The Lions coverage teams are hurting, and they are going to Dallas, where last season they gave up a game-changing 97-yard punt return. They lost special teams leader Isaiah Ekejiuba to a shoulder injury last week. One gunner, Rashied Davis, was out last week with a hamstring injury and then on Wednesday had a boot on his right foot. The other gunner, Maurice Stovall, has been playing with a cast on his right hand.

So special teams coach Danny Crossman has had to move pieces around and it's not been pretty. The Lions gave up a 68-yard kickoff return and a 53-yard punt return to the Vikings last week.

Most likely, John Wendling will move back to one of the gunner spots. He had been the second outside attacker. He was the team's best gunner last season. Newly signed Anthony Madison could see some duty. Rookie LB Doug Hogue will replace Ekejiuba.

PLAYER NOTES

--QB Matthew Stafford's nine touchdown passes in three games is second in the NFL to Tom Brady (11), and he's just the second quarterback in Lions' history to accomplish the feat. Milt Plum was the other, back in 1962.

--TE Brandon Pettigrew's 11 catches Sunday broke Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders' team record for most catches in a game by a tight end (10). The 112 yards was his second 100-plus game. He's the third tight end in Lions history to have two 100-yard games - along with Sanders and Jim Gibbons.

--KR Stefan Logan finally got a chance to return some kicks Sunday. He had no returns in the first two games but on Sunday had three returns for 74 yards. One was a 27-yarder that he nearly broke.

--WR Owen Spencer, a 6-2 undrafted rookie out of NC State, was signed to the Lions' practice squad. WR Tim Toone was released. Spencer has been released by both the Titans and Seahawks.

--TE Cornelius Ingram was released from the practice squad injured list.

INJURY IMPACT

--LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder) was put on the injured list Wednesday.

--WR Rashied Davis (foot) was sent to specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C. on Wednesday. Davis, who missed the first game of his NFL career last week, said he's hopeful that surgery won't be required.

--WR Calvin Johnson (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, and it's starting to look like that's going to be the routine. The Lions will give him, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and FS Louis Delmas (hip) Wednesdays off.

--CB Aaron Berry (groin) did not practice Wednesday. If he can't play, Brandon McDonald would likely take over the nickel back spot.

--OT Jason Fox (foot) is still unable to practice.

--LB Justin Durant did not practice on Wednesday.

GAME PLAN
The Lions offense will be tested mightily. Their philosophy is to take what the defense gives them, but the Cowboys don't give much of anything. They are the No. 1 defense in the NFC (288 yards per game). They are No. 2 in the NFL is rush defense and they are just one of three teams (Tennessee and Pittsburgh) who have not allowed a pass play of 40 or more yards. The Lions do not have a run game, so there's no point in trying to force a square peg through a round hole. There's no sense in forcing deep passes either. So, like they did against the Vikings, the Lions might have to rely on the short, controlled passing game to move the ball.

Defensively, the Lions will do what they always do -- create havoc for the quarterback. Because of Tony Romo's sore ribs and general lack of mobility, it wouldn't surprise anyone if defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham went back to his old blitz-crazy methods -- though with the way the Cowboys' offensive line played last week, that might not be necessary.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

--Lions defensive front vs. Dallas QB Tony Romo -- With Romo playing with a fractured rib and other assorted ailments, and the Cowboys' rebuilt offensive line scuffling, look for the Lions to put heavy pressure throughout the game. The Lions have eight sacks in three games. It will be a major accomplishment if Romo makes it through this game.

--Lions OTs and TEs vs. Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware -- LT Jeff Backus is coming off a nightmarish performance against Vikings DE Jared Allen and part of the problem was hearing the snap counts in the crazy-loud Mall of America Field. It won't be a whole lot quieter in Dallas and Ware is having a huge season. He's got five sacks and seven pressures already. But the Cowboys will move Ware to both sides of the formation and he will rush from the inside at times. He presents the same challenge as Chiefs Tamba Hali did. The Lions contained Ware reasonably well last season, limiting him to four tackles, a half sack and three quarterback hits.

--Lions LCB Chris Houston vs. Cowboys' WR Dez Bryant -- Houston was solid last season and he's taken another step up so far this season. The Lions have put him in single coverage more this season and he's more than held his own. He limited Bryant to four catches last season.

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