Cowboys Injury Update: Should Antwaun & Crawford sit partly ‘because it’s Miami’?

Cowboys Injury Update: Should Antwaun & Crawford sit partly ‘because it’s Miami’?

FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett swears he does his best to ignore point spreads. But I swear to you that the Week 3 21-point-favorite Cowboys will have some awareness of that as they consider whether to play defensive line starters Antwaun Woods and Tyrone Crawford is Sunday’s game against the hapless Dolphins.

“We’ve never talked about lines, good, bad or indifferent,” Garrett said. “The biggest thing we talk about is us, and what we need to do. The players, when they watch this tape, they’re going to see some good things we can build on, and they’re going to see plenty of stuff that we’ve got to better at. So we’ll lock into that, trying to improve each and every day.''

Sure. And a terrible trap awaits the wrong team at the wrong time if it takes the winless Dolphins too lightly. Miami isn't going to go 0-16. Maybe.

But the realities of Dallas' injury issues cannot be solved by the sort of bumper-sticker platitude long favored by RedBall -- unless, of course, you favor the one that goes, "Discretion is the better part of valor.''

Receiver Michael Gallup (knee) is out, though his Tuesday knee surgery went so smoothly that he's already back in meetings today. Safety Xavier Woods (ankle)? I reported earlier this week that the Cowboys don't agree with the national media prognosis of six weeks, and indeed Garrett said today before the Wednesday workout that Woods may participate at some (I assume low) level today.

 And then we get to the D-line, where Antwaun Woods' knee problem could, in theory, allow him to play, and where Tyrone Crawford's hip ailment could, in theory, allow him to play.

 Garrett on Wednesday morning provided an update on Crawford, saying he will not practice today. Antwun will at best work "in a limited fashion,'' the coach said. And there is the opening to ... well, making sure the hip gets healthy at an opportune time.

Meanwhile, Cowboys end Robert Quinn will practice today. He was suspended the first two games and is coming back from hand surgery, likely wearing a protective pad. Receiver Tavon Austin is recovering from a concussion and that condition is ongoing.

Dallas needs to focus on itself here, while also being respectful of the opponent. But no matter what the coach says, we all know there is a "but'' here.

“We have great respect for any team we play, any guy we go against, any coaches we go against, they’re here for a reason,'' Garrett said. "We have to be our best, prepare the right way and go play our best on Sunday.”

That goes for the healthy starters ... and maybe it goes for the backups of the not-so-healthy guys, too.