ESPN

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys held the first of four organized team activities that will be open to the media at Valley Ranch on Wednesday, so we bring you some observations from the two-hour workout:

** Maybe it’s the product of not seeing him throw in four months, but Tony Romo was throwing the ball with a tremendous amount of velocity. Romo went 8-of-11 in team and seven-on-seven drills Wednesday with one drop by TE John Phillips.

** LB Sean Lee looked in midseason form by snuffing out a pass to the flat to FB Lawrence Vickers for what would have been no gain or a short pickup.

** QB Stephen McGee and rookie Tyrone Navikoff had a difficult time with the snap, muffing three before Navikoff was pulled in favor of Bill Nagy. And Nagy’s first snap with McGee went to the ground.

** WR Raymond Radway, who missed his rookie year with a broken ankle, was knocked out of practice briefly after getting poked in the eye.

** Dez Bryant, Kevin Ogletree, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Dwayne Harris worked as punt returners. Tim Benford, Radway and Lance Dunbar handled kick returns.

** With OLB DeMarcus Ware missing the workout, Victor Butler was with the starters and showed good awareness on a reverse by Harris by not allowing the wide receiver to get outside. Anthony Spencer did the same later in practice on a reverse to Miles Austin.

** WR Andre Holmes made a nice grab on a Kyle Orton throw in seven-on-seven drills while crossing the middle. Earlier, Holmes snared a Romo pass that was a little ahead of him.

** Rookie Saalim Hakin struggled in the rookie minicamp with drops and he struggled Wednesday. Unofficially he had three and the last brought receivers coach Jimmy Robinson over with some encouragement.

** Undrafted rookie CB Lionel Smith intercepted a McGee pass along the sideline.

** Rookie S Eddie Whitley ended practice with a nice breakup of a McGee throw to James Hanna. Whitley broke on Hanna’s route perfectly to bat the pass away.

** RB Phillip Tanner did not look any different after being put on injured reserve last year with a hamstring injury. He was quick and decisive with his cuts.

We’re about to finally get a glimpse to see why there’s all this buzz about Andre Holmes.

Wednesday’s OTA session, which will be the first one this offseason open to the Valley Ranch media, will be the first time any of us have seen Holmes actually run a pass route. But there will be a lot of eyes on the second-year undrafted receiver because the coaches and front office are so high on him.

Holmes was the first name out of Jerry Jones’ mouth at the scouting combine in February when the Cowboys’ owner/general manager discussed the possibility of losing Laurent Robinson in free agency. With Robinson taking a rich deal from Jacksonville, Holmes has as good a shot as anyone at claiming the No. 3 receiver role.

Scoff if you dare, but just remember that Miles Austin and Victor Cruz are NFC East examples of receivers who have soared from the obscurity of being a small-school guy passed over in the draft to stardom in the last few years.

Here is what we know about Holmes, who signed with the Cowboys after being cut by the Vikings at the end of preseason and spent most of 2011 on the practice squad:

*He is 6-foot-5, 208 pounds, was timed at 4.51 in the 40 at the combine and measured with a vertical leap of 35 inches.

*Much like Austin at Monmouth, Holmes was a late bloomer at Division II Hillsdale College after playing receiver only one year in high school. After redshirting, he caught only 38 passes for 648 yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons. He had a breakout year as a junior (77 catches, 1,076 yards, six TD) and the most productive season in school history as a senior (104 catches, 1,368 yards, 11 TD).

*Holmes’ mix of size, athleticism, ball skills and competitiveness impressed the Cowboys’ coaches and front office enough that they promoted him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster late last season to prevent another team from claiming him. They did so despite the fact that Holmes had a hamstring injury because they considered him a valuable prospect.

*He’s part of a pack of receivers who will be competing to replace Robinson. Kevin Ogletree is the only one of the bunch with NFL experience, but he was handed the job last year and failed, opening the door for Robinson to emerge. Others in the mix are Raymond Radway, the former Abilene Christian track star who would have made the team as an undrafted free agent last year if not for a gruesome broken leg suffered in the final seconds of the preseason finale; 2012 fifth-round pick Danny Coale; 2011 sixth-round pick Dwayne Harris; and a handful of undrafted rookies.

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys like versatile players and Virginia Tech’s Danny Coale is versatile.

He played outside wide receiver and excelled in the slot. He had four carries. He returned punts. He was on the Hokies’ punt block team and also was on the kick return and punt return teams.

He even punted as a senior, averaging 43.5 yards per punt.

