Read More: Derrick Dockery (G – DAL), Miles Austin (WR – DAL), Jason Hatcher (DE – DAL), Tony Romo (QB – DAL), Marcus Spears (DE – DAL), Felix Jones (RB – DAL), Orlando Scandrick (CB – DAL), David Buehler (K – DAL), New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys

The latest injury report is out for the Dallas Cowboys, who are as healthy as they have been all season coming off a bye week and headed into a big road game against the New England Patriots.

After battling through injuries over the last few weeks, the Cowboys offensive playmakers — QB Tony Romo, RB Felix Jones, WR Miles Austin and WR Dez Bryant — are all listed as “probable”. Perhaps just as important is the health of CB Orlando Scandrick, also listed as probable after missing three weeks with an ankle sprain, who will be vital to stopping the Patriots air attack.

Four players — K David Buehler (groin), G Derrick Dockery (knee), FB Tony Fiametta (hamstring) and DE Jason Hatcher (calf) — have been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Hatcher’s absence will affect the Cowboys’ pass rush, as Marcus Spears is his likely replacement in the starting line-up.

IRVING, Texas (AP)—Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo(notes) is enjoying two
weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and
puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo
said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I
think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at
Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh(notes).

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL.
(Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their
coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations. It’s going
to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes
and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest on Sunday and said he plans on
getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a
number of bad snaps in the shotgun from center Philip Costa in Monday night’s
18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap
count. Whether Washington did—the Redskins deny it—the Cowboys say they’re
ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line,
is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett
said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge
Heffelfinger was around. That’s how it works. We just have to understand what
the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and
just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival
Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old
signal caller is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not
all that long after he was being pilloried for his turnovers and decisions in a
season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo
said. “Each team goes through the same deal. When you lose, the sky is falling.
When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that
goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s
important each week.”

Notes: Receiver Dez Bryant(notes) (thigh) didn’t take part in practice Thursday.
Jason Garrett hopes the receiver is able to practice before Sunday. . Fullback
Tony Fiammetta(notes) (hamstring), kicker David Buehler(notes) (groin) and Miles Austin(notes)
(hamstring) also didn’t practice.

IRVING, Texas (AP)—Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo(notes) is enjoying two
weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and
puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo
said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I
think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at
Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh(notes).

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL.
(Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their
coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations. It’s going
to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes
and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest on Sunday and said he plans on
getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a
number of bad snaps in the shotgun from center Philip Costa in Monday night’s
18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap
count. Whether Washington did—the Redskins deny it—the Cowboys say they’re
ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line,
is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett
said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge
Heffelfinger was around. That’s how it works. We just have to understand what
the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and
just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival
Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old
signal caller is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not
all that long after he was being pilloried for his turnovers and decisions in a
season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo
said. “Each team goes through the same deal. When you lose, the sky is falling.
When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that
goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s
important each week.”

Notes: Receiver Dez Bryant(notes) (thigh) didn’t take part in practice Thursday.
Jason Garrett hopes the receiver is able to practice before Sunday. . Fullback
Tony Fiammetta(notes) (hamstring), kicker David Buehler(notes) (groin) and Miles Austin(notes)
(hamstring) also didn’t practice.

Click here for a complete list of the Dallas Cowboys’ roster moves.

Biggest surprise: I guess that they released four fullbacks, including Chris Gronkowski, meaning they kept none. They’re obviously deep at tailback with Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, DeMarco Murray and Phillip Tanner and at tight end as well, so they either didn’t see the need to use a fullback this season or are content with the idea of picking one off the scrap heap within the next couple of weeks. Other than that, I didn’t find any of the cuts especially surprising. Igor Olshansky started 28 of their 32 games the past two seasons, so he’s the biggest name among the cuts. But we’d seen this one coming for a while. It was clear that new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan preferred Kenyon Coleman at defensive end, and that the Cowboys weren’t going to be afraid to cut ties with established veterans.

No-brainers: Kickers Shayne Graham and Dave Rayner had their chances to win jobs but couldn’t, so they’re gone and the Cowboys will go with David Buehler for kickoffs and Dan Bailey for field goals. Lonyae Miller showed promise early but was passed by Tanner for the lone spot in the crowded running back field. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah clearly wasn’t panning out at safety in spite of being the team’s fourth-round draft pick in 2010.

What’s next: With only five wide receivers on the roster, the Cowboys could theoretically hunt around for veteran help there. But they believe the receiving ability of their tight ends and running backs minimizes the importance of adding there. They will surely continue looking for a kicker, because

they’re obviously not satisfied with what they have, and they may be on the lookout for added depth in the secondary. They kept 10 offensive linemen, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to see them bringing someone in from the outside if they can find a reliable veteran backup for some of their young starters.

The Dallas Cowboys have a kicking
problem, and they know it.
Only two teams were worse in accuracy on field goals last
season, with the Cowboys making only three of every four attempts.
It was especially painful last season because the Cowboys needed
all the points they could get with the way their defense played.
Midway through the preseason, Dallas is still scrambling.
Veteran Shayne Graham was signed Tuesday, making him the fourth
man vying for the job. Two are hurt and the other is an undrafted
free agent who hasn’t gotten a chance to kick any field goals
through two preseason games.
David Buehler is the incumbent and he’s among those hurting. He
is 1-for-1 this preseason, making a 42-yarder.