Home > News > Terry Glenn placed on IR, DT Chad Eaton cut to make room for rookie WR.

October 30, 2004

Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Oct. 30, 2004, 1:17 p.m. (CDT)

IRVING, Texas - While Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn spent the week in a cast after tearing ligaments in his left foot, the club was hoping for a speedy recovery in the next two weeks.

Instead, the Cowboys aren't holding their breath and decided to place the team's leading receiver on injured reserve Saturday, losing yet another key player for the remainder of the season.

Putting Glenn on IR was actually one of four roster moves the Cowboys made Saturday. The team also waived defensive tackle Chad Eaton, and signed two rookie receivers from the practice squad, both Patrick Crayton and Terrance Copper.

Glenn, who had 400 receiving yards in the first six games, suffered the injury in the first quarter last Sunday in Green Bay. The Cowboys placed the receiver in a cast for what appeared to be two weeks. A further evaluation was expected next week, however the initial diagnosis all along appeared to have Glenn missing at least two months.

Glenn is the third starter to be placed on injured reserve this year, joining tight end Dan Campbell (torn ligaments in his foot) and cornerback Pete Hunter (torn ACL). The Cowboys also have rookies Stephen Peterman (torn ACL) and Bruce Thornton (torn ACL) on IR.

But none of the players will be missed more than Glenn, who has turned into the team's big-play threat.

"I'm really in denial right now," Glenn said Monday after his injury in Green Bay. "I just can't believe it. We are struggling right now and we need all the help we can get. To go down when our team is wounded is like a double whammy. I feel like I'm a player that can help this team win. I felt I was onto something. But right now, I'm looking at my team's perspective. They are missing a weapon out there. We are wounded right now. We need everything we can get. To have this happen, sets us back a little bit."

Without Glenn, the Cowboys will miss his speed, certainly his best attribute, along with his play-making ability. Glenn had two touchdown catches this season, both on diving grabs in the back of the end zone.

"Obviously Terry Glenn's injury - we're going to miss him," Testaverde said. "But at the same time, we have to move on. The next guy is going to step up and whoever that is going to be, we'll go with. That's how we operate here. Dan Campbell went down a few weeks ago, our tight end. The next guy stepped in and we've still been able to do a good job of moving the football."

And this week, the Cowboys will also be without Quincy Morgan, who is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Lions with a stained hamstring.

So that leaves just Keyshawn Johnson (27 catches, 368 yards, 2 touchdowns), Dedric Ward and Randal Williams, and now the two rookies Crayton and Copper on the active roster.

Of the five, only Johnson and Ward have caught a pass in a regular-season game. The Cowboys will certainly count on Williams, who has not been active this year, after suffering a fractured shoulder blade in the preseason finale.

While Crayton originally made the 53-man roster out of training camp and spent the first three weeks on the team, but inactive for each game, it appears Copper might get the edge this week. The rookie free agent from East Carolina has more size and speed, and could help them not only as a kick returner, but also on special teams coverage units.

In the preseason, Copper retuned one kickoff for 19 yards, but did not have a reception during the four exhibition games. As for Crayton, the seventh-round pick from Northwestern Oklahoma State caught only pass for 26 yards, and returned five punts for 54 yards and two kickoffs for 55 yards.

Eaton Released

To make room for both rookie receivers, the Cowboys needed another roster spot and defensive tackle Chad Eaton was the odd man out.

The eight-year veteran played in all six games and started the opener when Leo Carson was out on suspension. Eaton had 10 tackles, including seven solos, with one quarterback pressure.

But the Cowboys are now down to just three defensive tackles - Carson and La'Roi Glover, and Chris Cooper, who will certainly get his most extensive playing time since joining the Cowboys at the start of the season. Cooper has played in just one game this year, but did not record a tackle against the Giants (Oct. 10).

Because Eaton is a vested veteran (five years of NFL experience) and was on the active roster in Week One, he will receive his full salary of $660,000 this year. However, the Cowboys entered the season with more than $5 million still under the cap, so Eaton's salary won't be much of a factor.