Anthony Spencer's Status Still Uncertain

Spencer has missed the team's past two games with a pectoral strain

Cowboys outside linebacker Anthony Spencer has been a game-time decision for each of the team’s last two games, dating back to the loss to the Bears prior to the bye week, as he deals with a strained pectoral. As Dallas prepares for a week seven match-up with the Panthers in Carolina, it’s the same old story where Spencer is concerned.

"We're trying to move forward with him and he has made progress," head coach Jason Garrett said this week, per ESPN Dallas. "Just get to a point at some point, is he capable of going or not? So he did more yesterday (Wednesday) and we're hopeful that as we go forward he can do more and play in this ball game. He's a big part of our defense."

Indeed, he is. Through three games prior to the injury, Spencer had two sacks and two tackles for a loss--which, even after sitting out that past two games, has Spencer in a tie for the team lead in stuffs.

But Garrett and the Cowboys don’t want to rush Spencer back at the risk of him aggravating the injury.

"It's not a question of responding," Garrett said. "It's about the level he needs to be at (to play) and you probably do a lot of different things to gauge that level whether it's working in the weight room or work with the rehab guys and again it's been promising. We've been optimistic at different points and you got to get to the point now, we can play in a NFL game. He just hadn't gotten there yet."

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