Not that injuries ever come at a particularly good time, but the several non-season ending injuries the Dallas Cowboys have stockpiled make trimming the roster from 75 players to 53 particularly difficult.

Wide receiver and linebacker have been particularly hard hit.

Out of five or six wide out spots there are three injuries: Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback and Sam Hurd, who should all miss the season opener. Austin and Stanback are also the top two kick returners. The only other receivers guaranteed to make the team are starters Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton.

At linebacker, backups Anthony Spencer and Kevin Burnett are both recovering from knee injuries.

Both spots create some difficulties for the first week. The team won't want to cut a player who can contribute for the bulk of the season for a one-week player.

The problem is especially acute at wide receiver, where the Cowboys will have to keep Mike Jefferson or Danny Amendola, just to have a backup at the position in week one.

At linebacker, the Cowboys can probably get by at backup for a couple weeks with Bobby Carpenter, Justin Rogers and either Erik Walden or Tearrius George (whichever one survives the cut).

Of course the real thing to watch will be if Jerry Jones makes a run at Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, who is unhappy in the desert and has been the focus of long-time trade speculation.

That move would create problems too because he wouldn't likely contribute on special teams, as Amendola or Jefferson would, and he would need time he wouldn't have to get familiar with Jason Garrett's offense.

Still, his long-term benefits would be far greater than either.

As always, we can expect a surprise.

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