IRVING, Texas – Terrell Owens will miss from two to four weeks after breaking a finger Sunday night in the Dallas Cowboys’ 27-10 victory over Washington.

The controversial wide receiver broke his right ring finger and will need surgery. He said it would be Monday, but the team said it also could be Tuesday. The Cowboys have a bye next week.

Owens said he was hurt on the first or second play of the game but didn’t tell anybody until the fourth quarter. He said it was a “fluke thing” that occurred while blocking.

“I think my hand got caught on a guy’s jersey or something. I kind of felt something weird with it,” Owens said. “I just kind of felt like I jammed it. I kept playing.”

Owens, who missed much of training camp and the preseason because of a hamstring injury after signing a three-year, $25 million deal in 2006, struggled against the Redskins. Owens flubbed a pass in the end zone on the opening drive – the first of three drops. By game’s end, he was getting his hand X-rayed, his stats sealed at three catches for 19 yards.

While Owens wasn’t sure when he got hurt, he drew a personal foul penalty on the Cowboys’ first offensive snap of the game for an illegal block.

On the dropped touchdown, Owens said he was trying to gather the ball when cornerback Mike Rumph knocked the ball away.

“I didn’t really have my full strength in my hand, so I think that probably may have contributed with him punching it out,” Owens said.

The X-rays revealed the break. His right hand was partially wrapped after the game.

“I feel like I’m a quick healer,” Owens said. “Once we have the surgery, the healing process will start. … I’m going to try to get back as soon as I can.”

After Owens felt a twinge in his hamstring the first week of training camp, he missed more than 20 workouts and the first three preseason games. Two MRIs were clear, but Owens still flew in several doctors and trainers to California, plus a hyperbaric chamber, because he still didn’t feel right.