Cowboys: Jay Ratliff suffers another ankle injury

Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff has already missed five games this year with an ankle sprain, and Sunday night against the Falcons he was hurt again and had to leave the game.

Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Ratliff missed five games already this year with a high-ankle sprain, and now he’s hurt again.

Ratliff suffered another left-ankle injury late in the first half Sunday against the Falcons as Atlanta marched for a game-tying field goal. Ratliff returned to the sideline for the second half but was holding his helmet on the Cowboys’ first defensive series.

Ratliff suffered the initial injury Aug. 25 in the preseason against the Rams. It was his first appearance of the preseason after missing most of training camp and the first two games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Since his return, Ratliff has been stellar in the middle, anchoring a defensive line against Carolina and New York the last two games. And he was very active against the Falcons before his injury.

The Cowboys, already missing versatile lineman Sean Lissemore because of a high-ankle sprain, will use Josh Brent in the middle and possibly Marcus Spears, if needed. Brent had a sack on the Cowboys’ first defensive possession of the second half.

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