OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer can't shake a troublesome knee problem.
Backup Tyrone Crawford is out for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon.
The Cowboys have to hope the first two days of training camp aren't a trend after figuring they would be better than last year simply by being healthier. But they're trying not to dwell on it.
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"When you let stuff like that creep into you, that's a cancer for the team," said Jason Hatcher, one of the healthy defensive linemen. "Last year we lost a lot of guys, but I think we played our butts off. We're just going to continue to do that."
The Cowboys couldn't help but feel for Crawford after he went down in a noncontact individual drill during the first full workout of camp Sunday.
Coach Jason Garrett said Monday that Crawford would return to the Dallas area for surgery this week.
Dallas was already without defensive tackle Jay Ratliff, who strained a hamstring on the pre-camp conditioning test after missing 10 games last season with an ankle problem and a sports hernia that required season-ending surgery.
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Spencer sustained a hyperextended left knee during offseason workouts and said he ended up with a bone bruise in the same area after the conditioning test.
"It's concerning to me," said Spencer, who is playing on a one-year contract with the franchise tag for the second straight season. "It's bothering me right now. I really don't know what else to do, so I'm just taking it day by day."
The Cowboys also are missing Tony Romo's starting guards in Mackenzy Bernadeau, who similar to Ratliff strained a hamstring during the conditioning test, and Nate Livings, who has a foot problem.
It's too early to say the Cowboys are headed for a replay of last season, when six key defensive players had season-ending injuries. (see full story).
Redskins: Griffin tweets, 'Doctors cleared me to practice'
WASHINGTON -- Robert Griffin III has passed a major test toward his goal of playing in Week 1, getting the go-ahead from the team doctors days before the Washington Redskins open training camp.
"Doctors cleared me to practice. Coach is going to ease me in," Griffin announced Monday on Twitter.
The two sentences represent hurdles past and future. Even though Griffin says he has the medical OK, it is now up to coach Mike Shanahan to determine how often and how vigorously Griffin practices when the Redskins open camp Thursday in Richmond, Va.
The Redskins had no comment on Griffin's tweet. However, a person familiar with the situation said the Redskins have cleared Griffin to practice. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the club has not made an announcement.
Still, it seems more likely than ever that Griffin will be under center when the Redskins open the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 9, just eight months after he had reconstructive surgery on his right knee. (see full story).