The Dallas Cowboys will be without 24-year old, starting RB Felix Jones for the next 2-4 weeks due to injury (ankle sprain).  Jones has played in all five games for the Cowboys so far this year and he has carried the ball 64 times for 255 yards (4.0 ypc) and he has 1 TD run.  Jones has also caught 14 passes for 105 yards (7.5 avg) so far this year for the Cowboys.  23-year old rookie DeMarco Murray and 26-year old Tashard Choice will have to hold the fort at RB until Jones is ready to return to action.  Murray has played in all five games for the Cowboys so far this year and he has carried the ball 24 times for 71 yards (3.0 ypc).  He has also caught 4 passes for 23 yards (5.8 avg) so far this year.  He is likely to get the shot for most of the carries this weekend against the Rams.  Tashard Choice has played in all five games for the Cowboys so far this year and he has carried the ball 26 times for 67 yards (2.6 ypc).  He has also caught 11 passes for 71 yards (6.5 avg) so far this year for the Cowboys.  The Cowboys are a pass first team, so they should be able to cover for the loss of Jones until he’s ready to return to action.

The Cowboys have lost 23-year old rookie, starting left guard Bill Nagy for the rest of the 2011 season due to a broken right ankle.  Nagy played in 4 games (all starts) for the Cowboys in his rookie season.  22-year old undrafted rookie Kevin Kowalski out of Toledo is Nagy’s likely replacement unless the Cowboys sign or deal for another guard before this weekend’s game at home against the Rams.

The Cowboys have released CB/PR/KR Bryan McCann.  McCann played in both of the Cowboys’ games this year and he didn’t have any tackles while defending 1 pass.  He also returned 2 punts for 13 yards and 1 kickoff for 26 yards for the Cowboys this season.  McCann played in 11 games in two years with the Cowboys and he had 15 tackles, 1 interception (he returned it 101 yards for a TD), defensed 1 pass and he had 1 tackle for a loss.  McCann also returned 10 punts for 178 yards (17.8 avg) with 1 TD return and he returned 24 kickoffs for 533 yards (22.2 avg) for the Cowboys.  McCann probably won’t be out of work too long.  The Cowboys needed McCann’s roster spot in order to re-sign WR Laurent Robinson.

The Cowboys will likely be without starting WR Miles Austin until week #6, due to a serious hamstring injury.  Austin has played in both games for the Cowboys so far this year and he has caught 14 passes for 233 yards (16.6 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  The Cowboys are likely going to look to TE Jason Witten and WR Dez Bryant a lot more until Austin is ready to return to action.  The Cowboys will also need 27-year old WR Jesse Holley and 24-year old WR Kevin Ogletree to step up while  Austin is out of action.  Holley (3 rec, 96 yards, 32.0 avg) and Kevin Ogletree (4 rec, 62 yards, 15.5 avg) have played well so far this year and the Cowboys hope they keep up the good work.

The Cowboys have signed 30-year old CB Frank Walker.  Walker played in 11 games for the Vikings last year and he had 22 tackles, 6 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.  He has now played in 93 games in his first 8 years in the NFL and he has 156 tackles, 31 passes defensed, 8 interceptions (1 returned for a TD), 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 tackle for a loss.  The Cowboys will probably have to get Walker right onto the field as they have had a lot of injuries at cornerback.

The Cowboys have lost 24-year old cornerback Orlando Scandrick for the next 3-4 weeks due to a high ankle sprain.  He played against the Jets last night and he had 1 tackle.  Scandrick has now played in 49 games in his first four years with the Cowboys and he has 134 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions (1 returned for a TD), 22 passes defensed and 6 tackles for a loss.  The Cowboys are now paper thin at corner, so they need Scandrick to heal up quickly.

The Cowboys have released 31-year old OG Montrae Holland.  Holland played in 14 games (2 starts) for the Cowboys last year.  He has now played in 89 games (50 starts) in his first 8 years in the NFL.  The Cowboys shouldn’t miss Holland too much as they have reloaded along the offensive line for 2011.

The Cowboys have claimed 24-year old FB Tony Fiammetta off waivers from the Panthers.  He played in 14 games (9 starts) for the Panthers last year and he carried the ball 7 times for 22 yards (3.1 ypc).  He also caught 5 passes for 34 yards (6.8 avg) last year.  Fiammetta didn’t touch the ball as a rookie in 2009 for the Panthers, despite playing in 10 games (2 starts).  This was a good move for the Cowboys as Fiammetta is a pretty good blocker.

UPDATE:  (9/7/2011) – The Cowboys have released Fiammetta.

UPDATE:  (9/13/2011) – The Cowboys have re-signed Tony Fiammetta.

The Cowboys have released 29-year old DE Igor Olshansky.  Olshansky played in all 16 games for the Cowboys last year and he had 38 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 passes defensed.  He played in 32 games in his two years with the Cowboys and he had 78 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss and 2 passes defensed.  Olshansky didn’t show enough to new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and that’s why he’s looking for a job now.

The Cowboys have released 24-year old fullback Chris Gronkowski.  Gronkowski played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Cowboys as a rookie last year and he carried the ball 5 times for 17 yards (3.4 ypc).  He also caught 7 passes for 35 yards (5.0 avg) with a TD grab and he also returned 2 kickoffs for 23 yards (11.5 avg).  The Cowboys just didn’t think Gronkowski showed enough in the preseason and training camp to keep his roster spot for 2011.