Kosier On IR; Sign Practice Squad Linebacker
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The Cowboys have finally faced the hard facts: Kyle Kosier is done for the season with the torn liagements in his right foot, and have placed him on season-ending injured reserve. The Cowboys did so on Saturday so they would have room on their 53-man roster to sign rookie linebacker Steve Octavien off Washington's practice squad. Octavien went undrafted as a linebacker out of Nebraska and went to training camp with Kansas City. The Redskins had just signed the 6-0, 238-pounder who played 22 games for the Cornhuskeres (10 starts) on Nov. 20.
Kosier was expected to visit a foot specialist this coming week, but the Cowboys doctors already were recommending surgery to repair the torn ligament he's been trying to fight through this entire season. Kosier was able to return a second time this season to play in the Washington and San Francisco games. But the starting left guard reinjured his problematic foot against the Niners and the ligament damage this time has left a joint in his foot too loose to continue playing and likely in need of surgery. The rehab from such a surgery is expected to be three to four months.
In Thursday's 34-9 victory over Seattle, the Cowboys replaced Kosier in the starting lineup with Montrae Holland, acquired in an Aug. 28 trade with Denver for a 2010 fifth-round pick. Holland appeared to play decently starting in place of Cory Procter, who had started eight games in Kosier's previous absence. Kosier first injured his foot in the third preseason game against Houston, and missed the first two games of the season. He returned to play against Green Bay but stepped in a hole on a somewhat torn up Lambeau Field late in the fourth quarter and missed seven more games after convincing the club to allow him to rest and rehab instead of having season-ending surgery then.
The Cowboys continue looking for young special teams players to add to their 53-man roster. They most recently signed Tra Battle off the San Diego practice squad on Wednesday when Felix Jones was placed on injured reserve, and the first-year safety actually played on Thanksgiving Day, making a tackle on the team's first kick off of the game. Not only is safety Pat Watkins still having problems with his neck, but linebacker Justin Rogers has been battling back spasms and now outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware is nursing a hyper-extended left knee.