Jason Ferguson (Cowboys DT)

[CaptainHook]

Starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson, arguably the most indispensable member of the Dallas Cowboys' defensive front seven, will miss the rest of the season with a torn right biceps tendon.

 

The injury, confirmed by several sources hours before Dallas coach Wade Phillips' mid-afternoon announcement, occurred in the first quarter of the Cowboys' season-opening 45-35 victory over the Giants on Sunday night. The team said Ferguson will undergo surgery on Friday. The Cowboys don't practice again until Wednesday.

 

"That's certainly bad news for us," Phillips said at his news conference Monday in Irving, Texas.

 

The loss of Ferguson is a critical one for the Cowboys because they don't have another true nose tackle on the roster.

 

Converted defensive end Jay Ratliff, a third-year veteran, replaced Ferguson and played well against the Giants, finishing with three tackles and a sack. The former Auburn standout enjoyed a strong training camp and preseason, but does not possess the bulk power of Ferguson. He is, though, the Cowboys' best option at this point.

 

Dallas might be forced to consider going outside the organization for depth, although there aren't many options in the free-agent market.

 

Filling the backup role to the 6-foot-3, 312-pound Ferguson, who typically occupies multiple blockers, has been a problem for the Cowboys over the past two seasons.

 

Ferguson, 32, has played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level since signing with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent in 2005. A defender whose statistics don't always reflect his overall value to the team or to the 3-4 scheme, his 64 tackles in 2006 nonetheless led all Cowboys defensive linemen.

 

The 10-year veteran began his career with the Jets as a seventh-round pick in the 1997 draft. He played eight seasons for the Jets before departing in free agency. Ferguson has 453 career tackles, 21½ sacks and six forced fumbles, and the former University of Georgia star has appeared in 135 games.

 

Meanwhile, while Ferguson is out, Phillips said the team was closer to getting cornerback Terence Newman and outside linebacker Greg Ellis back on the field. Both could practice this week.

 

from ESPN.com

[HowboutthemCowboys]

With Ferguson out, Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said Jay Ratliff, who has played mostly defensive end, will now move to nose tackle. Ratliff finished the game in Ferguson's place and actually recorded the Cowboys' only sack of the game.

 

"Ratliff went in and played pretty well," Phillips said. "That was a good sign. He's not as big as (Ferguson). But he's pretty active. I think that's what we have. That's who we're going to play with. We'll have to work some things that are good for him at the nose. It didn't hurt us that he was in there."

Phillips admitted it is a possibility the Cowboys could re-sign Remi Ayodele, who spent the off-season and training camp with the team. He was released on Sept. 2 but was quickly claimed off waivers by the Falcons. But over the weekend Atlanta released Ayodele, the younger brother of linebacker Akin Ayodele, making him available to clear waivers Monday afternoon.

 

 

 

that sucks.