Terrell Owens returns to practice


IRVING, Tex. - It looks like the Giants should have their popcorn ready for Sunday.

Terrell Owens ran routes and caught some passes on Thursday for the first time since spraining his left ankle on Dec.22 against the Carolina Panthers. And even though Owens showed slight signs of a limp in his limited practice, the Cowboys maintain that their star wideout will be a game-time decision.

"You're not getting anything out of me," said Owens, who walked around the locker room without any sign of favoring his ankle.

Owens - who famously left a note for the media to "getcha popcorn ready," the week of the Cowboys' game against New England in October - has not spoken to reporters the entire week but, knowing him, all indications are that he will play. After all, Michael Strahan joked about how Owens sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber like Michael Jackson.

"I think T.O. will be fine," Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton said. "He wants that ring just as bad as we do. Probably even worse. He will do whatever it takes to get back."

Owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys will have to weigh whether it is worth risking their receiver's health and ability to play if Dallas advances.

"I thought that he moved well and competed and ran at the level that we were practicing," Jones said. "Those weren't half-speed out there. It is a decision that has to be made at game time. We know how critical this is. Nothing else happens if we don't win this game.

"On the other hand, his availability will be determined to what kind of risks will be involved about not having him for later games. He obviously can run a route. But I think it is a very legitimate game-time decision with him."

Meanwhile, it appears that Terry Glenn is ready for the Giants, barring a setback. Jones raved about his other injured wide receiver, who played on a limited basis for the first time all season in the Cowboys' regular-season finale against Washington. Glenn is feeling the best he has since undergoing two surgeries on his knee and missing nearly the entire season. If Glenn and Owens can play, quarterback Tony Romo will have his top two receiving threats together for the first time since last year's wild-card game in Seattle.

"He looks good," Romo said of Glenn. "I am excited about the possibilities if we ever get healthy. If we win, it will be very interesting."

Jones is feeling good about the Cowboys' chances against the Giants.

"I feel good," Jones said. "I think we got a chance to have 83 (Glenn) light 'em up. I am excited about that. He has been very impressive. Very impressive. I don't want to put too much on him."

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