FRISCO - We reported early on Wednesday morning that safety Xavier Woods and receiver Tavon Austin are ready to jump off the injured list and onto the practice field.

In his 10:35 a.m. Wednesday media briefing here at The Star, Cowboys coach Jason Garret confirmed the good news on Woods and Austin and detailed some other injury issues, too, as the 3-0 return to practice today to begin their on-field preparations for their Sunday night Week 4 game at the New Orleans Saints.

Garrett on Xavier Woods and Tavon Austin: Available today in "limited fashion.''

Garrett on Tyrone Crawford and Antwaun Woods: No go for today.

I suggested this morning that maybe the Cowboys were extra-conservative with a few guys last week as they prepped for what would be a 31-6 drubbing of the winless Dolphins. ... and that they are far less likely to do the same here against a traditionally scary Saints bunch. 

Said owner Jerry Jones: "From top to bottom, (the Saints) are built for action and built to play and built to win football games. ... We’re going to have to have a lot going for us to get of there with a win.”

Xavier Woods injured an ankle in the final series of the Week 2 win at Washington, and while some national media projections insisted he'd miss six games, he in fact was seen doing some sideline work late last week ... and really figures to be in play by Sunday.

Austin has been in concussion protocol, thinning the receivers room even more along with Michael Gallup, who had a scope on his knee after Week 2 and will miss this week - but maybe not many after that. With no Austin, Cedric Wilson has gotten special-teams work and served as a backup receiver behind Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb and Devin Smith. The return of the explosive tough guy Austin would boost Dallas' punt-return game.

With Woods out, Darian Thompson made the start at safety in Week 3 - and coaches were pleased with his work. But Dallas thinks Xavier has star quality ... and he'd like to start demonstrating that as soon as this week.

Defensive lineman Crawford told me he'd like to return to practice today despite bursitis in both hips; my sense is that trainers will hold him back for now. Same with Antwaun Woods (knee), who is itching to return for Sunday but will be advised to take it slow at this early stage.