If the Cowboys are going to get above .500 with a win over the Redskins on Thanksgiving, they’re going to have to do it without their best running back and their starting left tackle.
Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and left tackle Tyron Smith are both expected to miss Thursday’s game, according to the Star-Telegram.
Murray has missed five straight games with a foot injury, and it looks like Thursday will be the sixth. Murray was averaging 4.4 yards a carry, with 330 yards on 75 attempts, before he went down. He’s been replaced in the starting lineup by Felix Jones, who is averaging 3.6 yards a carry, with 321 yards on 88 attempts. Jones is also dealing with an injury, having missed Monday’s practice because of knee pain.
Smith suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s win over the Browns. If he’s out against the Redskins he’ll be replaced by Jermey Parnell, and that would be a significant problem for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who would much rather have Smith protecting his blind side.
Other Cowboys who missed practice Monday were center Phil Costa (ankle), guard/center Ryan Cook (knee), defensive tackle Sean Lissemore (ankle), receiver Kevin Ogletree (concussion), safety Charlie Peprah (concussion) and nose tackle Jay Ratliff (groin).