“I want an opportunity to contribute to a team and it seems like a great fit,” Coale said.

Coale was the Cowboys’ fifth round pick and their first offensive selection. He left Virginia Tech with 165 catches for 2,658 yards and eight touchdowns. His receptions and yards are second-most in school history.

Coale did not come to Valley Ranch for a pre-draft visit, but he met with coach Jason Garrett and assistants John Garrett and Jimmy Robinson at the NFL scouting combine.

“I like to challenge myself to make tough catches over the middle and I really enjoy playing the middle of the field, seeing it from the slot,” Coale said.

The Cowboys have an opening for Tony Romo’s No. 3 wide receiver spot after losing Laurent Robinson. However, owner and general manager Jerry Jones has expressed his belief that Andre Holmes, Raymond Radway, Kevin Ogletree or Dwayne Harris can be playmakers. Coale will be in a competition

“He does a lot of exciting things,” Coale said of Romo. “I’m really thrilled to have an opportunity to catch from him.”

The Dallas Cowboys re-signed wide receiver Kevin Ogletree on Friday.

Ogletree, a New York native, visited the New York Giants on Wednesday.

It's a surprise in some ways considering Ogletree lost the No. 3 receiver spot to Laurent Robinson last year and didn't play in the regular-season finale despite being active.

Ogletree will compete with Dwayne Harris, Andre Holmes and Raymond Radway for the No. 3 receiver spot.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was asked about the receiving corps during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday and spoke about Ogletree challenging the younger receivers if he made the roster in 2012.

Ogletree finished the 2011 season with just 15 catches for 164 yards and no touchdowns. He also returned two punts for 35 yards and fielded six kick returns for 114 yards.

The Cowboys most likely will include Ogletree in the return game rotation in 2012 as another way for him to make the team.

The Cowboys lost their No. 3 wide receiver when, according to our own Adam Schefter, Laurent Robinson agreed to a five-year deal worth $32.5 million.

There are two ways to look at it from the Cowboys' perspective: 1. They lost their most productive receiver in 2011, and that's bad. 2. It clears the way for younger talent to emerge in 2012, which can be deemed as a positive.

Robinson became a favorite target of quarterback Tony Romo last season and caught a team-high 11 touchdowns and was third on the team in catches with 54.

He had a stretch where he caught touchdown passes in seven of eight weeks. When Romo was under duress, he sought Robinson, who understood how to get to open spots on the field and become a target for the quarterback.

Miles Austin and Dez Bryant each had health issues during the season, and Robinson remained healthy for the most part. It should be noted, Robinson injured his hamstring in his first practice with the Cowboys and was quickly released. But once Robinson was healthy, he became a force. Now, you can attributed this to defenses trying to shut down Bryant and Austin, or Robinson just elevating his game.

The thing the Cowboys will miss with Robinson is his professionalism. Bryant said he learned a lot from Robinson in terms of preparation and how to deal with adversity. Before practices, Robinson would do his own stretching exercises to make sure his legs wouldn't betray him like they did early in the season.

It doesn't matter now because the Cowboys won't have him and are left with some unproven talent behind Austin and Bryant.

Andre Holmes is a long and fast receiver that played well on the scout team last season. Wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson likes Holmes' potential.

Dwayne Harris didn't get enough offensive snaps because he was behind Austin, Bryant, Robinson and Kevin Ogletree last year. Harris did some work in the return game and didn't find a good rhythm until later in the season. But he will get a shot to compete with Holmes for playing time.

Raymond Radway became one of the stars of the preseason until suffering a serious leg injury in the waning moments of the final preseason game at Miami. Radway has speed and good hands, but was inconsistent. He's expected to fully recover in time for training camp and will get a long look to make the team.

Teddy Williams it seems has been around forever, but really it's just been two seasons. He came in as a track star trying to make the team in 2010. He was move from cornerback to wide receiver to cornerback and back to wide receiver. Williams spent his time on the practice squad and also did some good things. But he's still raw and you have to wonder just how long the team is willing to wait before they expect him to make the 53-man roster.

The draft has some interesting names, so the Cowboys could look improve the depth of the position that way. Let's also not forget Austin and Bryant are two emerging talents who seek better seasons. Bryant got better as the season progressed, and Austin was sorely missed when he was out with an injury.

At the top, the Cowboys' receiving corps is fine. But looking for the third, fourth and fifth receiver will be a challenge.

IRVING, Texas – At 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, free agency begins.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has promised to be aggressive in pursuit of upgrading a roster that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and three of the last four.

