Depleted Cowboys lose player to most bizarre injury yet
By Rainer Sabin / Reporter
2:51 pm on August 12, 2013
OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys’ ranks have been depleted after everyone from star players to bottom-of-the-roster guys have suffered injuries during training camp. Sprains. Strains. Bone bruises. The most bizarre? Tackle Darrion Weems hurting himself while lifting weights.
“He dropped the 325-pound bench press bar on his chest,” head coach Jason Garrett said. “So he’s dealing with that right now.”
The 6-5, 308-pound Weems, who had a thumb issue that weakened his grip, missed practice Sunday and is not expected to participate in drills Monday. Garrett, who has seen accidents like the one Weems experienced, said he didn’t know if the lineman had a spotter supervising him.
“I’m sure it’s pretty painful,” Garrett added. “We’ll see how he is day-to-day.”
Across the board, the Cowboys’ depth has thinned. Cornerback Morris Claiborne missed his fourth consecutive practice Monday after jamming his knee last week. Linebacker Ernie Sims, defensive lineman Sean Lissemore and Eric Frampton were out as well. Sims and Sean Lissemore hurt their groins Sunday and Frampton his hamstring.
Garrett said he expected all three players to remain sidelined for “a few days.” But he also wasn’t certain whether they would be available to play Aug. 24 against Cincinnati or on Aug 29, when Dallas plays Houston.
“We’ve just got to see how they respond to stuff,” Garrett said.
Other notes from Jason Garrett’s news conference:
– Garrett on Orlando Scandrick getting kicked out of practice Sunday: “It was not a good thing. It was a bad incident. But you’ve got to move on from it. You’ve got to learn from it.”
Garrett added that Scandrick initiated conversation with coaches after his run-in with an official: “He understood what he did and how it wasn’t right,” Garrett said.
– Garrett on rookie receiver Terrance Williams’ return from a concussion Sunday: “He picked up right where he left off.”
– Garrett on safety Barry Church: “The area where he has improved most is on the back end with his ball skills.”
–Garrett on rookie center Travis Frederick: “I haven’t seen many young offensive linemen pick things up as quickly as he does. He’s got a lot of poise. He’s a mature kid. And he’s smart.