SCOOP: Cowboys DL Tyrone Crawford dealing with bursitis in both hips, hopes to return for Week 4
FRISCO - Defensive end Tyrone Crawford with miss Sunday’s game against the visiting Miami Dolphins not just because he's dealing with pain in one hip - but rather because, I'm told, the Dallas Cowboys veteran team leader is dealing with bursitis in both hips.
Crawford missed a lot of offseason work with one hip injury but has played well in both of the first two regular-season games. But now he's got pain in both of his hips.
Is his injury "serious'' or "nagging''? Based on what I've been told, Crawford plans to return to work next week, so the answer to that is probably "both.''
He did play last year with one hip in this condition, but rest is the best treatment for bursitis, so he'll do that as Dallas moves forward with the plan to start new addition Robert Quinn at end. Quinn is coming off a two-game suspension and has been practicing with the first team, I'm told, with Kerry Hyder and Dorance Armstrong rotating behind him.
Same with fellow D-lineman Antwaun Woods (knee) and with safety Xavier Woods (ankle). Dr. Twitter has issued some alarming prognoses when it comes to Dallas' injury list, including the national media report that has Xavier missing six weeks.
In fact, Xavier Woods is already doing some sideline work at practice and Antwaun Woods keeps privately pushing to play. The fact is, the wodeful Dolphins - while not to be taken too lightly, of course -- may be thin enough in overall talent to allow the Cowboys to endure their injuries by resting the injured.
At the receiver spot, starter Michael Gallup, who underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and will be out 2-4 weeks, will be replaced by Devin Smith. The availability of fellow receiver Tavon Austin (concussion) is in doubt.
Dorian Thompson steps in for Xavier in the secondary, with rookie Donovan Wilson also set to make his debut.
At defensive tackle, assuming Antwaun Woods is ruled out, Maliek Collins will likely shift over to play some 1-tech along with some along-the-line snaps for Christian Covington, with second-round rookie Trysten Hill set to make his NFL debut and help at the 3-tech. A good performance by newcomers Hill and Quinn will ease some of the pain of missing Crawford. Hopefully a week of rest will ease it some more.