The Dallas Cowboys’ starting nose tackle, Jay Ratliff, has yet to play this season. Their starting center, Phil Costa, gave the team three snaps in the season opener against New York before re-injuring his injured back, and he has been sidelined ever since. In both cases, Jason Garrett reportedly said this week, there is no timetable for a return.
"They're both making progress," Garrett said, per ESPN Dallas. "We're hopeful every week that they continue to make progress and we can get them out on the field practicing. They've done some work on the side at various times, and we want them to return as quickly as we can get it."
Obviously, the Cowboys are hopeful that each Costa and Ratliff will return soon, but the staff has been pleased with the work of their replacements--in Costa’s case, Ryan Cook, and in Ratliff’s case, Josh Brent and Sean Lissemore.
"Josh has done a good job," Garrett said. "It's always a good test to see how a player who has been in a backup role functions as a starter. He's strong in there, he's instinctive in there and does a good job defending the run and get off blocks. And the more he plays, the better he's going to get. He's really gotten his body in shape. ... We want those big guys to stay big, but the more they play, they have to have endurance, too. And I think he's done a good job with that."
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