THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

IRVING, Texas -- Tony Romo just lost another one of his receiving options for the Dallas Cowboys' season opener.

Sam Hurd, the No. 3 receiver behind Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, got an MRI exam Friday and was diagnosed with a high left ankle sprain. The team said Hurd, the third Cowboys receiver hurt in the last three pre-season games, won't play Sept. 7 at Cleveland.

Hurd was injured on the opening drive of the pre-season finale, when he landed awkwardly after being tackled from behind at the end of a 35-yard reverse in the Cowboys' 16-10 victory over Minnesota.

Miles Austin (sprained right knee) and Isaiah Stanback (dislocated shoulder) were already out. Austin could be sidelined for another month after getting hurt covering a kickoff two weeks ago in Denver, and Stanback was injured returning a kickoff against Houston.

Owens and Crayton didn't play in the pre-season finale, and coach Wade Phillips acknowledged the two could be the only active wideouts for the opener. If that's the case, who would be in the No. 3 spot?

How about four-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten, who already splits wide in several formations.

"Witten can be a third receiver, obviously. He's a force as a pass receiver," Phillips said. "There's no reason you can't give it a Colts look where you've got Witten in the slot like they do with (Dallas) Clark. Witten's a force out there, so he can be a third receiver if we need him too."

Witten is already a favourite target of close friend Romo. Witten had a team-high 96 catches -- 15 more than T.O. -- for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns last season, and has averaged 69 catches over his five NFL seasons.

With tight ends Tony Curtis and rookie Martellus Bennett, the team's second-round pick, having productive camps, the Cowboys have confidence in moving Witten into the slot even more often if that's needed.

Plus, the Cowboys throw a lot to their running backs, and rookie Felix Jones has impressed with his ability to catch the ball.

Hurd, who had 19 catches for 314 yards and a touchdown last season, wasn't among the 28 Dallas players who got a break and didn't play Thursday night. He limped to the sideline after the sixth play of the game.

"We weren't going to play him a very long time, and he got hurt on the first drive," Phillips said. "I guess you could second-guess that."