IRVING, Texas -- When the Cowboys return to practice Tuesday the plan might be to rest DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff the way they have paced Kyle Kosier in practice for the last two months.

Ware aggravated a stinger in the first quarter of Saturday’s win at Tampa Bay and Ratliff is bothered by a rib muscle strain. The Cowboys rested both players in the second half with the score out of hand.

Kosier has been battling a foot injury for most of the season and has been a limited participant in practices through the week in order to play in the games.

“When you have veteran players like those guys who have played a lot and played at the level they’ve played, you can sacrifice a little bit of the practice rep to make sure they are as healthy as they can be,” coach Jason Garrett said. “But having said that, we want to get them back on the practice field as early as we can and I know they want to be out there as early as they can. It’s a balancing act like it is with a lot of injuries you have.”

Without Ware and Ratliff in the second half against the Buccaneers, the Cowboys were able to get Victor Butler, Alex Albright, Sean Lissemore and Clifton Geathers extended playing time for the first time this year.

Ware was credited with three tackles, a sack (his 16th on the year) and a tackle for loss. Ratliff was not credited with a tackle.

“They were both were fairly productive in the snaps they did get, but they’re dealing with some injury,” Garrett said. “They fought through practice last week. They wanted to give it a go in the game last night. They did a pretty good job with their opportunities. We’ve got to get them healthy and get going, because we need them.”