injury update

Looks like Kenny Phillips' bothersome left knee is going to be something that will have to be managed throughout the season. Phillips was kept out of team drills yesterday, but it was more of a precaution. The knee has been troubling him since training camp.

Not that he was real keen on missing practice to begin with.

"(Missing practice) is big," Phillips said. "But it just puts the focus on the mental part."

Phillips didn't think yesterday's inactivity will preclude him from facing the Cowboys Sunday night.

"I'm pretty sure I'll play," he said. "The coaches and training staff is doing a good job managing this. I'll just do whatever I have to to get through the season."

Meanwhile, the team's other starting safety, Michael Johnson, said he was also held out for precautionary reasons. He's still having some pain from the pinched shoulder nerve he suffered Sunday.

"I'll practice tomorrow," he said.

CB Kevin Dockery said his tender hamstring survived a limited practice and indicated he moved around well enough. He said if the hamstring doesn't stiffen up overnight, he should be able to practice again and play on Sunday. That would push undrafted rookie Bruce Johnson back to the dime.

LB Michael Boley took his first team session since the offseason OTAs and said his hip felt good.

"My main focus is practicing and getting comfortable before Sunday," Boley said. "I feel pretty good. But it's a different feel once you get on the field. It's different than in the meeting room. But I feel pretty good about things."

CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), RB Danny Ware (elbow), T Adam Koets (ankle), WR Hakeem Nicks (foot) did not practice at all. DT Chris Canty (calf) and LB Clint Sintim (groin) took a limited workload with Boley and Dockery.

EP