By Calvin Watkins
IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys could make a roster move on Friday regarding the 53-man roster.
Tight end Scott Chandler, the Southlake native who was signed to the Cowboys practice squad Sept. 6, was getting first-team reps on the kick return team Thursday.
The Cowboys currently have two tight ends in Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, and in the Week 2 loss to the Chicago Bears, defensive end Marcus Spears got snaps as a tackle-eligible player.
Coach Wade Phillips said he's not inclined to do that again.
To move Chandler up to the 53, the Cowboys have to release someone from the active roster.
Here are the candidates:
Jason Williams, the inside linebacker, has been a huge disappointment overall. Yet coach Wade Phillips praised Williams' special teams efforts in the loss to the Bears.
The Cowboys could also release outside linebacker Brandon Williams or possibly inside linebacker Leon Williams.
Brandon Williams hasn't played in a regular-season game since getting drafted in the fourth round in 2009. Williams spent last year on injured reserve and has been inactive the first two weeks of 2010.
Leon Williams was inactive in Week 1 but played in Week 2, getting one tackle.
Keith Brooking and Bradie James are logging a lot of snaps, and the Cowboys haven't gained confidence in any other inside linebacker to give them a break on third-down plays.
Deon Anderson, the fullback, is out after undergoing knee surgery. He is expected back at some point next month, and though his knee surgery wasn't considered serious, he is expected to miss two to four weeks. The team could place him on injured reserve to make room for Chandler.
If the Cowboys don't move Chandler up, cornerback Bryan McCann, an SMU product, might move from the practice squad to the active roster.
If that happens, it's only to give the Cowboys some cushion at corner. Starter Mike Jenkins is nursing a bruised knee and was looking better in practice, according to coach Wade Phillips.
The Cowboys have just three active corners on the roster with safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah getting snaps at corner. An injured Jenkins limits them at the position health-wise.
IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys could make a roster move on Friday regarding the 53-man roster.
Tight end Scott Chandler, the Southlake native who was signed to the Cowboys practice squad Sept. 6, was getting first-team reps on the kick return team Thursday.
The Cowboys currently have two tight ends in Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett, and in the Week 2 loss to the Chicago Bears, defensive end Marcus Spears got snaps as a tackle-eligible player.
Coach Wade Phillips said he's not inclined to do that again.
To move Chandler up to the 53, the Cowboys have to release someone from the active roster.
Here are the candidates:
Jason Williams, the inside linebacker, has been a huge disappointment overall. Yet coach Wade Phillips praised Williams' special teams efforts in the loss to the Bears.
The Cowboys could also release outside linebacker Brandon Williams or possibly inside linebacker Leon Williams.
Brandon Williams hasn't played in a regular-season game since getting drafted in the fourth round in 2009. Williams spent last year on injured reserve and has been inactive the first two weeks of 2010.
Leon Williams was inactive in Week 1 but played in Week 2, getting one tackle.
Keith Brooking and Bradie James are logging a lot of snaps, and the Cowboys haven't gained confidence in any other inside linebacker to give them a break on third-down plays.
Deon Anderson, the fullback, is out after undergoing knee surgery. He is expected back at some point next month, and though his knee surgery wasn't considered serious, he is expected to miss two to four weeks. The team could place him on injured reserve to make room for Chandler.
If the Cowboys don't move Chandler up, cornerback Bryan McCann, an SMU product, might move from the practice squad to the active roster.
If that happens, it's only to give the Cowboys some cushion at corner. Starter Mike Jenkins is nursing a bruised knee and was looking better in practice, according to coach Wade Phillips.
The Cowboys have just three active corners on the roster with safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah getting snaps at corner. An injured Jenkins limits them at the position health-wise.