Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett pleased with Jermey Parnell's work

IRVING, Texas -- A spot player in the first six games of the season as a backup, Jermey Parnell played all 62 offensive snaps in the Dallas Cowboys' win against the New York Giants at right tackle.

Coach Jason Garreett said Parnell looked the same in more action than he did in a limited role as an extra blocker before, which is a good thing.

"Certainly some things that you really like to this: his physicalness in the run game but also as a pass protector was there," Garrett said. "Technically it's always a work in progress with a player who hasn't played that much and that's something we can hone in on when he gets a chance to see the tape to continue to try to improve. But the game never seemed too big for him. It looked like he communicated well with Zack [Martin] and with [Jason Witten] in the blocking schemes and handled that part of it well.

"He's played the way he's played in games before, which is good. What's exciting is he can improve immensely and I think he'll improve with experience and coaching. He has an attitude that he wants to get better. I think it's a nice opportunity for him to continue to grow as a player."

Parnell will make his second start Monday against the Washington Redskins with Doug Free recovering from a small fracture in his right foot. Free was spotted on the sidelines of the Giants' game without a walking boot or crutches but the Cowboys expect him to miss two or three more games.

Parnell has been dealing with a rib injury that has limited his practice work the past two weeks. He also had to deal with something during the game.

"I know this: from the preseason to playing a regular season game is way faster," Parnell said. "That's the main big difference about it."

He needed some time to get acclimated to that speed.

"But as the game got going, I started to get a handle on it," Parnell said.

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