The enigmatic Dallas Cowboys will try to sweep the season series with the Redskins and win their third consecutive game when they travel to Washington to face off against the rival Redskins at Fed-Ex Field Sunday afternoon. At 5-4, the Cowboys are one game behind the New York Giants in the NFC East, and one game back in the Wild Card on both the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.
The Cowboys' recent success has largely revolved around a resurgent ground game orchestrated by rookie DeMarco Murray. The former Oklahoma Sooners star set a franchise record by rushing for 610 yards over the past four games, the most ever by a Cowboys RB over a consecutive four-game stretch.
The Cowboys might need another big day from Murray against Washington, as Miles Austin has missed practice this week with a hamstring injury sustained during the Cowboys' 44-7 throttling of Buffalo last Sunday. Austin, who has 28 catches for 403 yards and 4 TDs in 6 games this season, rehabbed his hamstring on Wednesday and sat out practice altogether on Thursday. He is listed as questionable for Week 11, but it's more likely that he will not play than it is that he will give it a go. Hamstring injuries always take longer to heal than expected, and the emergence of Laurent Robinson as a viable target for Tony Romo probably will prompt the Cowboys to take the cautious approach with the sixth-year WR.
In other Thursday practice news, right guard Kyle Kosier returned to practice on a limited basis after sitting out Wedensday's activities with a non-serious foot injury. Kosier, a 10-year veteran, has started all nine games for Dallas at RG this season.
Missing practice Thursday were the following players: FB Tony Fiametta (illness), CB Mike Jenkins (hamstring), QB Jon Kitna (back).
Practicing, but limited, Thursday were: Felix Jones (ankle), G Kyle Kosier (foot).
And finally, LB Sean Lee (wrist) and P Matt McBriar (left foot) returned to practiced at full strength Thursday.
For more Cowboys coverage leading up to Washington's Week 11 matchup with the rivals, visit Blogging The Boys.