Marion Barber suffered a dislocated pinkie toe Thursday. The Cowboys don’t believe it is serious.

The year of the pinkie in Dallas. “I’m optimistic about both of them,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the game, referring to Barber and DeMarcus Ware, who had a minor knee injury. “They’re thumbs up.” We’d still grab Tashard Choice on waivers in case, but this is encouraging. The Dallas Morning News calls Barber’s status for Week 14 “uncertain” which is to be expected at this stage.

The team might not believe it’s serious, but the situation shouldn’t be downplayed. This wouldn’t be much of an issue if rookie Felix Jones was healthy, but he’s not and the ‘Boys need a healthy Barber the rest of the way if they expect to make the playoffs. While Romo and the passing game get most of the pub, Barber has been the backbone of the Cowboys’ offense. This could be a huge blow if he suffers any sort of setback.

Team sources said that Quinn and the team made the decision together Tuesday. Sources say that not only has the break in his right index finger worsened, but it is also starting to injure the tendons as well.

“I knew (further injury) was a consequence if I went in and played,” Quinn said Wednesday. “That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again.”

Quinn is now trying to decide whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint. Whatever he decides, the second-year QB, who waited 25 games to make his first NFL start, will miss the Browns’ final five games in what has been a disastrous season for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.

“It’s frustrating,” said the former Notre Dame star, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.

That’s really disappointing news for a young player. Nothing has gone right in Cleveland this year and it’s a shame that Quinn’s first starting experience is ending so soon. Derek Anderson now gets the opportunity to try and display his skills (I just made some Browns fans laugh) over the next five weeks, so maybe the team can deal him in the offseason. (Or he can play his way into a shot with another team after the Browns cut him.)