Right tackle Jon Jansen will likely return to the starting lineup for the first time since the 2007 opener when the Washington Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Stephon Heyer was back in practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday but wasn't 100 percent because of the left should he sprained in the victory four days earlier over the Arizona Cardinals.

"I think Jon will probably start," offensive line coach Joe Bugel said after practice. "Stephon didn't look real good in practice because his shoulder was bothering him. I have tremendous trust in Jon. He's played against Dallas so many times."

Coach Jim Zorn said that Heyer is questionable for the game but his status could be decided as soon as Friday.

"He's got his range of motion back, but [his shoulder] is very sore," Zorn said.

Jansen, Washington's starter when healthy the previous nine seasons, broke his right leg and dislocated his right ankle in the 2007 opener against the Miami Dolphins and missed the rest of the season. Rookie free agent Heyer started six games in his place, including the playoff loss to Zorn's Seattle Seahawks. Former Dolphins and Houston Texans regular Todd Wade started the other 10 games but was one of the final cuts this summer. Zorn surprised Jansen by benching him for Heyer before this month's opener against the New York Giants.

-- David Elfin

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