IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Jason Ferguson is out for the season after tearing his right biceps in the opening game.
Coach Wade Phillips confirmed Monday that the injury would end the season for Ferguson, the team's most experienced defender in his 11th season. Ferguson is scheduled to have surgery Friday.
"That's certainly bad news for us," Phillips said.
While Ferguson is out, Phillips said the team was closer to getting cornerback Terence Newman and outside linebacker Greg Ellis back on the field. Both could practice this week.
The Cowboys didn't make a move to replace Ferguson on their 53-man roster. They don't practice again until Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3, 312-pound Ferguson got hurt in the first quarter of the Cowboys' 45-35 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night. He had one tackle.
Jay Ratliff, a third-year player from Auburn, had three tackles and the Cowboys' only sack after taking over for Ferguson. Ratliff probably will get his first NFL start Sunday at Miami.
Ferguson, usually one of the team's most talkative players, wasn't in the locker room Monday. Ratliff was, but declined to talk to reporters surrounding his locker.
Since missing the entire 2001 season because of rotator cuff surgery, the 32-year-old Ferguson hadn't missed a game -- and had some of his best seasons. His 64 tackles last season were the third-highest total in his career.
Newman has been sidelined since after the first preseason game because of a slight tear in the tissue in the base of his foot that could be a lingering problem. Ellis has been rehabilitating from a torn Achilles' tendon sustained last season.
Ellis said Monday he hoped to practice for the first time this week.
"Maybe we'll get two guys back after losing one," Phillips said.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
