had successful surgery on the injury Thursday and will be eligible to return to game action after eight weeks, which is the Cowboys' Week 15 game against Green Bay on Dec. 15.
The Cowboys acquired Jones from Kansas City in a trade at the end of the preseason, sending their sixth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to the Chiefs in exchange for Jones and the Chiefs' 2014 seventh round pick.
Jones has played several positions in his seven-year career, but he has served at defensive end in the Cowboys' 4-3 defensive scheme. He played in four games this season and registered five tackles with a pass deflection before suffering a groin/abdomen strain in the Week 4 loss to San Diego.
Vega Signed
Defensive end Jason Vega was signed to the Cowboys' 53-man roster from the practice squad for this weekend's game against the Eagles.
The Cowboys had an open roster spot and needed the help with a bevy of injuries along the defensive line. DeMarcus Ware might not play this weekend, Edgar Jones is definitely out, Jason Hatcher and George Selvie were limited this week and Jay Ratliff was cut.
Vega played in the final preseason game for the Cowboys after coming to Dallas from the Patriots. He made the most out of that opportunity, totaling four tackles and a fumble recovery against the Texans, which earned him a spot on the Cowboys' practice squad.
"I had an idea that it might be possible, but it was just kind of hard to guess," Vega said. "You don't really anticipate roster moves, because that's not my job. I'm supposed to show up in practice. I just try to wait for it to be official, and now it is."
Vega thought the opportunity might be there for him early this week, and he was told Friday that he'd be getting the call up. He's valued his time on the practice squad for the first six weeks of the season.
"I can kind of spend time with the older guys, learn as much as I can, go against the offensive guys and learn a lot as well, so it's been a good learning experience for me to be able to work on my skills and lead up to a moment like this," Vega said.
The defensive end's grateful for this chance after going undrafted in 2011 from Northeastern. He went to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before signing with the Patriots in 2013. He's carrying a legacy at Northeastern, which has dropped its football program.
"I think it's more so for the guys that I used to play with," Vega said. "I hear from them every once in a while, they're just kind of like, 'You've got to keep playing for us, you're the last one' type thing, and that's really good to hear."
-Rowan Kavner
Be Ware
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said nothing would surprise him when it comes to DeMarcus Ware.
Ware was listed as doubtful on Friday's practice report with the quad strain he suffered against Washington. But the All-Pro defensive end has never missed a game in his career, and he said Thursday he expects to make the trip to Philadelphia.
Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan that if Sunday's game were the Super Bowl or even a crucial late-season game, Ware would undoubtedly be in the lineup. The Cowboys are trying to keep the full season in mind by limiting the veteran, however. [embedded_ad]
"He and we want to look at the bigger picture, which is the season, so we probably are being and will be conservative there," Jones told the fan.
He added: "Nothing surprises me – he's Superman."
First in the Fourth?
Jones also came to the defense of quarterback Tony Romo in the interview. Romo's late-game interception in the Week 5 loss to Denver has been one of the biggest talking points of the season to this point.
Despite that, Jones said he has every belief in Romo's ability in last-minute situations, going as far as to call him the best fourth quarter quarterback in the league.
"We've got a quarterback that's the best in the business in the fourth quarter – he's the best," Jones said. "He can make it happen when it's not there, and so other than being ahead with the ball, there's no one I'd rather have at this time than to have Romo trying to get us down the field in a short period of time."
