IRVING, Texas — And the last may be first.

With Marion Barber still questionable with a quadriceps strain and Felix Jones out of Sunday’s game and possibly until after the bye week with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament, the Dallas Cowboys might be down to their third running back in Denver.
If so, the Cowboys have no problem turning the keys to the league’s No. 1-ranked rushing offense over to Tashard Choice ... again.
A fourth-round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2008, Choice came out of nowhere to rescue the Cowboys as a rookie. Choice started three of the last four games, subbing for an injured Barber and Jones, and finished second on the team with 472 yards and a 5.1 yards per carry average.
He proved himself again in Monday’s 21-7 win over Carolina. Barber was idle because of the injury and Jones was sidelined in the third quarter. Choice rushed 18 times for 82 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown that put the Cowboys in the lead for good.
“He is a guy that can handle the role,” receiver Roy Williams said. “He showed guys last year what he could do. He showed guys in the last game what he could do. He has already proven himself. He is not the big-name guy. Tashard Choice is very good. He is not a bad choice at all.”
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo said he has full confidence in Choice, not in just his ability to run but to also block in the passing game. It’s one reason why Choice earned the spot as the third-down back in the offense at the start of the season.
“He is a smart, smart kid,” Romo said. “He knows all the protections. He is one of the smarter backs I have been around. I feel good about him.”
The Cowboys don’t exactly know who is going to play on Sunday. Barber did more in practice Wednesday than any time since suffering the injury against the New York Giants on Sept. 20. He wanted to play against Carolina and it will be hard to keep him off the field Sunday.
“I’m optimistic for Sunday about Marion,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said. “Marion wants to play. He wanted to play last week. He thought he could play last week. (Thursday’s) practice will determine a lot.”
Jones is the one certainty of not playing.
Choice said he’s ready for whatever he’s called on to do, start or share the load with Barber.
“Being put in that position last year and coming through and showing the team and then having to come back this year and doing well for the football team is really important,” Choice said. “Once those guys look at you in the huddle and know that you can play, it’s a good feeling.”
Choice feels good because he has earned the trust of his teammates with his hard work and performance.
But he doesn’t deny he still runs with an angry chip on his shoulder, fueled by years of being overshadowed and overlooked dating back to college. He was forced to transfer from Oklahoma to Georgia Tech because current Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson was carrying the load for the Sooners. Choice went on to lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing as a senior, but felt snubbed on draft day when he lasted until the fourth round and joined the Cowboys as a little-known third-teamer behind Barber and Jones.
“Yes, it kills me,” Choice said. “Some people say, ’He’s really good, but he’s overshadowed.’ It’s just something you always carry around, it’s something I always will.”
It’s something he says he will certainly carry with him on the field in Denver, as he does in every game and every time he touches the ball.
“All the time, and that’s how I look at it,” Choice said. “You don’t get that many opportunities to play the game. So every chance you get, you’ve got to make sure you go all out. So every chance I get to step in ... I’ll just keep ’ballin’ until somebody finally says ’OK, this guy is a pretty good football player.’ “
The Cowboys are already saying it.