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Pondering the 46: How many DTs to keep

IRVING, Texas -- As we ponder the Dallas Cowboys' 46-man roster for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, the final spot could be dictated by taste.

The first six inactives are set. Linebacker Justin Durant will not play because of a groin injury, so Korey Toomer will be active to make sure the Cowboys have six linebackers available. Defensive end Lavar Edwards won't play because of a knee injury, so Jack Crawford will play in his first game. Anthony Spencer (knee), tackle Darrion Weems (shoulder) and tackle Donald Hawkins will sit. The Cowboys will not dress a third quarterback, so Dustin Vaughan will be inactive.

The Cowboys dressed five receivers for the opener with rookie Devin Street active. That was something of a surprise to me. But now that they have shown they can get five receivers snaps in a game, let’s look at them keeping five receivers against the Titans.

To me, the decision comes down to three players for two spots -- defensive tackles Ken Bishop and Davon Coleman or fullback Tyler Clutts.

Clutts played one offensive snap against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Cowboys are not going to use a fullback, then why is he on the roster? But he can help on special teams where Coleman and Bishop can only help on kickoff return.

So now the decision is Bishop or Coleman as the fourth defensive tackle. Bishop is the nose tackle. Coleman is the under tackle. With Henry Melton expected to take more snaps this week and McClain and Tyrone Crawford able to take some three-technique spots, that might make Coleman, who started the opener, more expendable. The Titans like to run the ball out of three-wide-receiver sets, so maybe keeping a more traditional run-stopper on the field makes more sense. Carrying five defensive tackles would be too much of a luxury. There just aren’t enough snaps for a fifth defensive tackle.

So the guess at the inactives for Week 2 is: Durant, Spencer, Weems, Edwards, Hawkins, Vaughan and Bishop.