IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter said he was told his strained right quadriceps will need 10-14 days to heal, knocking him out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
"It's just one of those things where the body has to heal it just with him," Carter said. "Just rehab basically. I've just got to keep doing my rehab and I should be fine. ... Hopefully it goes a lot faster than that. I want to get back out there."
Carter was hurt in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' win against the New Orleans Saints, while chasing down running back Khiry Robinson on a 62-yard run. He was replaced by Rolando McClain in the nickel defense.
"I felt like I got shot," Carter said. "I was opening up about to catch him and then just, 'Pow! Out of nowhere.'"
Former Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware missed three games last season with a quadriceps strain.
"It's just something how your body responds to it," Carter said. "Some guys are different so hopefully my recovery time will be lot faster than his."
Coach Jason Garrett said Carter played one of his best games against the Saints. He deflected a pass that led to a Justin Durant interception. He finished with six tackles and two pass deflections. He leads the Cowboys with 29 tackles to go with one sack, three quarterback pressures, an interception and four pass breakups.
In the base defense, Kyle Wilber is Carter's backup as the strong-side linebacker. McClain, who played through a groin strain, could continue in the nickel defense with Durant moving over to the weak-side spot.
"This is a minor setback but at the same time it's part of football," Carter said. "It happens around the league all the time. I just got to get my body back right and I'll be fine."