By: natalie_113
There were plenty of interesting things coming out of the first week of Cowboys training camp, with most of it generated by the owner and his mouth. Starting with the lingering Dez Bryant soap opera right before camp stemming from ”allegedly” hitting his mom. Jones made his first public response at training camp by saying ”I’m too pissed to talk to him.” Then, speaking at a fan event to open the team’s training camp in Oxnard, California, Jerry Jones offered up these words of encouragement (via ESPNDallas.com): “Y’all should come to that (Cowboys) stadium and watch us beat the Giants‘ ass.” I’m trying to figure out what Jerry Jones meant by,”I want some glory holes?” Right now, the Cowboys and their owner appear to be all over the place including injuries.
Related: I want me some glory hole
The Cowboys are being hit hard by injuries the first week of training camp in California. By last count, there are 15 to 20 injured players and that includes six likely starters. Starting with the veteran receiver, Miles Austin, who missed the last six games in 2011 because of pulls to both hamstrings. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said he, “did not believe the injury was serious,” but Austin does have a history with this injury. The Cowboys are planning on keeping the wide receiver out of practice for at least a week . Jason Garret said,” his hamstring injuries could be a result of how hard he works.” However, this injury could jeopardize his availability for the preseason opener against Oakland. Next, the rookie Morris Claiborne who has already missed the off season practices while recovering from wrist surgery, has a minor sprain of his medial collateral ligament. He is expected to be ready in a week. These two are definitely needed if the Cowboys are going to make a run to win the NFC East.
One thing for is sure, Jerry Jones doesn’t seem to be too worried. At least, not right now. “I wouldn’t say they’re dropping like flies,” Jones said. “We’ve got some work to do and we’re probably going to have to look at bringing some guys in. The good news is there are no catastrophic injuries or ones that will linger for the long haul, but shoot, this is training camp. We go through this every year.
Week two should be just as interesting as week one, but should focus more on football and less on what the owner is or isn’t saying. Let’s just hope Cowboys fans with the first scrimmage this Sunday, it will yield some positive results with no more injuries. This injury list needs to dwindle down and quickly with the regular season right around the corner and the first preseason game next Monday, August 13th, at Oakland.
WR Miles Austin – Was held out of the end of Saturday’s practice after tweaking his hamstring. Stephen Jones said the team is not concerned, but he missed six games last year with hamstring injuries, not to mention most of training camp.
RB Lance Dunbar - Sat on the sidelines without pads during team drills Saturday with a tight hamstring. Dunbar said “I can’t afford to miss any preseason games.”
TE John Phillips – Midway through Saturday’s practice, he limped into the locker room with an ankle injury. Jones said he doesn’t anticipate the club signing a new tight end right now.
DE Marcus Spears – Team doctors administered a concussion test during Saturday’s practice. After leaving the field, Spears said: “I’ll see in the morning how I feel.”
CB Morris Claiborne – Sprained his MCL during practice Wednesday. He tried to play through it Friday, but left before team drills and had an MRI. Claiborne said he should be ready in a week.
G Mackenzy Bernadeau – Passed his physical and was taken off PUP on Saturday. Has yet to practice once with the club because of hip surgery he underwent soon after signing as a free agent in March. He is also working back from a minor knee scope late in the offseason.
WR Danny Coale – Moved off PUP on Saturday after passing physical. NFLPA rules state players still must sit out three days, so because of Wednesday’s off day, his first practice should be Thursday.
RB Phillip Tanner – Will fly to Dallas for surgery on his right hand on Sunday, but may be able to return in a week or two.
WR Saalim Hakim – chipped a bone in his left ring finger on Friday and will go with Tanner to see a hand specialist on Sunday. He’ll miss roughly a week.
G Nate Livings – Sustained a hamstring injury that will sideline him for the scrimmage Sunday and possibly a day or two after that.
OLB Anthony Spencer – Sitting out with a hamstring injury he tweaked on Friday. Likely won’t play in the scrimmage and could miss a few days next week.
DE Jason Hatcher – Held out of Saturday’s practice with slight hamstring injury.
CB Mike Jenkins – Still not practicing because of shoulder injury that required surgery back in January. Could be two weeks away from returning, but seems to be making good progress in his conditioning.
FS Matt Johnson - Off the PUP list but hasn’t practiced with the team yet after recovering from a hamstring injury. He’s been mostly doing workouts with resistance cords on the sideline at practice.
SS Gerald Sensabaugh –First practice back in pads after being held out for knee injury. Underwent minor scope back in early July.
DE Tyrone Crawford – Returned to practice after missing some time Friday with a slight knee injury.
DT Jay Ratliff – The Cowboys are being overly cautious with his foot injury, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. He’s gone through some of the walk-through practices, but it’s unlikely he will be turned loose anytime soon.
G Kevin Kowalski – Wearing a hard cast up to his knee although it’s diagnosed as an ankle injury. He is still on PUP and likely won’t get the chance to practice for another 2-3 weeks, if not longer.
G Bill Nagy – Suffered a high-ankle sprain early in camp and should miss 2-4 weeks. Wearing a walking boot.
Good article…very informative…keep up the good work