Ware Wants To Play Saturday, But Team Will Be ‘Smart About It’

DeMarcus Ware didn’t practice on Tuesday, but the Cowboys linebacker still wants to play this Saturday against the Saints. He is expected to undergo another round of tests and X-rays Wednesday, which hopefully should determine whether or not playing with his injury is the “safe and smart choice.”

“Tomorrow I think I will do some more X-rays and I think another MRI,” Ware said Tuesday. “(We want) to make sure the swelling is down and do some more strength tests to make sure it’s alright.”

But at least Ware said he’s feeling much better as the pain in his neck continues to subside.

“To be honest, I feel 100 percent better,” Ware said on Tuesday. “Yesterday it was better after the game. Now it’s feeling a lot better, getting a lot of strength in my neck back, so I’m happy right now.”

Ware, who suffered a strained neck on Sunday, says he has no problem playing in this weekend’s game in New Orleans, even if he doesn’t make it to one practice all week, assuming he is cleared by doctors.

Since the Cowboys have an altered schedule and usually have Tuesday as a day off, the team wasn’t required to send an injury report to the NFL. However, head coach Wade Phillips reiterated Ware’s “day-to-day” status and said he is hopeful and even encouraged that Ware could play this week.

“I think if he can play, he’ll play,” Phillips said of Ware. “And if (the doctors) say he can’t, then he won’t. We want to be smart about it.”