Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones done for season
November 21st, 2008 - 1:26am -
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Jones suffered a toe injury at the team’s training facility when he slipped while running Nov. 7, the week of the team’s bye. Cowboys officials already had a hunch that by Monday of this week his season was done, but Jones practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday for the first time since he suffered the hamstring injury Oct. 12. It was to determine whether Jones could be fully functioning despite having torn a ligament in his left big toe during rehab.
He obviously couldn’t.
Because Jones had a history of battling turf toe while at Arkansas, he thought he could play through this toe injury, too. But after being examined by foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson on Monday and visiting with team doctors Thursday, it was agreed the best move for Jones’ long-term future was for season-ending surgery, which is set for Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. Recovery for such a procedure is about six months, but Jones could be OK to begin "work" about 90 days after the surgery.
It’s similar to the surgery San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates underwent successfully.
"We have got to really protect his future. He is a young guy," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday afternoon. "I don’t mind telling you the last two days have been concerning because of what we thought he could bring to the table. Fortunately, we’ve got a lot of guys out there that can make plays."
The decision comes as some of the Cowboys’ key players were returning from injury, and Jones’ permanent departure serves as a major blow to an offense that looked forward to again having his speed and explosiveness.
Without Jones in the offense, Marion Barber’s workload went from big to bigger. Now it will likely remain that way. With Jones giving Barber a breather, Barber averaged 22.5 touches per game. Without Jones in the lineup, Barber has averaged 33.3 touches per game.
It appears that there is some reluctance to involve rookie fourth-round pick Tashard Choice in the same capacity as Jones. Choice has 13 carries this season for 72 yards. He had one carry for 6 yards against the Washington Redskins in the most recent game.
"We felt that Tashard Choice was going to have to play more plays than he has, and that’s the direction we’ll go," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.
The No. 22 pick out of Arkansas, Jones had exceeded all expectations from training camp as the perfect complement to Barber. On just 30 carries, Jones rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry.
The team will likely sign another running back, possibly Alonzo Coleman.
As a kick returner, Jones ranked second in the NFL with a 27.1 return average. His likely replacements as a returner are receiver Isaiah Stanback and rookie defensive back Orlando Scandrick.
Even though the Cowboys limited or monitored Jones’ carries, he gave them a big-play element from Week 1.
"It wasn’t potential, you saw it," Phillips said.
He became the first rookie to score a touchdown in his first three NFL games — his first carry was an 11-yard touchdown run against the Cleveland Browns.
The next week, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the home opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, Jones ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run.
He scored his final touchdown of the season on a 33-yard run on a fourth-and-4 play against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That was his best game of the season; he rushed for 96 yards on nine carries.
By MAC ENGEL
IRVING — In a sea of deliberate half-truths and misinformation, Felix Jones deserves credit for telling the truth. When asked how his hamstring was feeling Wednesday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie running back said it was "feelin’ better."
Jones suffered a toe injury at the team’s training facility when he slipped while running Nov. 7, the week of the team’s bye. Cowboys officials already had a hunch that by Monday of this week his season was done, but Jones practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday for the first time since he suffered the hamstring injury Oct. 12. It was to determine whether Jones could be fully functioning despite having torn a ligament in his left big toe during rehab.
He obviously couldn’t.
Because Jones had a history of battling turf toe while at Arkansas, he thought he could play through this toe injury, too. But after being examined by foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson on Monday and visiting with team doctors Thursday, it was agreed the best move for Jones’ long-term future was for season-ending surgery, which is set for Saturday in Charlotte, N.C. Recovery for such a procedure is about six months, but Jones could be OK to begin "work" about 90 days after the surgery.
It’s similar to the surgery San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates underwent successfully.
"We have got to really protect his future. He is a young guy," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Thursday afternoon. "I don’t mind telling you the last two days have been concerning because of what we thought he could bring to the table. Fortunately, we’ve got a lot of guys out there that can make plays."
The decision comes as some of the Cowboys’ key players were returning from injury, and Jones’ permanent departure serves as a major blow to an offense that looked forward to again having his speed and explosiveness.
Without Jones in the offense, Marion Barber’s workload went from big to bigger. Now it will likely remain that way. With Jones giving Barber a breather, Barber averaged 22.5 touches per game. Without Jones in the lineup, Barber has averaged 33.3 touches per game.
It appears that there is some reluctance to involve rookie fourth-round pick Tashard Choice in the same capacity as Jones. Choice has 13 carries this season for 72 yards. He had one carry for 6 yards against the Washington Redskins in the most recent game.
"We felt that Tashard Choice was going to have to play more plays than he has, and that’s the direction we’ll go," Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.
The No. 22 pick out of Arkansas, Jones had exceeded all expectations from training camp as the perfect complement to Barber. On just 30 carries, Jones rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry.
The team will likely sign another running back, possibly Alonzo Coleman.
As a kick returner, Jones ranked second in the NFL with a 27.1 return average. His likely replacements as a returner are receiver Isaiah Stanback and rookie defensive back Orlando Scandrick.
Even though the Cowboys limited or monitored Jones’ carries, he gave them a big-play element from Week 1.
"It wasn’t potential, you saw it," Phillips said.
He became the first rookie to score a touchdown in his first three NFL games — his first carry was an 11-yard touchdown run against the Cleveland Browns.
The next week, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the home opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, Jones ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run.
He scored his final touchdown of the season on a 33-yard run on a fourth-and-4 play against the Cincinnati Bengals.
That was his best game of the season; he rushed for 96 yards on nine carries.
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