Garrett: C.J. Spillman still on team

IRVING, Texas -- C.J. Spillman's status on the Dallas Cowboys' roster will not change unless he is charged or arrested in connection with a sexual assault investigation from Sept. 20 at a Grapevine, Texas, hotel, according to coach Jason Garrett.

"I think you have to be careful with just accusations and allegations in this situation," Garrett said Thursday. "When someone is officially charged or arrested for something, that's when it becomes a different situation in our minds. For now, he's a member of our football team and will take part in everything we do to this point."

Grapevine police confirmed that Spillman is being investigated in connection with an alleged sexual assault at the Gaylord Hotel. According to a source, Spillman has cooperated fully with police.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday the league has been "looking into the matter and will continue to do so."

"I think with C.J. we just don't know enough," Cowboys tight endJason Wittensaid. "He's my teammate. I just found out about it earlier in the day. But as I said before, the expectations and standards for us is high and it needs tobe high. We'll see how that plays out and we respect him and he's been a great asset for our team and his interaction with us he's a true pro."

The alleged incident occurred before the Cowboys flew to St. Louis to take on the Rams. Spillman played the next day, as well as in last week's game against the New Orleans Saints. Garrett said Spillman, who joined the Cowboys on Aug. 31, has played "very well" in a special-teams role. He has been credited with two tackles in the first four games.

The news of the investigation broke the day after Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones made comments regarding domestic violence to the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce's Leaders in Business luncheon.

"I think our head coach as well as our organization have been very clear with our players on domestic violence and on several other issues, that if you are involved and have this type of issue, you are going to be accountable," Jones said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "It means that you will not play. Due process is not enough now. As we have seen, certainly no one waiting to go through due process [thinks it] is fast enough."

The NFL has been under fire for several off-the-field incidents involving domestic violence and child abuse. As a result, the league has enacted a new domestic violence policy.

Unless something changes legally with Spillman's status, he will continue to practice and play.

"I think that's the definition of due process," Garrett said. "There has to be a charge or an arrest made, and then due process begins. We're certainly not at that point in this situation."

ESPNDallas.com's Calvin Watkins contributed to this report.