OXNARD, Calif. – Drew Henson will get the chance to lay claim to being
Drew Bledsoe's backup when he works with the first team on Monday night
at Seattle.
After using Tony Romo as the No. 2 quarterback last week at Arizona,
coach Bill Parcells has decided to use Henson as the No. 2 against the
Seahawks. Ultimately Parcells would like to have his backup – Romo or
Henson – in place before the third preseason game, Aug. 27 against
Houston at Texas Stadium.
"I felt like I had a good week of practice this week," said Henson, who
completed six of 13 passes for 64 yards against the Cardinals. "As you
go through this you feel more comfortable after each game. What you try
and do is focus on the little things that help you get things done."
Parcells is not sure how much he will play Bledsoe, but he said Henson
will work with the first-team offensive line.
"We'll see what he does," Parcells said.
Ferguson to sit, again: When the Cowboys play Monday at Seattle,
defensive tackle Jason Ferguson will be in Dallas, missing his second
straight preseason game because of an ankle injury.
Bill Parcells said Ferguson tweaked the injury in practice and he is
concerned about the veteran's conditioning.
"He needs the work," Parcells said. "His baseline of practices is not
that good, and we're running out of practice time. I know exactly after
today how many hard practices we have left before San Diego, and it's
not that many. So you don't have an opportunity to get your players
ready.
"It's not like you're going to have another 26 or 28 practices before
the first game."
With Ferguson, rookie Marcus Spears and Leonardo Carson out or slowed by
injuries, Parcells has not been able to finalize the percentage of 3-4
and 4-3 defenses he will play this season.
"The plus side of that is that [Chris] Canty and Thomas Johnson and Jay
Ratliff and some of these young kids, Kenyon Coleman, are getting a lot
more work, which is really helpful to me because I probably wouldn't
normally have known much about them," Parcells said. "I'm glad that's
happened and I think they'll all get the same amount [Monday] night, and
that's a good thing."
Walter gets start: Right guard Marco Rivera will not play Monday
against the Seahawks because of a hamstring twinge, which will give
Tyson Walter the start.
Bill Parcells said Ben Noll will see a lot of action. Al Johnson will
start at center ahead of Andre Gurode, who opened up against the
Cardinals.
Rookie Rob Petitti and Torrin Tucker will each play a half at right
tackle. Parcells will keep Kurt Vollers at left tackle behind Flozell
Adams against Seattle.
Briefly: Defensive end Marcus Spears could return to practice
some when the team returns to Dallas. Spears, right guard Marco Rivera,
tight end Sean Ryan and fullbacks Darian Barnes and Erik Bickerstaff
will not play Monday. They will return to Dallas today.
Rookie safety Justin Beriault will play against the Seahawks despite a
sore knee that limited his work in practice. ... Bill Parcells said he
would like to get running backs Anthony Thomas and Marion Barber III a
lot of work Monday. Thomas had one carry last week against Arizona.
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