Any doubt that the Redskins, who had the earliest start to training camp (July 20), played the most preseason games (five) and had the latest bye (Nov. 5), need their current five-day break from football?

Here's the rundown on the critical ailing Redskins:

Cornerback Shawn Springs, who missed four of the past five games with a strained calf and who also sat out the opener with a leg injury, promised he would play on Nov. 16 against Dallas. Springs was injured in the victory over the archrival Cowboys on Sept. 28. If Springs is true to his word, he could well draw longtime foe, Terrell Owens.

Defensive end Jason Taylor, who missed the first Dallas game after undergoing emergency calf surgery six days earlier, is less sure to be ready for the rematch against the Cowboys and his brother-in-law and ex-Miami teammate Zach Thomas. Taylor missed three of the past six games because of the calf, on which he had a second procedure on Oct. 27.

"The doctors say that rest is the best thing for it so I'm not going to do much during the bye week," said Taylor, the active sacks leader who had just one for the Redskins in a disappointing Washington debut season. "We'll see how it is when we get back to work."

Top receiver Santana Moss played against the Steelers but had just two catches for 14 yards after sitting out practice all last week with a hamstring he strained against Detroit. Moss left the Pittsburgh game when the hamstring tightened but expects to be ready for the Cowboys.

"It didn't get worse," Moss said. "It pretty much held up so that's a good thing."

Like Moss, Pro Bowl offensive tackle Chris Samuels played hurt against the Steelers but didn't seriously aggravate the sprained knee that had ended his consecutive games streak of almost five years duration against the Lions.

NFL rushing leader Clinton Portis bruised a knee, and strongside linebacker Marcus Washington strained a rotator cuff against the Steelers. But they, like Samuels and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (shoulder), cornerback Carlos Rogers (heel) and safety LaRon Landry (hamstring), figure to be ready for Dallas.

Both reserve defensive tackles were hurt against Pittsburgh. Anthony Montgomery was in a walking boot on Tuesday because of a strained Achilles' tendon. Lorenzo Alexander, who went into the game with an ailing toe, sprained a shoulder.

Like everyone else on his roster except perhaps rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly (chronic knee) and No. 2 running back Ladell Betts (out since Oct. 12 with a sprained knee), coach Jim Zorn expects all of his injured players to be available against the Cowboys.