SAN DIEGO –It appears wide receiver Miles Austin is on the verge on missing the entire preseason because of hamstring injuries for the second year in a row.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after Saturday's loss to the Chargers that he didn't expect Austin to be back in the next week, which would include the dress rehearsal game at Cowboys Stadium against the St. Louis Rams. Since the Cowboys and most teams typically rest their starters in the preseason finale, it's likely Austin will not be seen in game action until Sept. 5, assuming he's ready by then, as the Cowboys have thought all along.
Austin battled hamstring issues throughout 2011, missing six games.
"He's not one of the ones I'm thinking will be back," Jones said. "I wouldn't discount it, but he's not one of the ones that I have coming back. I hope (Matt) Johnson's back out there. I hope Johnson can get out there and get some work in. That's important to him and us."
Johnson, the fourth-round rookie safety, is way behind after missing most of the offseason because of practice eligibility issues, and all of training camp due to a hamstring injury of his own.
The Cowboys will practice twice with San Diego this week, then return home for one full practice, at Cowboys Stadium on Thursday night. They have just seven full practice sessions remaining until the regular season opener.
