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Johnston is sidelined with bulging disk in his neck

By Jean-Jacques Taylor

The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas -- A bulging disk in fullback Daryl Johnston's neck will force him out of the lineup indefinitely until the Cowboys determine the injury's severity, trainer Jim Maurer said Thursday.

Missing Sunday's game against Jacksonville will end Johnston's streak of playing in 149 consecutive games, including the playoffs. He began the season as one of only 25 NFL players to have played in every regular-season game since 1989.

That's one reason the Cowboys signed him to a five-year, $7.5 million contract, including a $2.5 million signing bonus, in the off-season.

Maurer said team doctors performed additional tests Thursday to determine the extent of Johnston's injury. If he needs surgery, Maurer said he will miss the rest of the season.

"It's in his best interests to rest this week," Maurer said. "We don't know right now if surgery is needed."

Coach Barry Switzer said Herschel Walker will start at fullback and rookie Nicky Sualua will be activated for the first time this season.

The injuries are starting to pile up on the Cowboys, one of the NFL's oldest teams. Dallas has 18 players, including 10 starters, who are at least 30 years old.

Johnston, 31, is the second starter the Cowboys have lost in the past two days and the third in the last two weeks.

A MRI on Tuesday showed left tackle Mark Tuinei has a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will miss at least one game. Defensive tackle Chad Hennings will miss several more weeks with a groin injury.

"Anytime you lose a player like Tuinei or Daryl, you lose talent," Switzer said. "I don't know how much it will affect us until we play."

A MRI on Wednesday showed Johnston had a bulging disk located between the C-6 and C-7 vertebra near the base of the neck.

"He exhibited some weakness in his triceps area early last week, but he regained most of his strength before the game Monday night," Maurer said. "He had similar symptoms after the game, so we decided to get it checked."

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