IRVING – While most attention has been focused on receiver Terrell Owens missing practice, kicker Mike Vanderjagt has also been limited.
There are only two preseason games left, and coach Bill Parcells doesn't know for sure whether he needs to use a roster spot on a kickoff specialist.
"Yeah, it's bothering me, because I haven't seen him kick in camp," Parcells said.
Vanderjagt didn't kick in practice last week to protect his strained groin, and he apparently aggravated the injury during pregame warm-ups Monday night and didn't kick.
"He didn't aggravate anything," Parcells said. "He said he's better than he was. He just pulled himself out of the game.
"I don't know. I guess he maybe felt like he would do something if he kicked it."
QB situation: There's a chance Tony Romo could start against San Francisco on Saturday because Parcells wants to see him face the 49ers' starters.
"If I did that, it wouldn't be because I'm trying to make him the starter," Parcells said. "It would be because I want to see him against their better players."
Parcells has said he wants Romo to play at least eight quarters this preseason so he can give owner Jerry Jones a good assessment about Romo's long-term future in Dallas.
Free safety: Although fifth-round pick Pat Watkins started Monday against New Orleans, Parcells said he isn't sure how much playing time the safety will get during the regular season.
Watkins is competing with Keith Davis, who started 16 games last season.
"I'm trying to give the guys I think have a chance to play some time," Parcells said. "I played him the first half, and then I played him on the nickel some the second half."
Briefly: Dallas traded reserve linebacker Scott Shanle to New Orleans for a seventh-round pick next year. ... Parcells said he hasn't figured out his jumbled situation at right tackle, though Marc Colombo still appears to hold an edge over Jason Fabini and Rob Petitti for the starting job. Colombo and Fabini will probably each play a half Saturday, but Parcells said he wasn't sure of the order. ... The Cowboys waived guard Stephen Peterman, a third-round pick in 2004, cornerback Quincy Butler, tight end Erik Jensen and linebacker John Saldi. ... Receiver Patrick Crayton, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the first preseason game, had a walking boot removed from his foot. Parcells said he hopes to play him in at least one preseason game.
E-mail jjtaylor@dallasnews.com
Ball control
The Cowboys ranked third in the NFL in 10-play drives last season. Here's how the top three stacked up (SP: scored points by TD or FG):
| Team | 10-play drives | SP | TD | Pts | | Indy | 35 | 26 | 15 | 138 | | Green Bay | 33 | 19 | 10 | 98 | | Dallas | 32 | 24 | 12 | 119 | |
