Prediction: Xavier Woods ready to return to Cowboys starting lineup at New Orleans

Prediction: Xavier Woods ready to return to Cowboys starting lineup at New Orleans

FRISCO - "Six weeks missed'' for Xavier Woods? Looks like it's going to be closer to "six days missed'' for the Dallas Cowboys' starting safety ... who I bet will be starting again by Sunday night in New Orleans.

"I feel good,'' Woods said on Thursday. "I feel real good. Barring any setbacks, I'll be good to go."

Woods, who Dallas views as a budding standout, missed one game due to what was labeled a high ankle sprain. That injury was sustained on the last series of a Week 2 win at Washington, and it caused some in the national media to speculate that Woods might miss six games.

But by the end of last week, he was active on the sidelines as teammates prepared for what would be a win against Miami. And this week, sources tell me, he's ramped up from Wednesday (when he was listed as "limited'' while working with the second team) to Thursday (again "limited'' but in truth very active) to today ... when I believe Dallas will re-install him as a first-teamer, bumping him back ahead of Darian Thompson, who fared well in the Miami win.

I also think both Amari Cooper and Zack Martin will start for Dallas in Week 4, though the Cowboys are being cautious with both Cooper's ankle and foot and Martin's back. Pro Bowl receiver Cooper, I'm told was very limited in Thursday's workout, mostly participating only at a jog-through level. And the All-Pro guard Martin didn't practice at all. ... though I'm told this is more about "stiffness'' than anything more serious for Martin, who is dealing with disk irritation.

On Thursday, Tavon Austin got some of the work in Cooper's spot, and Xavier Su'a-Filo was in for Martin.

Starting D-linemen Tyrone Crawford (hips) and Antwaun Woods (knee) both remained sidelined on Thursday and at this point should not be expected to play on Sunday. But Dallas is hopeful that Cooper and Martin can play ... and hopeful that Xavier Woods can contribute as a starter to a defense that is a couple of takeaways from being statistically stellar.