Although it seemed positive that Clinton Portis played last week, maybe they should've simply waited. Portis has been ruled out in this week's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

"He didn't practice today. If a guy doesn't practice, he's not going to play," said Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs.

Ladell Betts, T.J. Duckett, and Rock Cartwright will be the available running backs against the Cowboys this week. Portis will miss the game due to soreness, and is supposedly not related to the shoulder injury he originally had.

"It's really just because of soreness," Gibbs said. "Actually, it's in a different spot in his shoulder. He's got some soreness there that lingered and kept him from practicing this week."

Ironically, Portis did not even realize a decision was made by Gibbs to confirm Portis' fate for this week's game.

"I thought it was a game-time decision," he said. "As of now, my bag's packed and ready to go to Dallas, unless they come and tap me on the shoulder in the near future and tell me I ain't going."

Last week, Portis ran the ball fairly well, carrying it ten times for 39 yards. The Redskins lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 19-16.