Rest of season uncertain for Cowboys safety Woodson

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ Dallas safety Darren Woodson won't play Sunday against Washington, and admits his status for the rest of the season is uncertain because of a broken right forearm that is worse

Wednesday, December 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ Dallas safety Darren Woodson won't play Sunday against Washington, and admits his status for the rest of the season is uncertain because of a broken right forearm that is worse than reported.

``The crack goes straight through,'' Woodson said Wednesday. ``It's a week-to-week thing. We've got to wait and see what happens ... and how it feels.''

When Woodson suffered the injury in the first half Nov. 19 at Baltimore, it was initially reported as a slight fracture.

While Woodson remains upbeat, putting on his shirt is a trying task these days because of the immobility of the injured arm.

That difficulty would indicate that Woodson is through playing this year. Still, the three-time All-Pro refuses to say that he won't play again in his ninth NFL season _ all with the Cowboys.

``I haven't thought about that,'' he said.

After Washington, Dallas (4-9) has games left at home against the New York Giants and then the season finale Christmas night at Tennessee.

Woodson had nine tackles, many of them one-armed stops after the injury, in the 27-0 loss to Baltimore. He returned in the second half with a cast, not concerned about the possibility of doing more damage to his right arm.

``I didn't think of it that way. I just thought about getting out there and playing,'' Woodson said. ``You get going a little bit and your adrenaline gets going a little bit.''

The cast that had extended beyond Woodson's elbow was removed this week. He now has a removable molded plastic brace, one he referred to Wednesday as ``my new arm.''

Woodson, who wasn't wearing a cast or his new brace, said he could do little more than squeeze a ball. His new specialty is signing autographs left-handed.

More difficult that dealing with the physical aspects of the broken arm is Woodson's desire to be on the field. He said it has been difficult to sit and watch the past two games, even though the Cowboys are struggling and out of the playoff chase.

``It's been hard not being out there because I've been playing with these guys for a long time,'' Woodson said. ``Even though we are not having a great season on the field, we are still competitors and want to be out there playing with each other.''