On Target Date; FB Re-Signed
IRVING, Texas – Whether or not DeMarcus Lawrence has a certain date or game in mind that he's trying to come back for, he has no intention of sharing it.
"Nope," the rookie pass-rusher said with a smile when asked about a target date for return.
While that's important for others to know, Lawrence said he doesn't get bogged down with a return date. The day-to-day grind is more than enough for him to handle.
The broken foot injury he suffered in late July was supposed to keep him anywhere from 8-12 weeks. The Cowboys placed him on the IR-to-Return list before the sesaon, meaning he must sit out at least eight games and wouldn't be eligible to begin practicing until Week 7.
Lawrence, the team's second-round pick, suffered a broken right foot July 29. The recovery time was expected to take eight to 12 weeks.
"I'm not full speed right now," Lawrence said Tuesday. "Jogging right now. I'm feeling good – moving along day by day."
Lawrence said his primary focus is keeping his strength up, hitting the weight room with plenty of squatting and leg presses.
But while he's yet to play in his first game, Lawrence said he's doing his best not to get frustrated.
"It's just a process. Just waking up every morning knowing you're not going to practice and be with the team," Lawrence said. "That's really the main thing about the situation. Coming out and going straight to the weight room. That's the grind."
Making His Case [embedded_ad]
Sterling Moore knows the main reason he played as much as he did the last two games is because of Orlando Scandrick's suspension.
While it appears Scandrick's absence is close to over, Moore said he's not concerning himself with his playing time, which hasn't included work in the slot as well as on the outside.
"It's out of my control. All I can do is go out there and make plays on play I have an opportunity to make," Moore said. "I think I've done that so far. It's out of my hands if he comes back."
Even if it means Moore sees less action, he knows Scandrick's return will benefit the team, and not just on Sundays either.
"I would say the way he goes about practicing – he's a veteran – he goes hard. That's something we need in the secondary. I think anytime you have another guy who can go play man (coverage), it's always a benefit."
Welcome (Full) Back
The Cowboys re-signed fullback Nikita Whitlock to the practice squad on Tuesday. He was cut on Sept. 9 from the practice squad, eight days after he joined the team.
To make room for Whitlock, the Cowboys cut cornerback Jamea Thomas.
Whitlock, a Dallas-area native who played his high school career at Wylie before attending Wake Forest, currently gives the Cowboys two fullbacks on the practice field, along with Tyler Clutts.
