Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens will need a second round of surgery on the tip of his right index finger in about eight weeks.
Owens said doctors in Miami repaired the tendon last week, but more surgery is required to reattach the tendon to the joint. They also have yet to determine whether any damage is permanent.
In mid-December, owner/general manager Jerry Jones said Owens was risking permanent damage to the finger because he elected not to have the surgery during the regular season.
Jones credited Owens for playing in pain for the last few weeks of the season.
It appears doubtful Owens will return for the team's minicamp in May, but Owens said he expects to be ready for training camp in late July.
Assistant coach leaves: Offensive quality control coach David Lee has accepted the offensive coordinator position at Arkansas.
Bill Parcells, who was the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt when Lee was team captain in 1974, asked Lee to delay his decision but gave his blessing Wednesday morning.
"I feel like I went to graduate school for a Hall of Fame coach the last few years," said Lee, who was quarterbacks coach at Arkansas before coming to Dallas in 2003.
"I have a wonderful relationship with [Arkansas head coach] Houston Nutt, and I think some of the things I learned in this league are going to work in the SEC."
Tony Romo gave Lee credit for his development as a quarterback. As a sign of his appreciation, Romo will take Lee and his wife, Lynne, to the Pro Bowl.
Briefly: Parcells still hasn't made a decision on his future. Jones has said he wants Parcells to return and isn't pressing the issue. ... Cowboys officials are preparing to attend next week's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Matt Mosley of DallasNews .com contributed to this report.
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
