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Published on 09/29/2009 at Tue Sep 29 14:36.
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Cowboys’ ground game grounded

Posted Tue Sep 29th by

Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones (R) eludes Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jermaine Phillips during the 1st half of their NFL football game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida September 13, 2009. REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme (UNITED STATES SPORT FOOTBALL)

Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones suffered a PCL injury Monday that will keep him out of the Week 4 game at the Denver Broncos. (REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme)

While the Denver Broncos rushing attack is taking off, their Week 4 opponent’s ground game may have trouble even suiting up Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys have the top-ranked rushing unit in the NFL through three weeks, but their depth at running back is becoming precariously thin. Starting tailback Marion Barber sat out the Cowboy’s 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers Monday night with a strained left quad injury, and backup Felix Jones‘s right knee forced him out of the game in the third quarter.

Adam Schefter reports that Jones could miss the next two weeks, while ESPN colleague Calvin Watkins confirms that Jones will miss Sunday’s tilt against the Broncos.

With Jones out and Barber slowed with a quad, Tashard Choice is the only healthy tailback on Dallas’ active roster. Choice had a solid performance Monday, finishing with 82 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries (4.6 avg.) to go with 36 yards on four receptions, but much of that was in split work.

Injuries forced Choice into the Cowboys’ starting lineup three times in 2008. Barber may or may not be available for the Cowboys on Sunday.

Tashard Choice is no slouch by any means, but Jones is dynamic and Barber lays the wood. This bodes well for Denver; stopping the ground game is the first task for any NFL defensive game plan, but against the Cowboys it will be of extra importance. We’ll be keeping an eye on the health of Dallas’ tailbacks throughout the week.

Sources: Jones out next week [ESPN]

  • dbroncos

    Not a lot of people seem to think we can even walk on our own two feet from what i have heard. Anyways some stats that i think are interesting that get 100% overlooked.

    We rank #1 in yards allowed, more than 30 yards ahead of the next closest
    We rank #7 in rushing yards allowed
    A rather odd stat i discovered on NFL.com, we rank 5th in lowest percentages of runs that result in a 1st down.

  • Mergrath

    Sounds like even “if” we win this game there will be doubters due to Dallas' injured players. Oh well…I'll take it anyway we can get it! What we have done in such a short period of time is impressive…

  • broncoinva9986

    It is interesting because I have notice on ESPN how much they have utterly trashed this football team.. I enjoy the hatred…..Tom Jackson is really the only ESPN anaylst that I have heard praise the broncos…but we all know why he does…What shocks me is that we can't even get a compliment that this team is headed in the right direction..

  • Roy88

    It doesn't shock me at all. “They are in tumoil” ” They are going to stink this year” “I am not buying the Broncos” “Worst 3-0 team”. I am so sick of all that crap. The good news is that we don't have to worry about Jones, he has a sprained pcl. Being that it just happened, it is a virtual certainty that he won't play Sunday.

  • Stav

    25-19 Denver.

    You heard it here first. I'm just not scared by this team. Romo can blow up at any time and I think we will not stop, but will contain their running game to the point where it will be the main factor in us winning. Let Romo throw the ball, just remember that we haven't even heard Champ's name mentioned the last two games, they're not throwing to his side. Biggest matchup will be Witten v. Dawkins.

    Its funny how you actually don't hear that much on Denver from the national media, that's fine, I prefer it that way. Let them say whatever they want about the first three teams we played, any team can win any game on any weekend, that's the NFL. Like I said a few weeks ago and a few times, let everyone sleep on us and think we're crap, not if but WHEN we be beat Dallas this weekend its going to be an entirely different story. We will be the cover story on ESPN and then they can go “F” themselves, especially that pencil neck Clayton who basically crapped on us since Cutler was traded. One note though, Stink and Dilfer said before the season started that this looked like a solid team. Two guys who have won SB's.

  • stav

    Everyone is waiting for this team to blowup on themselves so they can say, “See, we told you so. This team is in a major rebuilding phase and needs 2-3 years.”

