There was a packed house for Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett’s OTA’s opening press conference. Listen (or download) the full MP3 from the new Dallas Cowboys Audio Archives page featured here on your The Boys Are Back website.
Add linebacker Rolando McClain to the list of Dallas Cowboys players who aren’t on the field for the second day of voluntary organized team activities.
McClain is back in Alabama rehabbing from a recent knee scope, which means the club will shuffle their linebacker group that normally has McClain in the middle, Sean Lee on the weak side and potentially Anthony Hitchens on the strong side. The club will be careful with Lee’s workload in his return from last year’s ACL injury.
Receiver Dez Bryant, for now, continues to skip voluntary workouts without a signed franchise tag tender or a new long-term contract in place. That likely means continued first-team reps for second-year receiver Devin Street.
Seventh-round offensive tackle Laurence Gibson is also nursing a finger injury. With starting right tackle Doug Free also recovering from knee surgery, Darrion Weems and rookies La’el Collins and Chaz Green will get reps on the right side.
Head coach Jason Garrett said running back Ryan Williams missed Tuesday’s first OTA session with knee swelling. Williams returned to the field today.
SIGNED & SEALED | Rookie OT Chaz Green inked; Two unsigned draft picks remain
The Dallas Cowboys are down to just a pair of draft picks left to sign, and expect to get those completed in the coming days.
The Cowboys signed third-round pick Chaz Green to the customary four-year contract last night. Green practiced with the team on the first day of OTA practices, pitting the rookies and veterans together for the first time.
The 91st overall pick out of Florida, Green was expected to be the team’s top rookie lineman and could compete for the swing tackle spot. That changed somewhat when the Cowboys added rookie lineman La’el Collins as a rookie free agent. Green has some position flex and has already practiced some at both tackle and guard.
With Green now locked up, the Dallas Cowboys have first-round pick Byron Jones (CB) and fourth-rounder Damien Wilson (LB) still left to sign.
Since the start of rookie minicamp, the Cowboys have signed second-round pick Randy Gregory, fifth-round pick Ryan Russell, seventh-rounders Mark Nzeocha, Laurence Gibson and Geoff Swaim.
MORE ON McCLAIN: Rolando rehabbing from recent knee scope
Middle linebacker Rolando McClain is not participating in the Dallas Cowboys organized team activities and his return in time for minicamp is in question.
Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said today that McClain was at the facility last week but is currently in Alabama rehabbing and taking care of some personal issues.
“Rolando McClain has not been here the last couple of days,” Garrett said. “He was here last week working through some rehab down in Alabama, taking care of some personal issues.”
Garrett said McClain underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee some time in the last couple weeks.
An examination by Dr. James Andrews in January revealed that McClain would not need offseason surgery on his knee. While with Oakland, McClain experimented with stem cell therapy to help with knee injuries he was dealing with at the time.
McClain is rehabbing with an athletic trainer associated with Dr. James Andrews in Alabama.
McClain first showed up on the injury report last season with a knee issue for the Jacksonville game on Nov. 9. He was listed with a groin injury and a knee injury. McClain’s knee injury remained on the report the rest of the season, though he was listed as probable.
McClain did miss the season finale against Washington after the Cowboys already had clinched the division title.
Last season, McClain played in 13 games, starting 12. The eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft recorded 108 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack.
McClain unretired last season after the Dallas Cowboys traded with Baltimore for him, This offseason, he re-signed with Dallas, agreeing to a one-year, $3 million deal.
He faces a four-game fine for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
COWBOY BUZZ – Cowboy vs. Cowboy – LIVE OTA Day 2 of 9 observations
A.J. Jenkins with a nice catch/gain from Dustin Vaughan on a short post
Ben Gardner and Randy Gregory just schooled La’el Collins and Chaz Green working with the 2s. Gardner with a nice spin.
Niiiiice couple of cuts from Lance Dunbar going behind right tackle on a long gainer.
La’el Collins working with the 2’s, just put Terrell McClain on the ground.
Hell of a diving catch by Devin Street on a deep ball from Tony Romo
Joseph Randle getting first team work too.
RB Ryan Williams back at OTAs. Missed yesterday with knee swelling.
Sean Lee is working in individuals and taking part in walkthroughs. Coaches trying to limit him in practice while he works back.
Sean Lee on the field … No brace. Looking good in LB drills
Kyle Wilber, Jasper Brinkley and Sean Lee are your starting LBs in drills. Rolando McClain is absent and Anthony Hitchens is hobbled
Sean Lee back on the field. Again, being careful with his reps.
CB Byron Jones with a Beckham-ish catch covering the sideline in individual drills. Good hands.
He’s just running, but Mo Claiborne is running at an impressive pace in special teams drills.
Mo looks good. Obviously will continue to have his workload monitored but quickness is there.
Claiborne is working solo w. strength coach Mike Woicik.
Darren McFadden getting some run with the first offense, as he did yesterday.
Doug Free is out here but not dressed out — as expected. Darrion Weems is the No. 1 RT in his place. La’el Collins is No. 2 RT
Nice diving catch from Barry Church on interception drills. Arms extended, falling out of bounds on the sideline.
Team is in communication with Rolando McClain, but they don’t know when he’ll be back. He had his knee cleaned up recently.
POST PRACTICE TIDBITS:
Anthony Hitchens commented that his hamstring was tight, but nothing serious.
Tony Romo on Dez Bryant: “Tell him to come on back.”
AROUND THE NFL | Purple Proposition: Peterson given two choices by Zimmer
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says Adrian Peterson has two choices: He can either play for the Vikings or he cannot play at all.
The star running back has missed the first two days of optional team practices and is not expected to attend any of the optional workouts this summer. He has been upset with the team for a perceived lack of support while he faced a child abuse charge last season and his representatives have said he should play elsewhere next season.
Zimmer said today that Peterson “is not going to play for anybody else and that’s just the way it is.”
Peterson is not required to show up until a mandatory minicamp on June 16.
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