Cowboys injury scoop: Xavier Woods and Tavon Austin want to return to practice today in prep for Saints

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are 3-0 and how can anything be more rosy than that? If two playmakers could return to practice today, that's how.

The Cowboys begin their on-field preparations here today inside The Star for their Sunday night Week 4 game at the New Orleans Saints.

Maybe the Cowboys were extra-conservative with a few guys last week as they prepped for what would be a 31-6 drubbing of the winless Dolphins. Should they pull out all the stops this week against a traditionally scary Saints bunch?

Two guys who I believe are ready to say "yes'' to that question, as early as in today's Wednesday workout, are safety Xavier Woods and receiver Tavon Austin.

Woods injured an ankle in the final series of the Week 2 win at Washington, and while some national media projections insisted he'd miss six games, he in fact was seen doing some sideline work late last week ... and really figures to be in play by Sunday ... and wants to work on the field today.

Austin has been in concussion protocol, thinning the receivers room even more along with Michael Gallup, who had a scope on his knee after Week 2 and will miss this week - but maybe not many after that. With no Austin, Cedric Wilson has gotten special-teams work and served as a backup receiver behind Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb and Devin Smith. The return of the explosive tough guy Austin would boost Dallas' punt-return game.

With Woods out, Darian Thompson made the start at safety in Week 3 - and coaches were pleased with his work. But Dallas thinks Xavier has star quality ... and he'd like to start demonstrating that as soon as this week.

Defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford told me he'd like to return to practice today despite bursitis in both hips; my sense is that trainers will hold him back for now. Same with Antwaun Woods (knee), who is itching to return for Sunday but will be advised to take it slow at this early stage.