Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant trying not to waste emotions, energy

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was back to doing Dez Bryant things on the practice field Friday with a twisting one-handed catch against cornerback Brandon Carr along the sidelines.

It was a just an example of the rust fading away after last year’s lost season, which was hampered by a fractured foot in the season opener and a contract dispute that prevented him from coming to camp at peak condition.

While Bryant will always be a passionate and emotional person, he said he has grown and learned a lot from last year to control his emotions, acknowledging the need to pick his spots better to be more effective.

“It’s all about having yourself under control,” Bryant said. “I think that’s exactly what’s been going on with me. Not using up too much wasted juice. I think if I can contain a little bit of that, I can be more effective.”

That has been evident on the practice field, where trash talk between Bryant and the cornerbacks often ends as soon as the play is over.

“We get out here and we get each other right, we juice each other up and we want to keep each other lifted, come out and make plays and just juice up one another,” Bryant said.

It’s a far cry from years past when Bryant sometimes let his emotions get the better of him.

Last year’s camp was sullied by a fight between Bryant and cornerback Tyler Patmon before the combustible receiver was involved in several fights during joint practices with the St. Louis Rams.

Bryant said he will pick his spots and be emotional in certain situations going forward.

“Right, certain situations,” Bryant said. “To give you an example, the last play of the game or something, use that emotion, let that dog come out of you, use it at those types of moments. I’m still going to be emotional at times. That’s just life.”

Backup QB, roster shuffle

While finding a backup quarterback is the team’s top priority, the Cowboys have holes all over their roster.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are focused on the offense and will bring in a couple of more players to work out Saturday.

As far as a veteran backup quarterback, the Cowboys remain in neutral after missing out on Nick Foles, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Cowboys want to get one as soon as possible, but they are not going to force the issue with the wrong guy, Jones said.

“We will have to see,” Jones said. “You can’t manufacture it. We got guys we will keep our eyes on and keep watching and see what might be available out there. You can’t make it happen. We are not going to do something that is not efficient. If we could do it we would do it. Right now that is not available to us.

“We made a run at Foles. That didn’t work out for us. We will just keep pedaling here. We are not going to do something just for the sake of doing it. I said the first priority was to get it right. Getting it right means doing it efficiently and getting the right player for this team.”

Gachkar hurt

The linebacker corps took another blow.

Andrew Gachkar will undergo thumb surgery, and “it’s going to keep him out for a little bit,” coach Jason Garrett said.

The injury happened during seven-on-seven drills Thursday.

“He went in to make a play and somehow the ball hit him a certain way,” Garrett said. “So it’s a small break.”

The Gachkar news is another setback for the linebacker corps that entered camp without Rolando McClain (suspension, no show) and Damien Wilson (eye). Kyle Wilber has been sidelined the past few days with a back injury.

Wade Wilson takes personal leave

Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson has taken a leave from the Cowboys to tend to personal matters, Garrett said.

Wilson left on Thursday and was not at practice Friday. Garrett said he was not sure when Wilson will return to the team.

Wilson’s departure comes at a time when the recent injury to backup quarterback Kellen Moore is forcing the Cowboys to accelerate the development of rookie fourth-round pick Dak Prescott and second-year man Jameill Showers. Neither has ever thrown a pass in the NFL and are being looked at as possible backups to starter Tony Romo.

Wilson has a been a constant for Romo as the quarterbacks coach since 2007. He also served as the quarterbacks coach in Dallas from 2000-2002.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant trying not to waste emotions, energy."