GLENDALE, Ariz. – The loss of Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis was summed up in two words by Kevin Burnett: "He's everything."
Ellis, the veteran outside linebacker, is probably out for the season after he suffered a left Achilles' tendon injury with 2:26 to play in the third quarter of Sunday's victory over Arizona.
Ellis will get the official word today from team doctors when he's examined, but on-the-field team trainers told him his Achilles was torn.
"It felt like somebody kicked me," said Ellis, who needed crutches to leave the field after the game. "But obviously it wasn't a kick. It was torn. They just knew it right away. It was a tingling feeling. I tried to get up, and I couldn't get up."
Ellis said he wasn't sure how he the injury occurred during a play when Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart threw an incomplete pass to Anquan Boldin in the middle of the field.
"He was in a lot of pain," nose guard Jason Ferguson said of the nine-year veteran. "He couldn't get up, and that's not like G. I knew something was wrong when he couldn't get up."
Ellis motioned to the sidelines for help from behind the line of scrimmage. When the trainers arrived, Ellis tried to get up but couldn't, and he needed help to the sideline.
Once there, Ellis needed two trainers to help him onto the cart which took him to the locker room.
It has been an eventful season for Ellis.
At the start of training camp, he asked to be traded because he didn't like the team's decision to move him from defensive end to linebacker.
But Ellis eventually agreed to the move, and he earned praise for his performance at the new position as well as his professionalism in making the change.
Ellis, who has played in 64 consecutive games, contributed 4 ½ sacks, one interception, four quarterback hurries, three passes defended, a team-leading three fumbles forced and 34 tackles as a linebacker this season.
He last missed a game in 2002 because of a concussion.
The injury provides an opening for rookie Bobby Carpenter, Al Singleton or Burnett to possibly step into the position.
Carpenter, who said he's been practicing at the inside and outside linebacker spots, replaced Ellis after the injury.
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RICK GERSHON / DMN The Cowboys' medical staff tend to Greg Ellis while his teammates pray behind him. |
It's time for Carpenter, the Cowboys' top pick in this year's draft, to show he belongs in the starting lineup.
"I think so, yes sir," owner/general manger Jerry Jones said. "It's a great opportunity for Bobby Carpenter, and he senses that."
Carpenter said during his periods of inactivity, he's leaned on Ellis for help on special teams and how to get better on defense.
"He's the leader on this team," Carpenter said. "He's somebody everybody can turn to. He's a guy with moral integrity. He's always out there helping people regardless of where you are on the roster."
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
