Amari Cooper, DeMarcus Lawrence among Dallas Cowboys starting camp on injured list
One step forward. One step back.
The excitement of quarterback Dak Prescott, tight end Blake Jarwin and offensive lineman Zack Martin, La’el Collins and Tyron Smith being cleared for the start of the Dallas Cowboys’ training camp has been offset by a new crop of injury-related absences heading into the team’s first practice.
On Thursday, receiver Amari Cooper (ankle), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (back), defensive tackle Trysten Hill (knee), kicker Greg Zuerlein (back), defensive end Chauncey Golston (hamstring) and tackle Mitch Hyatt (knee) all found themselves opening camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Rookie receiver T.J. Vasher was put on the non-football injury list as he works back from a knee injury he sustained in college at Texas Tech.
“I think it’s just being smart,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “I don’t have any long-term concerns really with any of the guys.”
Cooper, who signed five-year, $100 million contract in March of 2020, is still recovering from offseason ankle surgery. He appeared in all 16 games last season and posted his second straight 1,100-plus-yard season.
McCarthy isn’t worried about Cooper not being ready soon. “He looks great,” McCarthy said. ”He’s in great shape. I’m not concerned.”
Lawrence had a back issue that cropped in the spring, forcing him to undergo surgery. He has had back issues dating back to the 2015 season, which led to surgery in early 2016, but the veteran hasn’t missed a game in the last four seasons.
The Cowboys feel good about seeing him back in action soon.
“That was more of a clean-up,” McCarthy said of Lawrence’s surgery. “It’s not of high concern. So, he looks great. It’s probably more us than him, the timeline of him coming back.”
Hill, who still recovering from a torn ACL, is the farthest away from returning, according to McCarthy.
None of it takes away from the good news of the players who were available to practice on the first day, namely Prescott, who was full go and participated in team drills for the first time since suffering a fractured ankle five games into last season.
Prescott had no limitations on Thursday and neither did Smith, Collins, Jarwin or Martin.
Their presence on the field was more important to the Cowboys than the delayed appearances of the guys on the injured list.
“I think it says a lot,” McCarthy said. “I think also you look at timing of injuries, and I think it’s such a benefit to have the resources, the facility to where players are here full time. We talked last night as a team. Just probably one of the bigger offseason rehab lists that I’ve been a part of. So, I think that speaks volumes for our training staff, our strength and conditioning staff. So, all of our guys did a great job. It’s just the timeline we’re being smart with.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2021 at 1:10 PM.
