Travis Frederick’s next move probably not ideal for the Dallas Cowboys

All-Pro center Travis Frederick is unlikely to be ready to return to the Dallas Cowboys in the near future so a trip to the injured reserve list is very probable, a source said.

Cowboys’ owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on KRLD/105.3 The Fan that the organization now has a better idea of exactly when Frederick could return from a bout with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder. Frederick has been sideline since the diagnosis in August.

“We now know something that we didn’t know when he first realized he had this syndrome,” Jones said. “We know today it will take X weeks We’re in a better position to make a decision on IR for a few weeks than we were when we first learned of this.”

Jones said Frederick is expected to be cleared to play before the season is over. But if he’s placed on injured reserve on Saturday, for example, to make room for defensive end David Irving (who is coming off a four-game suspension), Frederick wouldn’t be able to return for eight weeks. Frederick, if healthy, could conceivably return for the final four games, beginning with home against the Eagles on Dec. 9.

“We know how long it would take him if he had complete clearance to develop his play strength,” Jones said. “His play strength has lessened. He could get his play strength back if he was at a point in time when he could really start gaining on it.”

This story was originally published October 5, 2018 at 12:25 PM.