IRVING, Texas — Roy Williams headed home to Texas on Tuesday in the NFL’s biggest trade before the deadline, giving the Cowboys another proven receiver opposite Terrell Owens.
The winless Lions traded their 2004 first-round pick and one-time Pro Bowler for three draft picks, from the first, third and sixth rounds in 2009. Detroit also gave the Cowboys a seventh-rounder next year.
Williams, who starred at the University of Texas, has 17 catches for 232 yards and a score this season.
“Going from 0-5 to 4-2, you can’t ask for anything better than that,” said Williams, who received a five- year extension on his contract that was set to expire after this season.
• The Lions placed quarterback Jon Kitna (back) on injured reserve, ending his season. Dan Orlovsky likely will make his second career start at Houston on Sunday.
• The Cowboys signed punter Sam Paulescu, who was in training camp with the Broncos this season, and put Mat McBriar (broken foot) on injured reserve.
Alexander signs with Redskins
ASHBURN, Va. — Former league MVP Shaun Alexander signed a one- year deal with the Redskins to back up Clinton Portis.
Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards in his 2005 MVP season, but a cracked bone in his left foot ruined his 2006 season (896 yards) and continued to hamper him — along with a broken left wrist — in 2007 (716 yards).
The Redskins also cut sixth-round draft pick Durant Brooks, who ranks last in the league in punting, and replaced him with former Seattle punter Ryan Plackemeier.
Chiefs’ Johnson faces assault charge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Larry John- son was charged with pushing a woman at a Kansas City nightclub in February, the third time the Chiefs running back has been charged with assaulting a woman.
He is to appear in court Dec. 3 and could face a maximum jail term of six months and a $500 fine.
Footnotes.
The Bills traded underperforming defensive tackle John McCargo to the Colts in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.
• Dunta Robinson, one of the NFL’s top young cornerbacks when a collision with a Texans teammate last November left his hamstring ripped off the bone and his anterior cruciate ligament torn, is expected to return to practice today and might play Sunday against Detroit.
The Associated Press
