T.O. a Cowboy in name, but not in practice Thursday
Back to the Bike, T.O. Misses Thursday's Practice
IRVING, Texas -- Terrell Owens missed practice again Thursday, virtually assuring he will miss his third straight preseason game for the Dallas Cowboys this weekend -- and may not play until the regular-season opener.
Whatever Terrell Owens did for training didn't prevent him from pulling a hamstring. Owens' comment that he was on the field too long running too many routes last week was a clear shot at coach Bill Parcells. What's that leave for Parcells? He can hold back playing time and a starting job if he doesn't see Owens on the field. Ah, the drama.
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Owens missed 15 of 27 training camp workouts in Oxnard, Calif., and the first two preseason games before the Cowboys resumed practice at home Wednesday.
Owens said Wednesday that he aggravated his left hamstring injury by returning to practice too soon last week. The receiver characterized his injury as a "severe pull" and said he wasn't going to jeopardize his health by rushing back again.
The Cowboys play San Francisco, Owens' original team, on Saturday night. Five days later, they play their last preseason game.
It's possible that Owens might not play in a game until the Sept. 10 season opener at Jacksonville. He hasn't played in a game with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, and the Dallas offense is different from the West Coast scheme Owens played in for the 49ers and Philadelphia.
Owens didn't talk to reporters Thursday, but Bledsoe said the key is for the receiver to get healthy.
"We can't have the guy force himself back on the field too soon and then lose him for the year. The important thing is for him to get healthy and get back out there so he can help us when the games count," Bledsoe said. "He's been in all the meetings, he knows what's going on. When he came back in practice last week, he stepped right in and didn't make mistakes, did a nice job."
Owens said Wednesday that he's not concerned about the possibility of not playing in the preseason.
"I don't really have any doubts about if I'm going to perform or not," he said.
After missing 14 consecutive training camp practices and the preseason opener in Seattle because of the hamstring problem that has bothered him all month, Owens returned for five practices last week. He then missed the final full workout in California.
Owens first felt a twinge in his hamstring Aug. 2, but an MRI taken three days later was clear. Owens said another MRI taken this week was also negative, with only a little fluid in the hamstring.
"Just because the MRI doesn't show anything, that doesn't mean that I'm not hurting," Owens said.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
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