IRVING, Texas -- Terrell Owens will miss two to four
weeks after breaking a finger Sunday night in the Dallas Cowboys'
27-10 victory over Washington.
The controversial wide receiver broke his right ring finger and
will need surgery; he said it'd be Monday, but the team said it
also could be Tuesday. The Cowboys have a bye next week.
Owens said he was hurt on the first or second play of the game,
but didn't tell anybody until the fourth quarter. He said it was a
"fluke thing" and occurred when he was blocking.
"I think my hand got caught on a guy's jersey or something. I
kind of felt something weird with it," Owens said. "I just kind
of felt like I jammed it. I kept playing."
Owens, who missed much of training camp and the preseason
because of a hamstring injury after signing a three-year, $25
million deal that includes a $5 million bonus and a $5 million
salary in 2006, struggled against the Redskins. Owens flubbed a
pass in the end zone on the opening drive -- the first of three
drops. By game's end, he was getting his hand X-rayed, his stats
sealed at three catches for 19 yards.
While Owens wasn't sure when he got hurt, he drew a personal
foul penalty on the Cowboys' first offensive snap of the game for
an illegal block.
On the dropped touchdown, Owens said he was trying to gather in
the ball when cornerback Mike Rumph knocked the ball away.
"I didn't really have my full strength in my hand, so I think
that probably may have contributed with him punching it out,"
Owens said.
The X-rays revealed the break. His right hand was partially
wrapped after the game.
"I feel like I'm a quick healer," Owens said. "Once we have
the surgery, the healing process will start. ... I'm going to try
to get back as soon as I can."
The Cowboys resume their schedule Oct. 1 at Tennessee before heading to Philadelphia on Oct. 8 for Owens' much anticipated first game against his scorned former team, the Eagles.
After Owens felt a twinge in his hamstring the first week of
training camp, he missed more than 20 workouts and the first three
preseason games. Two MRIs were clear, but Owens still flew in
several doctors and trainers to California, plus a hyperbaric
chamber, because he still didn't feel right.
Last week, in a loss at Jacksonville, Owens played much better
with six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.