Injury List Growing Fast; Austin’s Injury Latest Setback
Posted 22 minutes ago
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
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aaOXNARD, Calif. – One week ago, the Cowboys landed here in Oxnard ready to work and embark on a new season.
The roster of 90 players had a few injured guys to start with, but seven days later, the list has grown dramatically, with more than 20 guys dealing with some kind of injury setback.
On Saturday, a few more players were added, including wide receiver Miles Austin, who tweaked his hamstring, the injury that cost him six games last year. Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said the team is not worried about Austin’s injury.
For now, the club doesn’t appear to be too concerned overall, but that doesn’t mean a few additions won’t be necessary.
“I wouldn’t say they’re dropping like flies,” Jones said. “We’ve got some work to do and we’re probably going to have to look at bringing some guys in. The good news is there’s not anything catastrophic or that we’re concerned about for the long haul, but shoot, this is training camp. We go through this every year.”
Jones said the Cowboys will likely bring in a wide receiver or two and another tailback.
“There’s always bumps and pulls and tightness,” Jones said. “It’s just part of getting through it. The good news is, we addressed it on the competition committee, and I think you need it, we’ve got to have 90 players. So, that’s a good thing. We used to work from 80. We’ve got 10 freebies, and it’s still not enough.”
Here’s the list of players on the injury report as the Cowboys get ready for Sunday’s intra-squad scrimmage.
WR Miles Austin – Was held out of the end of Saturday’s practice after tweaking his hamstring. Stephen Jones said the team is not concerned, but he missed six games last year with hamstring injuries, not to mention most of training camp.
RB Lance Dunbar - Sat on the sidelines without pads during team drills Saturday with a tight hamstring. Dunbar said “I can’t afford to miss any preseason games.”
TE John Phillips – Midway through Saturday’s practice, he limped into the locker room with an ankle injury. Jones said he doesn’t anticipate the club signing a new tight end right now.
DE Marcus Spears – Team doctors administered a concussion test during Saturday’s practice. after leaving the field, Spears said: “I’ll see in the morning how I feel.”
CB Morris Claiborne – Sprained his MCL during practice Wednesday. He tried to play through it Friday, but left before team drills and had an MRI. Claiborne said he should be ready in a week.
G Mackenzy Bernadeau – Passed his physical and was taken off PUP on Saturday. Has yet to practice once with the club because of hip surgery he underwent soon after signing as a free agent in March. He is also working back from a minor knee scope late in the offseason.
WR Danny Coale – Moved off PUP on Saturday after passing physical. NFLPA rules state players still must sit out three days, so because of Wednesday’s off day, his first practice should be Thursday.
RB Phillip Tanner – Will fly to Dallas for surgery on his right hand on Sunday, but may be able to return in a week or two.
WR Saalim Hakim – chipped a bone in his left ring finger on Friday and will go with Tanner to see a hand specialist on Sunday. He’ll miss roughly a week.
G Nate Livings – Sustained a hamstring injury that will sideline him for the scrimmage Sunday and possibly a day or two after that.
OLB Anthony Spencer – Sitting out with a hamstring injury he tweaked on Friday. Likely won’t play in the scrimmage and could miss a few days next week.
DE Jason Hatcher – Held out of Saturday’s practice with slight hamstring injury.
CB Mike Jenkins – Still not practicing because of shoulder injury that required surgery back in January. Could be two weeks away from returning, but seems to be making good progress in his conditioning.
FS Matt Johnson - Off the PUP list but hasn’t practiced with the team yet after recovering from a hamstring injury. He’s been mostly doing workouts with resistance cords on the sideline at practice.
SS Gerald Sensabaugh –First practice back in pads after being held out for knee injury. Underwent minor scope back in early July.
DE Tyrone Crawford – Returned to practice after missing some time Friday with a slight knee injury.
DT Jay Ratliff – The Cowboys are being overly cautious with his foot injury, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. He’s gone through some of the walk-through practices, but it’s unlikely he will be turned loose anytime soon.
G Kevin Kowalski – Wearing a hard cast up to his knee although it’s diagnosed as an ankle injury. He is still on PUP and likely won’t get the chance to practice for another 2-3 weeks, if not longer.
G Bill Nagy – Suffered a high-ankle sprain early in camp and should miss 2-4 weeks. Wearing a walking boot.
