Sean Lee Discusses Hamstring Injury; Terrance Williams Doesn't Practice
(Sept. 28; 7:15 p.m.) – There's a sense of guilt when Sean Lee talks about the time he's missed due to injury in his career, unable to help his teammates on the field.
Lee's current hamstring injury is "extremely frustrating," he says, because spent all offseason working diligently to prevent the same issue that cost him multiple games last season.
Since aggravating the same hamstring during a sack on Seattle's Russell Wilson last Sunday, the veteran linebacker says he's made a "big jump" in his rehab. But he doesn't have a definitive timetable for a return yet. "Week to week" at this point.
"Can't say why it's a recurring issue," Lee said. "I tried to address it, whether it came to strengthening, stretching, core. Everything that can lead to a hamstring injury, I tried to address.
"It's one of things where it's football and stuff happens. It seems to happen to me more than a lot of people, but I'm going to continue to do what's worked for me and try to address it and see what we can do going forward with it."
Lee, defensive tackle Maliek Collins (knee) and center Travis Frederick (illness) have been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Lions. Wide receiver Cole Beasley (ankle) and defensive tackle Antwaun Woods are listed as questionable for the game.
Wide receiver Terrance Williams did not practice Friday (not injury related). Speaking Friday on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would likely lean toward activating Brice Butler against Detroit. Butler signed last week as the sixth receiver on the roster but was inactive against Seattle.
-Rob Phillips
(Sept. 27; 3 p.m.) – There was a brief moment of levity Thursday in between serious questions to Dak Prescott about the state of the Cowboys' offense.
The topic itself was serious: the controversial increase in roughing-the-passer penalties against defensive players so far this season.
Prescott's thoughts?
"I need to sit in the pocket and let them hit me more," he said with a smile.
The rule penalizes defensive players for putting excessive body weight on the quarterbacks during a hit. It cost the Cowboys' defense 15 yards last Sunday against the Seahawks when defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford hit Russell Wilson.
Crawford was adamant after the game that he felt he made a legal play.
"I don't know any other way to hit," he said.
-Rob Phillips
DT Caraun Reid Signed; Datone Jones To IR
(Sept. 25) – The Cowboys have signed defensive tackle Caraun Reid to the 53-man roster and moved defensive tackle Datone Jones to Reserve/Injured.
Jones missed the first two games with a knee injury and made his season debut against the Seahawks. He's eligible to come off IR after eight weeks. The Cowboys can recall two players off IR during the season.
Reid, a fifth-year veteran, played well in preseason for the Cowboys – particularly in the finale at Houston – and was in consideration for a roster spot at final cuts.
-Rob Phillips
Garrett's Updates On Sean Lee, Other Injuries
(Sept. 24; 4:30 p.m.) – Head coach Jason Garrett said Sean Lee's current status is "day by day" regarding the hamstring injury he suffered against the Seahawks.
Lee had tightness in his other hamstring during the Cowboys' Week 2 game against the Giants, but he was able to practice last week and start against Seattle.
Recurring hamstring issues cost Lee multiple games last season, so it remains to be seen how long he'll be sidelined by this latest setback. Lee did say after Sunday's game that he was hopeful for a "quick turnaround."
Garrett said defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford (elbow) and safety Jeff Heath (ankle) appear to be OK after suffering injuries against Seattle. Both were able to return to the game.
"We're hopeful those guys can practice this week," Garrett said.
-Rob Phillips
Jones Unaware Of Possible Suspension For Terrance Williams
(Sept. 21; 11:45 a.m.) -- Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said he is unaware of reports that wide receiver Terrance Williams could be facing a suspension by the NFL.
In May, Williams was arrested for public intoxication near his home after wrecking his car and then leaving it at the scene. According to the Frisco Police Department report, police determined the car was Williams' and found him in his neighborhood riding an electric bicycle. He posted bond the same day.
According to reports in August, the public intoxication charge against Williams was dropped.
As of Friday, the NFL has not announced anything regarding potential discipline for Williams.
"I don't know about those reports, in terms of accuracy, but certainly he would be missed if we didn't have him," Jones said Friday morning on 105.3 The Fan. "But by the same token, we, as it turns out, have got a really – I think – top group of receivers. We'll make adjustments as need be."
Williams was at practice Friday. The Cowboys currently have seven receivers on the active roster, including Brice Butler, who was signed earlier in the week.
-Rob Phillips
X. Woods, Gregory Expected Back At Practice
(Sept. 18, 9:45 a.m.) – As good as the Dallas defense looked in Week 2, it might be getting some reinforcements for Week 3.
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones gave his usual weekly interview with 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday morning, and he said he's optimistic that both Randy Gregory and Xavier Woods could be coming back to practice this week.
"Both of them, as they practice this week, we'll determine it," Jones said. "But certainly the fact that they're starting off, they're available for the first practice. They're going to have some limitation early as far as getting ready and practicing, but there is an eye on them being available for the game this weekend."
That's big news, considering that both Gregory and Xavier Woods claimed starting spots heading into the season. Gregory suffered a concussion in the season opener against Carolina, and he did not suit up against New York as a medical decision.
Woods' absence has been a bit lengthier. The second-year safety was the Cowboys' preferred starter next to Jeff Heath throughout training camp, but he strained his hamstring making a play on a deep pass in a preseason game against Cincinnati.
