ARLINGTON -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked after Sunday's win against Kansas City about the status of tight end Rico Gathers.

Gathers is still recovering from a head injury and concussion he suffered Aug. 15 during a training camp practice because of a helmet-to-helmet hit with safety Kavon Frazier. Gathers was placed on the injured reserve list before the season and is eligible to return now.

Gathers hasn't returned to practice since his injury, and Jones didn't sound optimistic about the tight end's return to the active roster anytime soon, if at all this season.

"Yeah, he's missed a lot of time," Jones said, "and that's all I can say."

Gathers stayed away from team headquarters for more than a month before returning to The Star on Oct. 5 to weigh in. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett has been vague -- even elusive at times -- in his comments about Gathers, simply saying he's making progress. But Gathers hasn't made enough progress to return to practice, a sign that he isn't close to playing again.

Gathers has been working out recently with Cowboys strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik.

The former Baylor basketball player spent all of his rookie season on the Cowboys' practice squad, learning the NFL after not having played football since the eighth grade. Gathers impressed during the preseason, catching seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys already have four tight ends on their roster in Jason Witten, James Hanna, Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin.

Briefly

-- The Cowboys are again playing laundry basketball in the locker room - shooting an oversized tennis ball into the hampers. It was a staple last season.

-- LB Jaylon Smith played his fewest defensive snaps of the season (17) against Kansas City.