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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 12:31 p.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2008

NFL: Game over? Nope; Pacman back with Cowboys

By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer

IRVING, Texas — Once again, Adam "Pacman" Jones is back with the Dallas Cowboys.

Thought to be out for the season because of a neck injury, Jones returned to practice Wednesday and is expected to play Saturday night, both at cornerback and returning kicks, after having missed only one game.

Coach Wade Phillips said the herniated disk discovered last week has healed, perhaps because he already had the problem and it was only aggravated by a hit he took two games ago in Pittsburgh. That was his first game back with the Cowboys after being suspended from six games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

"He's got nine lives," Phillips said. "Maybe he's got 18."

Phillips said the reversal in the diagnosis came from a re-evaluation. Doctors originally were going to wait three weeks, but decided to try again sooner and were glad they did. He said Jones would've been put on injured reserve last week if doctors had been sure there was no chance of him returning this season.

"It just wasn't as bad as we thought," Phillips said. "Once it was treated, it was better. ... They said he's ready to go. He seems ready."

Dallas (9-5) plays Baltimore on Saturday night in a game between teams vying for wild-card berths in each conference. Having Jones back helps because it frees cornerback Anthony Henry to play more at safety, where the Cowboys are running out of healthy players. Starter Ken Hamlin didn't practice Wednesday and may not all week; he didn't practice last week, but played in the game.

Tony Romo remains stiff and sore because of a back injury, but went through most of practice. Phillips said he improved as he went along and is counting on Romo to play against the Ravens.

Running back Marion Barber missed practice and may be a game-time decision for the second straight week because of a dislocated pinkie toe on his right foot.