Ask Jerry Jones about the premier playmaker he expected to pair with Terrell Owens this off-season. He'll smile.

He'll tell you it is Terry Glenn. Or, at least, it could be Terry Glenn.

Jones said Glenn, the veteran wide receiver who turns 34 in July, was healthy enough to participate in organized team activities with the rest of the Cowboys this week. He was held out because the team felt there wasn't much to gain by throwing him out there since he is already familiar with the offense, but his readiness has Jones and the rest of the team optimistic.

"I'm really encouraged by the way Terry Glenn is practicing, and his strength," Jones said. "In my mind, there isn't a player out there in a given game or looking at next year that could make a bigger impact to take some of the heat off of Terrell than Terry Glenn."

After 1,000-yard seasons in 2005 and '06, Glenn, who was unavailable for comment, was injured during training camp last summer. Two knee operations cost him the first 15 games of 2007. He came back for the regular-season finale at Washington and failed to catch a pass, then registered two catches for 30 yards in the NFC divisional playoff against the Giants. Tony Romo's season-ending interception was intended for Glenn.

It was feared the arthroscopic procedures on his right knee in 2007 would lead to microfracture surgery – which could end Glenn's career – in 2008. He has avoided that and, according to his teammates, is upbeat about the possibility of returning to the field.

"He's taken the approach that he's going to get healthy," quarterback Tony Romo said. "When he does, he'll get back on the field. I assume, and I think he does, too, that he'll be fine come training camp."

That would be a boon for a Cowboys roster that hasn't been augmented at receiver during the off-season. Patrick Crayton, the incumbent opposite Owens, had 50 catches for 697 yards and seven touchdowns last season. No other Cowboys wideout recorded 20 catches.

So while the Cowboys are encouraged by the progress of a young group of receivers that includes Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Isaiah Stanback, Glenn might be the only player at the position capable of making an already potent offense better in 2008.

"I think Terry Glenn's going to surprise a lot of you guys," Romo said. "He has as much physical ability on the football field as maybe anybody I've seen.

"He's not the strongest, most physical guy in the world, but what he doesn't have there, he's probably the best at in everything else. His quickness, his ability to get in and out of breaks, his ability to sense things and get in the right positions is really special."

And that ability, it stands to reason, would make the All-Pro on the opposite side of the field better.

"We were a great tandem," Owens said. "I don't know what his status is, but when Terry's healthy, he's one of the best receivers out there. When we lost him at beginning of year, it took two or three guys to do what he did, to fill that void, so that goes to show you how good Terry is."