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Rookie defensive tackle may start for Cowboys

By Jean-Jacques Taylor and Bart Hubbuch

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - Defensive tackle Chad Hennings wanted to practice Wednesday, but the training staff and coaches made him rest his strained left groin one more day.

"He showed up in pads and wanted to go," said Coach Barry Switzer. "I'd rather give him another week to rest it. But if he's close to 100 percent, we'll go with him."

Hennings remains listed as questionable on the Cowboys' injury list, which means he has a 50 percent chance of playing.

If he can't play, rookie defensive tackle Antonio Anderson will make his first start Sunday against Chicago. Anderson ranks third on the team among defensive linemen with 10 tackles.

"I've played a lot in the first three games, so it's not like I'm completely green," Anderson said. "I'm trying to approach the game the same way because our job is to stop Raymont Harris from gaining 100 yards.

"I just hope the defense doesn't go down because I'm playing."

With Hennings out, Hurvin McCormack becomes the third player in the Cowboys' defensive tackle rotation, and the Cowboys would make three-year veteran Darren Benson active for the first time this season.

The Bears are tied for 24th in the NFL in offense, but they rank 10th in rushing offense with 121 yards per game.

Harris, third in the NFC with 335 yards, averages 5.2 yards per carry. He moved from fullback to halfback last week, when Rashaan Salaam broke his leg in the Bears' third game.

Harris already has two touchdown runs of more than 50 yards this season. In its 21-20 win over Philadelphia, Dallas struggled against the run without middle linebacker Fred Strickland.

The Eagles rushed for 157 yards, and Ricky Watters became the first back this season to gain more than 100 yards against the Cowboys. Dallas ranks 14th in the NFL against the run.

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