IRVING, Texas -- Wednesday's practice session was mainly a walkthrough with no helmets, but there was a new addition to the missing.

Punter Chris Jones didn't participate.

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff (ankle), safety Gerald Sensabaugh (calf), center Phil Costa (back), defensive end Kenyon Coleman (knee) and safety Matt Johnson (hamstring/back) didn't practice.

Coleman, wearing a right knee brace, was doing some on-the-field rehab work along with Ratliff.

"We're certainly hopeful," coach Jason Garrett said regarding Ratliff's possible return to practice. "He's getting better and better, so hopefully as this week progresses we can get him out there practicing and maybe get ready for this ballgame."

The Cowboys' injury situation is tricky given they play Monday night, giving them an extra day to get their hurt players well and then have the bye week.

A player such as Ratliff, who's been replaced by Josh Brent, could use another two weeks, perhaps returning Oct. 14 at Baltimore. If Ratliff isn't back for the Ravens game it could raise concerns about just how serious his high ankle sprain is. He was hurt Aug. 25 in the third preseason game.

Sensabaugh, injured in the Week 2 loss at Seattle, could miss a total of three weeks if he doesn't play Monday against Chicago.

"You play 16 games in the NFL as you know and they're hard to win, really, really hard to win," Garrett said. "So we value every game regardless of who the opponent is, where we're playing them. And if we have guys who are healthy to play, to help us win a ballgame that's hard to win, we're going to try and get guys out there to try and help us win games. If they're not healthy and not ready, we'll wait."