With fullback Tony Fiammetta already being ruled out for Sunday's game due to an illness is a large blow to the running game, the Cowboys have a couple options to fill his role.
When a hamstring injury kept him out earlier this season, tight end John Phillips took over the responsibilities, and could do the same against the Redskins. However, the best running games all season, including Felix Jones' big day against Washington in Week 3, came with a fullback in the lineup. That could prompt the Cowboys to call up a more traditional lead blocker from the practice squad, Shaun Chapas.
A seventh-round pick out of Georgia, Chapas was kept around for scout team purposes after he failed to make the roster out of training camp. The Cowboys claimed Fiammetta from waivers the day after final cuts. Since then, Chapas says he has come a long way.
"I feel a lot more comfortable than I did coming right out of training camp," Chapas said, acknowledging all the areas he needed to improve upon in the last two months. "I think just everything. Overall knowledge of the playbook and everything like that, and just little things like simple techniques that we do a little different here."
If the Cowboys intend to make a roster move, they have until 3 p.m. on Saturday, but Chapas said he's not sure what will happen just yet.
"I'm ready for whatever happens," Chapas said. "I'm looking forward to it and excited if it does, and if not, I'll just, like I said, keep working."