  • broncoinva9986

    I wonder I barber will man up and play..

  • broncoinva9986

    You are right stav…they are rooting for our utter failure…ditto

  • broncoinva9986

    I remember Tom Jackson praising us…(well duh) in the Background Trent Dilfer said that we lost alot of football games on our own doing but now we are learning how win and not lose….

  • http://twitter.com/YourBroncosZone Broncos Zone

    Tashard Choice is still pretty sweet tho…

  • TheTroglodyte

    People will say that we won only because Barber is hurt and Jones is out. The Truth is Choice is there best all around back hands down. Actually Barber isn't much more than above average. He made a name coming in the second half of ball games when the defense was already getting tired. He has not been impressive at all as a starter.

    Not having to contain Jones speed is a plus but facing Choice is going to be much much tougher then people are going to give credit for.

  • Jordan

    Romo can blow up at any point and he can blow us up at any point. Nolan better have this team ready to play tough D. Orton again must be mistake free and put points on the board. The red zone offense is awful and needs fixing.

    Get it done MCD

  • WhidbeyBronco

    I get so tired of this kind of talk… who freaking cares what they say? Martz loves us BTW. I've heard several people pick us…. Let's win a few more games…

  • WhidbeyBronco

    seriously?

    Barber will be there anyway.

  • WhidbeyBronco

    our redzone offense will not improve unless we run the ball like last week …every week.

    ORTON

  • ericinvegas

    Colin Cowherd predicted yesterday that the Broncos will be 4-7 in 2 months. I wonder if he'll admit that he was wrong.

    What amuses me is that the Broncos could be 6-0 at their bye, and “analysts” would still not give them any respect. Dallas is injured, New England isn't firing on all cylinders, and San Diego is pretty banged up too. People will always find room to doubt…

  • Andpark

    Pretty close to a nationally televised game_

    http://the506.com/nflmaps/

    No afternoon CBS game so everyone pretty much gets the Broncos embarrassing Romo. Choice is serious and we need to worry about Barber being back. Witten is a huge threat but we did do a great job making Zach Miller a non factor last game. So keep the pressure on Romo and make him throw. I call 1 Defense TD, 1 INT, fumble from Romo and a few sacks by DOoooooom!

    Orton does need to play, our secret running game is out so Dal D will try to box us in. Got to get some connections to Marshall and Royal. Stoked for this match up.

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    According so Sports Illustrated we have the Number 1 ranked Defense in the league.

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    That's such a lame excuse. Every team has to deal with injuries. Plus even if people say that you can always counter with the fact that the 11 players on defense couldn't stop the offense which has nothing to do with injuries. I hate that excuse but I bet you're right.

  • steeplebomb

    That's the best news I've heard all week! I'm tired of messing around with online streams. What a pain in the ass, especially when I have to read everyone in the chat room talking about plays that happen 15 seconds before I see them.

  • Andpark

    Pretty close to a nationally televised game_

    http://the506.com/nflmaps/

    No afternoon CBS game so everyone pretty much gets the Broncos embarrassing Romo. Choice is serious and we need to worry about Barber being back. Witten is a huge threat but we did do a great job making Zach Miller a non factor last game. So keep the pressure on Romo and make him throw. I call 1 Defense TD, 1 INT, fumble from Romo and a few sacks by DOoooooom!

    Orton does need to play, our secret running game is out so Dal D will try to box us in. Got to get some connections to Marshall and Royal. Stoked for this match up.

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    According so Sports Illustrated we have the Number 1 ranked Defense in the league.

  • http://manchester-architects.com T-Money

    That's such a lame excuse. Every team has to deal with injuries. Plus even if people say that you can always counter with the fact that the 11 players on defense couldn't stop the offense which has nothing to do with injuries. I hate that excuse but I bet you're right.

  • steeplebomb

    That's the best news I've heard all week! I'm tired of messing around with online streams. What a pain in the ass, especially when I have to read everyone in the chat room talking about plays that happen 15 seconds before I see them.