In order to do so, the Cowboys will have to re-work some contracts to create enough room under the $120.6 million salary cap, but it is feasible the team can add two starters and a veteran backup quarterback and re-sign wide receiver Laurent Robinson.

As the shopping hour approaches, here are some quick questions and answers:

** What are the Cowboys biggest needs?

We’ve talked about this all offseason, but they need help in the secondary (cornerback and safety) and on the interior of the offensive line. They also need a backup quarterback with Jon Kitna’s retirement, and those don’t come too cheaply. They could use a difference maker at defensive end, but those players aren’t flying around free agency. While the Cowboys like Bruce Carter, there is no way to be sold he is their starting inside linebacker next to Sean Lee in 2012. Add inside linebacker to the list. Also add a backup tight end. The goal of free agency should be to fill enough holes to help make the draft process better so you don’t overvalue certain positions in April.

** What to make of the Mario Williams talk?

I just don’t see that happening. In order to sign Williams, the Cowboys would likely have to fork over in the neighborhood of $40 million guaranteed. In other words: DeMarcus Ware money. If they do that, then that would take them out of upgrades elsewhere. Plus, the team placed the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer. This isn’t to debate who is better, Spencer or Williams, but to say who’s the better fit at the price and the chance to fill needs elsewhere. Williams is more dynamic but is just too costly.

** What to do with Laurent Robinson?

The Cowboys have said Robinson is a priority. Robinson, who had 11 touchdowns last year, has said he would love to stay. Both sides want it to happen but if another team wants to blow away Robinson with an offer the Cowboys will not get into a bidding war. It would, however, create the need for a No. 3 receiver. Despite Jones’ talk about Andre Holmes, the Cowboys cannot bank on untested receivers like Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris to pick up the slack.

** Will Jerry Jones make a splash?

In his tenure as owner and general manager, he has made three splashes in free agency in Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens and Leonard Davis. You can put La’Roi Glover in that mix to a degree if you want. That’s it. He had a big one-day signing spree in 2005 on Jason Ferguson, Anthony Henry and Marco Rivera but they weren’t stop-the-presses signings across the league. Jones’ most productive free-agent shopping might have come in 2003 when they added Richie Anderson, Dan Campbell, Toby Gowin and Al Singleton to the roster. Don’t hold your breath on a guy like Williams or New Orleans guard Carl Nicks.

** Will the Cowboys re-sign any of their free agents before the market opens?

Doubtful. League rules prevent them from re-signing Robinson before Tuesday. Mat McBriar’s recent surgery means the two-time Pro Bowl punter will hit the market. They have had some talks with the agent for Keith Brooking but nothing substantial. Abram Elam will be allowed to test the market too. Same with Montrae Holland, who did a nice job at left guard for 10 games.

INDIANAPOLIS -- With Miles Austin and Dez Bryant under contract through 2016 and 2014, respectively, the Cowboys have to figure out a way to pay free-agent-to-be wide receiver Laurent Robinson this offseason.

Austin and Bryant will cost $6.3 million against the salary cap in 2012, but Austin’s cap number shoots up to $8.3 million in 2013. Bryant’s cap numbers in 2013-14 are about $3.2 and $3.4 million.

Can the Cowboys afford to “pay” Robinson, too?

“You’ve got to put, ‘Pay them what?’ before you can really answer,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “We don’t have that today where we are.”

The Cowboys cannot sign Robinson, who led the team with 11 touchdowns in 2011, until free agency begins because he signed a “minimum salary benefit” contract last year.

“It’s a handicap, no question about it,” Robinson’s agent Harold Lewis said. “He loves being a Cowboy and would like to stay, but I really think there is going to be a good market for him.”

Jones and coach Jason Garrett view Robinson as a starting type of player because of how many snaps the No. 3 receiver plays in a game. Austin and Bryant have had health issues that have limited them the last two years, which makes the spot even more important.

“So he’s valuable,” Jones said of Robinson.

If Robinson signs elsewhere, the Cowboys would have to add a wide receiver either through the draft or in free agency. Jones heaped praise on Andre Holmes, who spent most of last season on the practice squad.

“We have a very good young receiver that we’re really proud of and he’s a factor in what we do here with Robinson, not to diminish what Robinson did for us this past year,” Jones said. “He has a real knack of keeping a play alive and that works real well with [Tony] Romo.”

To think the Cowboys could turn the No. 3 job to Holmes, who was undrafted out of Hillsdale, or any of their other receivers left, such as Jesse Holley, Dwayne Harris or Raymond Radway, who missed last year with a broken ankle, would seem to be too much of a gamble.

