Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church's season is likely over after he suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon, he told NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport following Sunday's 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Church, who left the game in the third quarter, said he either has a torn or partially torn Achilles.
"A heartbreaker," Church told Rapoport.
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said after the game that Church will have surgery Monday and termed the injury a "rupture."
Rookie Morris Claiborne, the No. 6 overall draft pick who is a starting cornerback, spent significant time at safety after Church was hurt.
Gerald Sensabaugh, the Cowboys' other starting safety, was inactive for the game because of a calf injury sustained in last week's loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Church left that game with a thigh bruise, but he practiced during the week and started against the Buccaneers.
Danny McCray replaced Sensabaugh in the Cowboys' starting lineup.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.