IRVING – The Cowboys' coaching staff is giving rookie safety Pat Watkins every opportunity to earn a starting job.
Circumstances beyond his control are taking care of the rest.
Last Monday, Watkins started because the Cowboys wanted to see if he could handle the challenge. He started the Cowboys' 17-7 win over San Francisco on Saturday because free safety Keith Davis had surgery Friday to remove the bullet that's been lodged in his thigh since a July 16 shooting.
Davis, who watched the game in shorts and a T-shirt on the sideline, did not play. But he's expected to be ready for the season opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 10.
Although the surgery is not expected to sideline Davis long, it chips away at the Cowboys' depth at safety. Veteran Marcus Coleman, who was supposed to play a key role this season, is expected to miss the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Coleman played in the second half against San Francisco.
Davis, 27, started 15 games last season and was one of the Cowboys' best special-teams players.
He was driving home from a party about 5 a.m. on July 16 when bullets pierced his customized 1995 Chevrolet Impala. The bullets grazed his head, and one lodged in his leg. He was hospitalized for a few days but did not miss a practice in training camp and practiced through Thursday.
Watkins has intrigued the coaching staff with his 6-5, 211-pound frame and instincts. He's a ball hawk – Watkins had 23 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions at Florida State – and he made plays in training camp.
The Cowboys want their free safety to excel in pass coverage, in part, because strong safety Roy Williams operates better closer to the line of scrimmage.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