“Same kind of gamble we had with [Dan] Bailey,” Jones said. “Just any coach or anybody will say, ‘The guy has never played, how can you pencil him in?’ It is but you’ve got to take them … There’s no way you can put a team on the field and not play with players that haven’t played before in the NFL.”

Back in 1998, Dallas Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones bypassed on drafting wide receiver Randy Moss in the first round due to off-the-field issues.

The Cowboys drafted defensive end Greg Ellis.

Fast forward to 2012 and with Moss making his Sugar Ray Leonard return to the NFL, the Cowboys have another chance to get the veteran wideout.

A source said the Cowboys will pass on the wide receiver.

This shouldn't come as a surprise because the Cowboys have some talented and young wide receivers in Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. The team also wants to re-sign Laurent Robinson, who led the team with 11 touchdown receptions in 2011.

Dwayne Harris and Andre Holmes are young players who should compete for playing time in 2012, and if Raymond Radway fully recovers from his leg injury, suffered in the final preseason game, he will see snaps as well.

It's hard to believe any team wants to sign Moss. He missed the entire 2011 season and unlike Terrell Owens, who is coming off ACL surgery, Moss is healthy.

Moss took the Cowboys' decision to draft Ellis personally. In seven career games against the Cowboys, Moss has 10 touchdowns and an 18.9 yards-per-catch average.

This is the third in a 12-part series on the Cowboys roster.

Players: Miles Austin (signed through 2016), Dez Bryant (signed through 2014), Laurent Robinson (unrestricted free agent), Kevin Ogletree (restricted free agent), Dwayne Harris (signed through 2014), Andre Holmes (signed through 2013), Raymond Radway (signed through 2013), Teddy Williams (reserves/future contract)

Top free agents: Wes Welker, New England Patriots; Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints; DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles; Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers; Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs.

Top draft prospects: Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State; Michael Floyd, Notre Dame; Kendall Wright, Baylor; Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina; Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers.

2011 review: Robinson, who was signed in early September after being cut by the Chargers, ended up being the Cowboys’ most effective receiver. It took an injury to Austin and ineffectiveness by Ogletree for Robinson to get a significant role, but he led the Cowboys with 11 touchdown catches and was second among the team’s wideouts in catches (54) and receiving yards (858). Bryant didn’t have a 100-yard game all season, but he made significant progress, finishing his second year with 63 catches for 928 yards and nine touchdowns. Austin was a disappointment in the second year of a $54 million contract. He missed six games due to two hamstring strains, finishing the season with only 43 catches for 579 yards and seven touchdowns.

Offseason preview: The Cowboys’ biggest decision regarding the receiving corps will be whether to re-sign Robinson. He’s made it clear that he wants to return to Valley Ranch and has indicated that the Cowboys wouldn’t necessarily have to be the top bidders to keep him. What the Cowboys would be willing to pay for a No. 3 receiver who has proven he can be a quality fill-in starter isn’t clear. If the Cowboys don’t re-sign Robinson, they’ll need to find another third receiver, whether it’s in the draft or another free-agency bargain.

Bryan Broaddus’ Scout’s Eye: The Cowboys will be set at starters with Austin and Bryant. The biggest question will be if the club makes the effort to try and re-sign Robinson or if it allows him to leave via free agency. I would not be surprised if the front office allows Robinson to walk. If that is the case, then his numbers will need to be replaced. Let's be honest, Ogletree can't do the job as the third receiver. Ogletree has been given every opportunity to step up and take that job, but he can't do it. If not Robinson or Ogletree, there is Holley, Harris, Radway and Holmes. Holley had some productive snaps but mainly on special teams. Harris was off and on the practice squad. Radway is an interesting player because if he didn't get injured on the last play of the preseason game against the Dolphins, there was a great chance he was going to make the roster. The plan will be to try and find another Robinson in free agency with the available receivers. I don't see them using a high pick on a receiver but taking the approach of looking at a height-weight-speed player later.

Need meter (0-5): 2

IRVING, Texas -- In April, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper gave the Cowboys a B-minus for their draft. Now that the season has ended, Kiper has downgraded it to a C-plus.

