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IRVING, Texas - Dan Campbell is the tight end whose versatility keeps defenses guessing. Pete Hunter is the cornerback who beat out three rookies to become the starter opposite Terence Newman.
Those were their job descriptions for the Cowboys - until Wednesday, when both were declared out for the season because of injuries.
Campbell severely sprained his right foot and Hunter tore a ligament in his left knee, both during a victory over the Redskins on Monday night. They are scheduled for surgery Tuesday.
The Cowboys plan to put them on injured reserve once they're ready to sign their replacements, likely in time for practice today.
The only solace in the timing of the injuries was that it came during a bye week. Dallas next plays a week from Sunday, at home against the Giants.
"When you've got seven practices instead of three, that's a substantial difference," coach Bill Parcells said.
BILLS: Rookie quarterback J.P. Losman threw his first practice passes since breaking his left leg last month, and anticipates being cleared for contact within three weeks.
BROWNS: Offensive tackle Ryan Tucker and defensive lineman Gerard Warren will miss Sunday's game against Washington with injuries. Tucker is out for the second straight week with a strained quadriceps muscle. Warren sat out last week, too. He strained a chest muscle in the season opener against Baltimore and irritated it a week later. The banged-up Browns are hoping to have running back Lee Suggs and tight end Steve Heiden back against the Redskins.
DOLPHINS: Defensive tackle Tim Bowens, who has yet to play this season, will miss Sunday's game against the Jets with a herniated disc in his back. Receiver Chris Chambers didn't practice and was listed as questionable with a previously undisclosed knee injury. Middle linebacker Zach Thomas also sat out practice and is listed as questionable with a shoulder bruise. ... Miami signed free-agent running back Brock Forsey, a sixth-round pick of the Bears in 2003.
PANTHERS: Running back Stephen Davis will not play Sunday against the Falcons because of a knee injury. DeShaun Foster, who ran for 174 yards and a touchdown filling in for Davis two weeks ago, will start instead. Davis had arthroscopic surgery on his knee Sept.17.
PATRIOTS: Ben Watson's rookie year started late and ended early. The tight end was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Watson, who signed Aug.16 after an 18-day holdout, was drafted in the first round. To replace Watson, the Patriots signed tight end Jed Weaver, who has played with Philadelphia, Miami and San Francisco.
RAMS: Cornerback DeJuan Groce returned to practice after missing last week's game with a sprained knee, enabling eight-time Pro Bowler Aeneas Williams to return to free safety.
RAIDERS: Quarterback Rich Gannon, sidelined for at least eight weeks with a broken vertebra in his neck, has returned home to Minnesota for about a week to be with his wife and family. The Raiders might decide later this week whether to place Gannon, 38, on injured reserve for the second straight season.
REDSKINS: Coach Joe Gibbs defended his quarterback, Mark Brunell, from critics after the team's second straight loss. Brunell, who nearly didn't play because of a hamstring injury, started slowly, missing on nine of his first 11 throws, though he was victimized by three dropped passes. He missed badly on a few other passes but, as the coaches pointed out, he also threw away passes to avoid being sacked. "I think I need to say this," Gibbs said. "One of the guys who made a bunch of great plays and played his heart out was our quarterback. He had a heroic game and made a ton of plays. I'm excited about the way he played and I told him so."
TITANS: Though quarterback Steve McNair watched practice and didn't even try to throw as he recovers from a bruised sternum that hospitalized him for two nights, neither coach Jeff Fisher nor any of the Titans will rule out say McNair won't play for Sunday's game against the Chargers.