Rob Ryan: I'm Sure Ratliff Is Frustrated

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff underwent season-ending groin surgery on Thursday

We learned Thursday that four-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff would miss the rest of the season, as he underwent a surgical procedure to correct the sports hernia that kept him out of the last three games. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said that the veteran, who had already missed seven games in 2012, was plenty frustrated with his inability to get on the field.

"I’m sure he’s been extremely frustrated," Ryan said, per ESPN Dallas. "I know he’s done everything he can to try to help us. I know he hasn’t had a career of injuries – he’s always played. It’s got to be frustrating for him like a lot of his teammates, you know Sean Lee and (Barry) Church and those guys and Kenyon Coleman."

It’s been a rough year for Ryan, too. He’s lost a starting safety in Barry Church, two starting inside linebackers in Sean Lee and Bruce Carter, his slot cornerback in Orlando Scandrick, and two nose tackles in Josh Brent and Ratliff. Sean Lissemore will start at nose tackle on Sunday.

"It’s got to be tough. I think players are happiest when they’re playing. We’re going to miss Jay, but that can’t be the reason why they’re not successful,” Ryan said. “We have to keep fighting and keep playing. We’ve got good players in those spots. Sean played pretty well considering he only had four snaps as a nose tackle up until then. He did a good job, and Rob Callaway did a nice job staying square when he wasn’t jumping offside. We’re going to be fine. It’s a tough game. They’ve got an All-Pro game. But at this time of the year, it’s who’s going to play better and who wants it more."

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