Something about as rare as a Rangers’ victory this season: Positive news for your Cowboys’ defense.
Anthony Spencer won’t be ready for Week 1 against the 49ers, but he’s progressed to the point where he will soon be removed from the Physically Unable to Perform list and will be on the field early in the regular season. Had Spencer – coming off knee surgery last October – stayed on the PUP list, he would’ve missed at least the first six games.
This is uplifting news for a beleaguered defense reeling from the losses of Sean Lee, Orlando Scandrick, DeMarcus Lawrence and DeVonte Holloman. Spencer, who made the Pro Bowl with 11 sacks in 2012, is the team’s best pass-rusher and given the losses of DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher and a the latest injury to George Selvie (shoulder), the Cowboys will be desperate for quarterback pressure.
Speaking on his weekly radio show on CBS in Dallas, owner Jerry Jones said he’s hopeful Spencer can play in Week 2 against the Titans.
“I can assure you, at this time, as close as we are to Week 1, he won't be ready,” Jones said. “But he will be on our active 53-man roster. And we wouldn't be doing that if we weren't planning on him being on the field immediately. He's progressed at a surprisingly fast pace. I would say not Week 1, but there's a possibility that any time after that he could feel good enough about his repairs. We feel like that has completely grown in the way that that injury heals. It's a question of him feeling good about his cuts. He's in great shape. We certainly know that he could give us a lift earlier than we had planned.”
The Cowboys’ defense won’t be good. But with this news it got a tad better.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
