IRVING – The Cowboys have not needed to re-shuffle their starting offensive line because of injury in three seasons, but that will change.

Left guard Kyle Kosier could miss up to six weeks because of sprained right foot and hairline fracture. He left Texas Stadium on Friday night in a walking boot and had an MRI on Saturday.

Kosier, who hasn't missed a game since his rookie season in 2002, suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 23-22 win against Houston.

With Kosier out, Joe Berger will probably start for the first time in his career. Berger, who joined the Cowboys late in 2006 off waivers from Miami, was active for three games last season and saw his only extended playing time in the season finale at Washington.

The Cowboys also have Cory Procter, who has played mostly at center the last two seasons, and James Marten as potential backup guards.

■ Stanback has dislocated shoulder: An MRI revealed Isaiah Stanback suffered a dislocated left shoulder while returning a kickoff Friday night.

Stanback had surgery after suffering a dislocated shoulder last season, but a decision on another operation has not been made. The Cowboys' receiving core is already without Miles Austin, who probably will miss the first two games because of a knee injury.

■ Spears making progress: Jay Ratliff and Tank Johnson have gotten most of the attention at nose tackle. But Marcus Spears, who is splitting time at defensive end and nose tackle, has quietly made an impact. Spears had two tackles and generated good pressure against the Texans.

"I'm happy with some of the plays I'm making," Spears said. "But as far as technique goes, I think I still have a long way to go."

■ Fumbles a problem: The Cowboys had one fumble in the first two preseason games. They had four against Houston.

Stanback lost the ball on a kick return, and Felix Jones fumbled at the Texans' 9-yard line. Tony Romo lost his grip coming out from under center, but he corralled the ball just before a handoff. Evan Oglesby was also charged with a fumble when a punt glanced off his body. Teammate Patrick Watkins recovered the live ball at Dallas' 45.

■ Offense gets on track: The first-team offense racked up 266 total yards in the first half, but Cowboys' players insisted they didn't go very deep into the playbook.

One reason the offense looked better was a lack of penalties. The Cowboys had one penalty for 4 yards in the first half. They finished the game with five for 38 yards.

■ Texans receiver to have surgery today: Houston coach Gary Kubiak said injured receiver Harry Williams will have surgery today to repair a fractured vertebra in his neck.

Williams, 26, was hurt early in the Texans' loss to the Cowboys when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while trying to make a tackle on a kick return.

Kubiak said Williams' condition hadn't changed since team doctor Walter Lowe said early Saturday that Williams had regained feeling in his extremities and most of his normal neurological function.

Staff Writer Brian Davis and the Associated Press contributed to this report.