Cowboys place S Watkins on IR

Dec 3, 2008 - 12:21 AM IRVING, Texas (Ticker)-- The Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday placed safety Pat Watkins on injured reserve, clearing a roster space for the return of cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.

Watkins, who has played mostly on special teams, has been bothered by a neck stinger. The third-year pro recorded 21 tackles in eight games.

The Cowboys will use the open roster space to activate Jones, who returned to practice on Monday following a second suspension. Jones is expected to return punts against the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) on Sunday.

The troubled cornerback was suspended for four games on October 14, one week after his latest off-the-field incident - an altercation with his bodyguard at a Dallas-area hotel. That incident came just seven weeks after he was reinstated by Goodell following a 17-month suspension that caused him to miss the entire 2007 season.

Since alcohol was involved in the October incident, Jones' actions violated terms of his previous reinstatement.

Goodell had suspended Jones for a minimum of four games and said he would determine the final length of the ban following the Cowboys' Week 11 game against the Washington Redskins. A history of legal problems - including six arrests - has plagued Jones since entering the league as a first-round draft choice in 2005.