Jerry Jones: Disrespect flag and you won’t play

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the NFL can’t leave the impression that it tolerates players disrespecting the flag and that any of his players making such displays won’t play.

Jones had his strongest comments so far on the anthem controversy Sunday night. They started with his response to a question about Vice President Mike Pence leaving the game in Indianapolis after about a dozen San Francisco players knelt during the anthem.

“I know this, we cannot ... in the NFL in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag,” Jones said. “We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind that the National Football League and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag. So we’re clear.”

Jones said showing respect for the flag and the anthem is more important to him than any potential issues of team unity.

“If there’s anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play. OK? Understand?” he said. “If we are disrespecting the flag, then we won’t play. Period.”

INJURY REPORT >> A pair of Pro Bowl-level players left the field with possibly season-ending injuries Sunday.

The Giants’ receiving corps took a big hit when Odell Beckham Jr. went down with a broken ankle, after the unit had already lost Sterling Shepard and Brandon Marshall to sprained ankles. The Giants finished the game with just one receiver.

“It was insane,” Giants cornerback Eli Apple said. “Did we even have any more receivers? I thought I was going to have to go out and play receiver.”

The Texans’ three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt suffered a broken leg.

Other notable injury victims included Ravens running back Terrance West (calf), Packers receiver Jordy Nelson (undisclosed). Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), and 49ers cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion) and Asa Jackson (hamstring).