Gerald McCoy suffers season-ending injury in Dallas Cowboys’ first padded practice
The Dallas Cowboys suffered their first significant setback of the year on Monday when newly-signed defensive tackle Gerald McCoy went down with a season-ending leg injury during the team’s first padded practice of training camp.
Team vice president Stephen Jones said McCoy has a ruptured right quad tendon and is out for the year. It certainly didn’t look good when it happened. McCoy, who tried to walk on his own after being helped off the field, needed help again from the trainers as he walked up the tunnel. The injury occurred when nose tackle Antwaun Woods accidentally stepped on McCoy’s foot during a drill.
“It’s obviously tough,” Jones said. “It’s part of the game. You see injuries around the league every day. Unfortunately that’s why you have to have a deep roster. You never know when things like this are going to happen and it’s certainly disappointing. We’re first and foremost disappointed about Gerald but also it’s disappointing for us.”
A six-time Pro Bowl lineman, McCoy signed a three-year, $18.3 million contract in March to help give the Cowboys push up the middle as a pass rusher as a veteran upgrade for the departed Maliek Collins.
McCoy’s injury came shortly after coach Mike McCarthy sung his praises in an early morning press conference with the media before practice.
“He’s a perennial Pro Bowler and he looks great,” McCarthy said. “Can’t say enough about the shape he’s in and just the energy that he brings to our defensive front. I’ve had an opportunity to be with Gerald on probably too many Pro Bowls because when you coach multiple Pro Bowls, you’re there too much. He’s a great fit for us. We look for him to be a force inside.”
McCoy was a major free agency acquisition as the Cowboys transition to a multiple defense under Mike Nolan. He was going to play the 3-technique tackle in the 4-3 and end in the 3-4.
Jones said the Cowboys will now look to 2019 second-round pick Trysten Hill, who assumed the starting slot for the rest of practice, and rookie third-round pick Neville Gallimore to step up in place of McCoy. Versatile veteran Tyrone Crawford is also an option.
All eyes are now on the two younger players, especially Hill, who was a disappointment as a rookie last season when he was inactive for nine games and recorded just five tackles.
“Well, obviously, both those guys are high picks for us that we certainly have high expectations for,” Jones said. “Both play the same position as Gerald. Looking forward to seeing how they can do, certainly.
“We always hope players continue to get better,” Jones continued when asked about Hill. “Trysten was young, a young player last year and had some vets in front of him. It’s time for him to step up. Our current coaching staff feel really good about him. They’ve been encouraged with him in the meeting rooms and how he’s digesting the system and certainly also are encouraged by what they’ve seen so far.“
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 10:58 AM.
