Why the Cowboys are remaining patient with still absent defensive tackle David Irving
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving remains absent from the team dealing with a personal family issue, per coach Jason Garrett.
Irving, who missed the first four games of the season under NFL suspension, officially returned last Tuesday meeting. He practiced Wednesday but missed Thursday and Friday for personal reasons and didn’t make the trip for the team’s 19-16 overtime loss at the Houston Texans.
He was expected back for meetings on Tuesday after Monday’s day off.
But didn’t return Tuesday and was also absent Wednesday because of the ongoing family issue.
Garrett said it’s his understanding that Irving will return on Thursday and practice the rest of the week so he can be ready for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Physically he is (cleared to play,” Garrett said. “He just hasn’t practiced very much. Our hope is he’s able to do that starting tomorrow and hopefully get him ready for the game this weekend. Yeah, just trying to get it resolved.”
Garrett said the Cowboys are remaining patient and supportive of Irving as he handles some challenges in his personal life because he is a difference-making pass rusher. He had seven sacks in 8 games last season.
“Yeah, sometimes guys have issues that they have to deal with and in order for them to be the kind of player you want them to be they got to get those issues handled,” Garrett said. “So we feel good about where our defensive line is. Those guys who’ve been playing for us have been playing very well. It’s competitive. David’s been a good player for us and hopefully he can get some things resolved, get back and start competing for some playing time and help our defense.”
The Cowboys have been patient for a while.
Irving has had just one practice since last November as he missed the final four games of 2017 because of a concussion.
He then missed the entire offseason program and OTAs because of family issues and drama after gaining sole custody of his daughter.
He returned for minicamp to avoid being fined but was subsequently suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Irving was then excused from training camp to go through substance abuse counseling as well as handle some off the field issues.
He returned to the Cowboys in September where he resumed his strength and conditioning so he would be ready to play when the suspension was completed.
That was last week and Cowboys still don’t know when he will practice or play, though they are hopeful the latter is Sunday.
Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford said if anyone can play off of just a couple of practices, it’s Irving.
“He’s something special,” Crawford said. “His wingspan does it all. Yeah, he has to show up in practice to play, for sure. We know that. It’s obvious you have to know what we’re doing during the week. I feel like when he comes tomorrow he’ll get everything he needs to know to get out there on Sunday.”
Crawford said no one in the locker room is mad Irving because they understand what he is dealing with.
“The issues that are going on with David are things that have to be handled and that’s what he’s doing,” Crawford said. “He’s handling them. I don’t fault the man for handling what he has to handle as a man.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2018 at 11:37 AM.