IRVING, Texas (AP) -Dallas Cowboys guard Leonard Davis missed practice Thursday, a day after he sprained his left ankle when someone rolled on his leg during a workout.
Davis, who got a record $16 million signing bonus when he joined the Cowboys in the offseason, was on the field in shorts. He didn’t appear to be limping during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Coach Wade Phillips said Davis did rehabilitation work during the two-hour practice, and that the 6-foot-6, 354-pound guard could return to practice by Friday.
“He’s looking a little better, it’s looking a little better for him,” Phillips said after practice. “Certainly, we don’t know if he’ll be able to play or not. But he felt a lot better than he did (Wednesday). … I think he thinks, and we feel like, that he may have some limited practice (Friday).”
Phillips described the injury as a “slight high ankle sprain.”
The NFC-leading Cowboys (8-1) play Washington on Sunday, the first of their three home games in 12 days.
Davis wasn’t in the locker room Thursday when it was open to reporters.
Phillips said Davis got hurt during a team drill Wednesday. After staying down on the ground for a couple of minutes, Davis got up and walked off under his own power.
So far this season, the Cowboys have had the same starting five offensive lineman for every game: tackles Flozell Adams and Marc Colombo, guards Kyle Kosier and Davis, and center Andre Gurode.
The Cowboys got through all of last season without a change in the starting line. That group included three-time Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera, who was released in the offseason after his second back operation in two years.
By the time Rivera was released, the Cowboys had already signed Davis, who had spent six disappointing seasons in Arizona after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Texas. Davis signed a seven-year deal worth nearly $50 million that included $18.75 million in guaranteed money, the team-record signing bonus and a $2.75 million salary for 2007.
If Davis is unable to play Sunday against the Redskins, third-year player Cory Procter could make his first NFL start.
“He’s prepared himself every week,” Phillips said. “He’s ready to play.”
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