IRVING, Texas – Fullback Deon Anderson underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Anderson is expected to miss two to four weeks, coach Wade Phillips said. Undrafted rookie Chris Gronkowski will fill in as the Cowboys’ starting fullback.
“We feel good about him,” Phillips said despite Gronkowski only playing a couple of offensive snaps in the season opener.
Anderson’s injury leaves the Cowboys with one healthy fullback and two tight ends on the gameday roster. The Cowboys typically carry a total of four players at those two positions. Phillips said there aren’t any plans to sign a fullback or tight end now.
“That could change,” he said.
The Cowboys could promote one of their practice squad tight ends, Martin Rucker or Scott Chandler.
This is the third consecutive season Anderson has had knee problems. He missed two games in 2008 and sat out all of the 2009 preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Anderson was placed on injured reserve midway through his rookie season in 2007 with a torn rotator cuff.