Eagles DE Cole is back and raring to go

Here are things to look for when the Eagles face the Cowboys on Sunday night.

For the first time since his rookie season in 2005, Trent Cole missed a game because of injury. The Eagles defensive end, in fact, missed the last two because of a calf strain. But he's back and raring to go. Cole's chief assignment? To get around Dallas left tackle Doug Free and get after quarterback Tony Romo.

Since 2008, DeSean Jackson has a league-best 14 touchdowns covering more than 50 yards. It's the signature play for the explosive Eagles wide receiver, but Jackson has been relatively quiet through six games. Could this be the game he takes a long one to the house? Last December, Jackson's 91-yard fourth-quarter, catch-and-run touchdown that ended with a Nestea plunge into the end zone sealed an Eagles victory.

How will the Eagles use their trio of cornerbacks this week? Will Nnamdi Asomugha help out in the slot against ever-dangerous tight end Jason Witten? Will he be matched up exclusively against receiver Dez Bryant, who like Witten is 6-foot-2? Will Asante Samuel be asked to play more press cover? And will Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie continue to play more nickel than the more-suited-for-the-position Joselio Hanson?

As expected, rookies Jason Kelce and Danny Watkins have had their roller-coaster moments at center and right guard, respectively. Kelce will mostly be responsible for blocking Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Atypically, Kelce doesn't give away much in size - he weighs 282 pounds to Ratliff's 287 - but he does have a distinct disadvantage in experience.

The Washington game was easily the finest for Eagles safeties this season. With Jarrad Page on the bench, where he should be, Kurt Coleman stepped in and made a career-high three interceptions. His cohort Nate Allen added another. If the Eagles are to limit Dallas' athletic receiving targets, Coleman and Allen are going to have to make their presence known early.

Appropriately, cornerback Eric Allen and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will be inducted into the Eagles Honor Roll at halftime. Allen, who was voted into the Pro Bowl five times as an Eagle, is considered by some to be the greatest corner in franchise history. And Johnson, who died two years ago, will forever be remembered as one of the NFL's innovative defensive minds. His legacy lives on with the handful of former assistants who are now either head coaches or defensive coordinators around the league.