PODCAST
Deion Sanders doesn't hold back when calling out the 2011 Dallas Cowboys and their shortcomings. Listen

You have to be an insider to read all of the grades here, but here’s what he wrote about the Cowboys:

Summary: I said then that I liked the conviction Dallas had to get younger on the offensive line, stay at No. 9 and take Tyron Smith, even though that was no home run in terms of value. Still, that pick turned into a win for the Cowboys. Smith, who started all season as a 20-year-old, played on the right side, but all indications are he could develop into a blindside tackle if they find it necessary to move him there. The grade rises if he can. Right now, a right tackle isn't your goal with a lineman taken at No. 9 overall. Bruce Carter’s NFL script is still unwritten, but DeMarco Murray obviously was a great value in the third before he went down for the year. Murray's injury, incidentally, is why it's hard to ever say a great running back out of the third round is a "steal" -- RBs land in the third because you expect them to get hurt. It's just reality. There isn't much else here so far. Dwayne Harris flashed in the preseason but wasn't a factor. Aside from Smith, the best rookie was kicker Dan Bailey, but alas, he wasn't drafted and thus can't be factored in here.

My take: I would’ve kept it at a B-minus maybe even given it a B because you knew going into the season that Carter was facing a redshirt season because of the knee injury. Murray changed the Cowboys season and he didn’t suffer the type of injury that labels guys as “injury prone.” This was a fractured ankle. He’s largely right about the rest of the draft class, but Bill Nagy was a starter before he got hurt. Now, did he earn the starting spot or was it a case of him being the best of a “meh” lot?

I think too much is put into the left and right tackle breakdown. Look at the six games the Cowboys play against NFC East foes: the left and right tackle have to block some hellacious pass rushers. Washington has Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo. The Giants have Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. The Eagles have Trent Cole and Jason Babin. You better have top-flight tackles on both sides to exist.

By some accounts, Smith was among the best tackles in the game as a rookie. That seems like pretty good value at the No. 9 pick.

The Cowboys finished their 15th game of the season with a 20-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday afternoon. We review the game in our weekly Beat Writers Recap.

*If the Cowboys-Eagles game told us anything it's that Stephen McGee is not ready to become a full-time No. 2 quarterback behind Tony Romo. McGee's line on Saturday: 24-of-38 for 182 yards with one touchdown, no interceptions and three sacks. McGee dumped off too many passes and just didn't seem relaxed in the pocket. The Eagles' pass rush had something to do with that of course, but there was this drive starting with 9:33 to play in the game that McGee could have used to prove something to the coaching staff. It started at the Cowboys' 23 and ended when McGee tried to throw to Martellus Bennett in the end zone while missing an open Miles Austin. During the drive, McGee's longest completed pass was a 15-yarder to third-string running back Chauncey Washington.

*It was interesting that coach Jason Garrett didn't sit some regular offensive starters, other than Felix Jones, in the late stages of the game. Yes, Garrett is trying to win and didn't want to present a front that he didn't care. Yet, there would have been nothing wrong with sitting Kyle Koiser (foot) and Laurent Robinson (shoulder) and maybe giving a few snaps to Jeremy Parnell at tackle with the game out of reach. One of the problems we have with Garrett's decision making last year was his refusal to play young tackle Sam Young. At some point you need to find out if young players can play.

*The more we watch defensive end Sean Lissemore, the more we like him. He finished with four tackles and has performed well with extended snaps with Josh Brent (knee) out. What the Cowboys do next year at end is an interesting debate. We believe Jason Hatcher will return, but we're not sure about Kenyon Coleman and Marcus Spears coming back. In the Cowboys' 3-4 scheme, it's hard to judge the defensive ends on stats, because Coleman and Spears are asked to play the run. Spears has been more active than Coleman the last few weeks, though Coleman did have a tackle for loss on Saturday, his first since Thanksgiving.

*Punter Mat McBriar had a nice day versus Philadelphia. Of his nine punts, he landed a season-high five inside the 20. He's been bothered by nerve damage in his left (non-kicking) foot, which cost him one game this year. McBriar is still one of the best punters in the NFL, as evident by his effort at Arizona on Dec. 4 where he held the dangerous Patrick Peterson to just 1 return yard, but his health has bothered him at times in 2011.

*Romo didn't complete a pass Saturday, marking the first time in his career that's ever happened. The main concern going forward with Romo regarding his bruised hand is the ability to grip the ball. If he struggles in that area, he will have difficulty passing and handing off. ... With Kevin Ogletree (knee) being inactive for the Eagles game, you have to wonder about his own future. The Cowboys expected so much out of him, but Robinson surpassed him on the depth chart. ... Good to see Dwayne Harris with a 51-yard kickoff return. He is running with confidence and might break one in the regular-season finale at the New York Giants.

