There is a ’50-50 Chance’ Clinton Portis Misses Redskins-Cowboys Showdown

The NFL's second-leading rusher and MVP candidate Clinton Portis may miss the Redskins game with the Cowboys on Sunday night. Portis is nursing a knee sprain that he suffered at the end of the first quarter of last Monday's game with the Steelers.

"He's questionable," Jim Zorn said. "I'd say there's a 50-50 chance. I'm hoping that he'll be even better than that. Another day of rest, and then we'll see how he comes in on Wednesday. ... We've got to get the pain out of the knee and see how he progresses along."

That would be a devestating loss for Washington. The Redskins are already missing Portis' backup, Ladell Betts. That could mean Shaun Alexander ... who was signed less than a month ago ... could get the start in his first Redskins-Cowboys rivalry.

That game is huge. Both teams are coming off their bye weeks, which came after bad losses to physical teams. The Redskins are 6-3 and are trying to stay ahead of both the Cowboys and Eagles and within striking distance of the NFC East leading Giants. The Cowboys are hanging on at 5-4, but will get Tony Romo back after missing a month with a broken pinkie.

Dallas' job will be much easier without having to deal with Portis.

The optimist in me thinks Portis won't practice much, if at all, this week but will play on Sunday. The game is Sunday night which gives Portis several more hours of rest.