OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys suffered their first injury of training camp when defensive end Marcus Spears twisted his right knee near the end of Saturday morning's practice.
An MRI revealed Spears has torn meniscus, and he will undergo surgery today. Spears injured the knee during a defensive line drill.
Spears, a 2005 first-round pick, will miss two or three weeks.
It's the second consecutive year that Spears has missed time in training camp with an injury.
He sprained his right knee and ankle and strained a calf during a drill last year. Spears missed the first three preseason games.
"That's right. Two camps in a row. Not that good-a-news," coach Bill Parcells said. "The problem with [the surgery] is that he misses all of the work, and he needs it badly."
Spears' absence could open the door for Greg Ellis to move full time to defensive end. He has been playing outside linebacker on certain downs.
Parcells said rookie defensive end Jason Hatcher could replace Spears, but the coach is leaning toward Kenyon Coleman or Jay Ratliff.
Coleman practiced with the first-team defense after Spears went out.
"It's tough," Spears said. "I was looking at the situation and hoping it would not be too serious, and it's not going to be that long. I just hate missing that much time."
Spears said he hurt his knee while planting his leg on a pass rush.
Adams jogs lightly: Left tackle Flozell Adams did some light jogging and resistance work with strength and conditioning coach Joe Juraszek. Adams is on the physically unable to perform list after failing his physical. Last season, Adams played only six games because of knee surgery. Adams appeared to be dragging his leg while jogging Saturday.
Parcells said Adams didn't fail his physical because of the knee. It's more about conditioning, the coach said.
Parcells said he's not sure how long Adams, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, will be out.
"I hope it's not forever," Parcells said.
Adams is a key component to an offensive line with several question marks.
"Flozell is a very, very important piece to the puzzle that we're trying to put together here," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "With a left tackle like him, it allows us to better utilize all those weapons that we have."
Davis works out: Safety Keith Davis practiced for the first time since getting shot in the thigh July 16. He moved well laterally and showed some speed during the morning practice and intercepted a Bledsoe pass in the evening.
"A little rust, but that's to be expected given that it's the first day," Davis said. "The bullet will come out in the next couple of weeks, and we'll see how it feels. It didn't bother me in any of the drills or anything."
No problems for Bledsoe: A major story line of the season is Bledsoe's relationship with receiver Terrell Owens. But Owens isn't the only Cowboys player who has criticized a quarterback in the past. Kicker Mike Vanderjagt ripped Colts quarterback Peyton Manning several years ago.
Bledsoe was asked about his relationship with Vanderjagt.
"I got my eye on him," Bledsoe said with a slight smile. "We played some golf and hung out a little bit. I don't think I'll have any problem there."
Briefly: Actress Sanaa Lathan, a friend of Terrell Owens' publicist Kim Etheredge, attended practice. ... The Cowboys will conduct one afternoon practice today.
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
| INJURY REPORT |
| Pos., Player | Injury | Comment |
| LT Flozell Adams | right knee | On physically unable to perform list; ran on side. |
| DE Marcus Spears | right knee | Has a cartilage tear and will have surgery today. |
