Jeremiah

Ratliff

The sides have reportedly made progress, but the two years remaining on Ratliff’s current deal complicate matters. Negotiations will likely continue into the season. Ratliff is due for a big raise after making the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons.

There have been rumblings in Dallas that Ratliff might move to defensive end in 2012. “I still see Ratliff as our starting nose tackle,” said Jones. “Will he see action out there? I mean you never totally rule it out, but right now we still see him as our nose.” Ratliff’s production was down in 2011, but Pro Football Focus still graded him as a top-seven defensive tackle.

Baker confirmed what Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones hinted at in February. Baker did allow that Ratliff may be rested on some first and second downs after losing steam as he played through a rib injury last season.

Per reporter Josh Ellis, Ratliff suffered the injury “near the very beginning” of the Cowboys’ offseason program. “I’ve just been rehabbing, even now,” Ratliff said Tuesday. “Just getting treatment and getting right, getting ready for the season.” From the sound of it, Ratliff is a candidate to begin camp on the active/PUP list.

Ratliff was the only true question mark of the three, but said in early July he believed he’d be cleared for camp. Recovering from a torn plantar fascia, Ratliff hasn’t missed a game since 2007.

Ratliff is dealing with a high ankle sprain in addition to plantar fasciitis. The undersized nose tackle is a poor bet to be active for the Cowboys’ Sept. 5 opener against the Giants.

The Cowboys will know more Sunday, but the Fort Worth Star-Telegram confirms Ratliff’s high ankle sprain is a “bigger deal” than the plantar fasciitis that cost him all of spring practices. Dallas has had an incredibly injury-riddled 2012 training camp. Ratliff is looking like a question mark for Week 1, and it doesn’t help that the Cowboys play their opener sooner than anyone else.

Ratliff is out with an ankle injury but is tentatively expected to return after the Cowboys’ Week 5 bye. Jones has a left knee injury, so recently signed Brian Moorman will handle punting duties. Spencer has a pectoral issue. Ryan Cook will start at center again.

It will be Ratliff’s first appearance of the season. The Cowboys are also getting LE Kenyon Coleman back from a knee injury. Dallas’ Week 6 inactives are P Moorman, WR Cole Beasley, S Matt Johnson, LB Orie Lemon, G/C Ryan Cook, OLB Anthony Spencer, and healthy scratch DL Marcus Spears.

It’s the same ankle that held Ratliff out in Weeks 1-5. Ratliff’s second-half snaps figure to be very limited, as he was not moving well on either the sideline or the field.