Cowboys' Pro Bowler Anthony Spencer misses game, return in doubt

Published Sep. 22, 2013 7:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

ARLINGTON — Anthony Spencer doesn't know when he'll be back in the Dallas Cowboys starting lineup. After making his season debut last week in Kansas City, Spencer didn't dress Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.

The Pro Bowl defensive end had arthroscopic left knee surgery on July 25, and it doesn't sound like he has any idea of when he'll be close to full strength.

Was Spencer surprised he couldn't play against the Rams?

"Kind of. Not really," he said. "I woke up this morning and my leg was hurting, so no, I'm not surprised."

Spencer said he didn't know what the next step would be, adding that he's already had second and third opinions on his knee.

"It's just real frustrating for this to be the same problem," he said. "But it is what it is. I'm just handling the best way I can.

"Hopefully it gets better. I felt pretty good during the game a week ago. It's just I haven't done that type of work, that much work with it, so it's just sore from the game, I believe.

"We're just going to play it by ear. Hopefully it gets better. If it doesn't then, I'm just going keep doing what I got to do to get ready for the games."

Spencer was on the field for 34 snaps against the Chiefs. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said during a Friday radio interview on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] that Spencer was "real close to right."

Jones said before Sunday's game on 105.3 The Fan that it was a surprise that Spencer wouldn't be able to play.

"That is a surprise," Jones said. "We thought that we could basically get 10 or 12 (snaps) from him today."

Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota