Thursday practice report: Showers impressed
Jameill Showers makes impression in extended work
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. – While Dak Prescott was able to get the first-team snaps with the Dallas Cowboys’ offense as Tony Romo rested, it was Jameill Showers who had the more memorable day.
Jameill Showers spent much of last year on the practice squad playing positions other than quarterback. AP Photo/Gus Ruelas
Prescott was able to lead the offense to a 56-yard field goal by Dan Bailey in situational work. Prescott completed 7 of 10 passes on the drive but had one that would have been intercepted if not for the effort of wide receiver Brice Butler to knock the ball free from Morris Claiborne. Prescott was able to set up the field-goal attempt with a nice out route to undrafted tight end Austin Traylor.
Showers, who spent most of last year on the practice squad playing positions other than quarterback, had the two best throws of the day.
They came in seven-on-seven work. The first was a 20-plus-yard completion to undrafted wide receiver Chris Brown on a back shoulder throw. The other was a long touchdown pass to Gavin Escobar in which the throw was perfectly weighted over the defender to allow the tight end to come down with the grab.
In team and seven-on-seven drills, Prescott completed 16 of 21 passes, while Showers completed 8 of 12.
On to the observations:
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Showers’ work in team drills did not go so well, but he was not given much help by his offensive line. He would have been sacked on the first play, scrambled out of trouble on his second before flipping the ball away, and may have crossed the line of scrimmage on his last attempt as he was flushed from the pocket.
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WR Devin Street was forced from practice early because of a foot/ankle injury. Catching a pass from Showers near the sideline, his leg was pinned under CB Deji Olatoye. He limped away but was not able to continue practice.
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With Escobar working his way back from a torn Achilles, second-year tight end Geoff Swaim took the first-team work with Jason Witten resting. Swaim made a nice catch on a hot route and was able to elude Sean Lee.
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With Dez Bryant resting, Butler moved into the first group at receiver with Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. Alfred Morris worked with the first-teamers in Ezekiel Elliott’s absence.
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Because the Cowboys were low on arms with Romo sitting and Kellen Moore hurt, Jason Garrett took some turns throwing passes in drills. In work between backs and tight ends against linebackers and safeties he had consecutive passes intercepted by Mark Nzeocha and Kavon Frazier. Come on, Coach, remember: the ball, the ball, the ball.
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Bailey is human. The kicker missed from 51 and 53 yards in special-teams drills. Of course, he was battling a difficult right-to-left wind that didn’t help enough on the first attempt and helped too much on the second.
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For those wondering about the status of rookie TE Rico Gathers as he makes the transition from basketball to football, the undrafted Traylor took snaps ahead of the sixth-round pick. Gathers has miles and miles to go before he is ready.