IRVING, Texas -- To say the Cowboys’ kickoff return game has been a struggle in 2011 would be kind. It’s been bad, as in ranked 23rd in the league before Saturday’s game against Philadelphia.

But maybe the return of rookie wide receiver Dwayne Harris to the mix will help the field-position game.

Harris returned two kickoffs against the Eagles for a 42.5-yard average, including a 51-yard return in the fourth quarter.

Harris averaged 24.7 yards on three kick returns earlier this season but found himself on the practice squad for 10 weeks before his call-up on Dec. 14.

“The coaches, they know what I can do,” said Harris, who was limited to a 1-yard average on three punt returns. “Earlier in the season I was playing a little bit, kick return, punt return. They know I can play football. They just gave me a chance to show what I can do this week.”

Harris was active in part because Kevin Ogeltree hurt his knee in practice last week. They might consider keeping Harris as the kick returner even if Ogletree is able to return for the Jan. 1 finale against the New York Giants.

IRVING, Texas -- Jon Kitna’s season and possibly his career are over.

The Cowboys put the veteran quarterback on injured reserve Wednesday with a back injury. Kitna is in the last year of his contract and has been contemplating retirement with his family remaining in Washington for most of the season.

Wide receiver Dwayne Harris was called up from the practice squad to take Kitna’s spot. He opened the year on the active roster as the Cowboys’ punt returner, averaging 6.6 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for a 24-7-yard average.

He was cut on Oct. 18 and signed to the practice squad a day later. He was going to be called up to the active roster last month but he was sidelined by a hamstring injury.

With Felix Jones about to handle the full-time running back job, the Cowboys are in need of a kickoff returner. Kevin Ogletree had been an option. Harris could also be an option at punt returner in his return to the 53-man roster.

It's the second time in as many weeks the Cowboys have promoted a wide receiver from the practice squad with Andre Holmes getting the call last week.

The Cowboys signed Chris Greisen to the practice squad. They made the same move last year after placing Tony Romo on injured reserve. Greisen, a former member of the Dallas Desperados, was on the active roster for the final game of the year with Kitna hurt and Stephen McGee starting but he did not play.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Cowboys plan to use Dez Bryant as their primary punt returner against the Cardinals, a source said.

Bryant had not been used in that role since Miles Austin strained his hamstring in the Nov. 6 win over the Seahawks. Bryant’s only punt return since then was a 20-yarder that set up the Cowboys’ game-winning drive against the Dolphins last week.

There had been internal discussions about waiting until Austin returned for next week’s game against the Giants to use Bryant as the primary punt returner, but the coaching staff has opted to use their most dynamic threat in that role this week.

Bryant has averaged 9.4 yards on five punt returns this season, having been stripped of those duties for a month after suffering a deep thigh bruise on his first punt return of the season. He starred in that role as a rookie, averaging 14.3 yards and scoring on two of his 15 punt returns.

Dwayne Harris and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – neither of whom remains on the 53-man roster – have handled the bulk of the punt returning duties for the Cowboys this season. Dallas ranks 25th in the NFL with an average of 8.3 yards on punt returns, a number they hope Bryant boosts immediately.

IRVING, Texas -- Akwasi Owusu-Ansah’s return to the active roster was uneventful, but the safety-turned-wide receiver/return specialist did what he was asked to do in Sunday’s win against Buffalo.

Owusu-Ansah was called up from the practice squad Saturday after Dwayne Harris suffered a hamstring injury in practice Thursday. The Cowboys did not want to use Dez Bryant in the return game with Miles Austin out with a hamstring injury.

Owusu-Ansah was not able to return either of the Bills’ two kickoffs and returned two punts for 4 yards.

“You don’t want to do too much,” Owusu-Ansah said. “If the opportunity is going to arise, it’s going to arise. You can’t force it. I think I made good decisions. I was aggressive when I needed to be. Trust me, I wanted to make a big play when I needed.”

He almost attempted one kick return but bobbled the ball slightly in the end zone. Plus, he heard Joe DeCamillis’ voice in his head.

“The return was to the opposite side, so he didn’t want me to come out anyway,” Owusu-Ansah said. “It was a long run, so he told me to stay in. Good decision.”

He handled the kick return duties early on last season, before being placed on injured reserve, averaging 21.7 yards a return. He did not make much of an impact in training camp or the preseason, which led to his release and subsequent addition to the practice squad.

“It was a humbling experience to be cut, and to be back on the roster I’ve got to take advantage of it,” Owusu-Ansah said. “Hopefully I’m there for the whole year.”