With Woods out, Kavon Frazier has been handling starting duties – and has handled himself nicely. Through two games, he has 11 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup. Adding Woods back to the lineup should provide the Cowboys with some depth at the position, which is something they have not had for much of the past month.
For a defense that is already ranked third in scoring and fourth in yards per game, adding two starter-caliber players would be another big boost.
"If you start really thinking about this defense. When you add to this defense right now, then you must have some things to bring to the table – and they do," Jones said.
Gregory Limited In Practice, Listed As "Doubtful" For Giants Game
(Sept. 14; 11:59 a.m.) – Head coach Jason Garrett says Randy Gregory has been medically cleared to return for the final practice of the week heading into Sunday night's home game against the Giants.
Gregory suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the Cowboys' loss to Carolina and entered NFL concussion protocol.
Before practice, Garrett didn't speculate on Gregory's availability for the game.
"With all of our players, whenever they're coming back off of an injury or concussion protocol, you just take it step by step," Garrett said. "He's been cleared to practice today, so we're certainly hopeful as we move forward."
Before his concussion, Gregory rotated at right defensive end with starter Taco Charlton, who ended up playing 49 snaps against Carolina.
(UPDATE, 2:25 p.m) -- Gregory had limited participation in Friday's practice and is officially listed as "doubtful" for the Giants game.
-Rob Phillips
Suspended Defensive Lineman David Irving Returns To The Star
(Sept. 12; 11 a.m.) – Head coach Jason Garrett confirmed that suspended defensive lineman David Irving is back working with the team's strength staff after missing training camp and preseason to handle personal business.
Irving is suspended three more games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He's allowed to be at the Cowboys' facility during his suspension but can't participate in practice.
"He did not participate in any meetings or anything like that yet," Garrett said. "We're just going to try to get him acclimated day by day. There are some rules limitations about what he can do, but as we go we'll get him more involved in the meetings and then hopefully he'll be ready to go once he's done with the suspension and he'll be a full-speed player for us."
Garrett said Irving looks to be in good shape.
-Rob Phillips
Xavier Woods "Getting Closer" To Playing
(Sept. 11, 9:52 a.m.) – It might be too soon to declare that Xavier Woods is back, but he's getting closer.
Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said as much on Tuesday morning, when he was asked if he thought Woods would be able to play Sunday night against the New York Giants.
"I don't know. But he's getting closer to play," Jones said.
Woods injured his hamstring in the Cowboys' Aug. 18 preseason game against Cincinnati and has been missing from the lineup ever since. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday he doesn't expect Woods to practice in the early going of the week.
Kavon Frazier played well in Woods' place on Sunday against Carolina, but the Cowboys would undoubtedly love to shore up their depth at what has been a thin position all summer.
-David Helman
Garrett Updates Randy Gregory's Injury Status
(Sept. 9; 4:15 p.m.) – Head coach Jason Garrett said defensive end Randy Gregory was feeling better Monday after suffering a concussion in the Cowboys' season-opening loss to the Panthers.
Garrett said Gregory entered concussion protocol as result of the injury. He accidentally collided with teammate DeMarcus Lawrence in the second quarter and did not return.
"He also had a knee situation early on in the game," Garrett said. "We feel like he's made progress in both those areas."
Gregory did not start against the Panthers, but he rotated with Taco Charlton at right defensive end in the first half, substituting into the game often on clear passing downs.
Gregory tweeted this on Monday:
Elsewhere on the roster, Kavon Frazier (shoulder) started at safety in place of Xavier Woods (hamstring) without any apparent setbacks. Woods was inactive against Carolina and his status for Week 2 against the Giants is uncertain at this point.
-Rob Phillips
Parker Ehinger To IR; Kadeem Edwards Re-Signed
(Sept. 7, 11:05 a.m.) – Parker Ehinger's season is over before he really got situated.
The Cowboys announced on Friday that they'd placed the newly-acquired offensive lineman on injured reserve after he was hurt in practice on Wednesday. The team signed Kadeem Edwards, who was on the roster during training camp, to fill the open spot.
The injury is a bitter pill to swallow, considering that Ehinger has barely been with the Cowboys for a week. They traded rookie cornerback Charvarius Ward to Kansas City in exchange for Ehinger last Thursday before their preseason game against Houston, and the hope was that Ehinger would be able to provide depth along the interior offensive line.
The Cowboys did claim Adam Redmond over the weekend to back up Joe Looney at center, and Edwards has plenty of experience with this offensive line. They'll have to hope that's good enough.
-David Helman
Travis Frederick Stays On Initial Active Roster
(Sept. 1; 3:30 p.m.) – As expected, the Cowboys did not put center Travis Frederick on a reserve list Saturday as they continue to monitor his recovery from Guillain-Barre syndrome, an auto-immune disease that affects the nerves.
By keeping Frederick on the 53-man roster Saturday, the Cowboys give themselves the option to place him on injured reserve at a later date and still potentially activate him later in the season.
Earlier in the week, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would likely see how Frederick is doing through weekend and then make a decision on IR.
It's also possible the team could carry Frederick on the 53-man roster until he's ready to return. Currently, there's no timetable for the Pro Bowler to get back to football activities. The top priority is his health and well-being, Jones emphasized.
The Cowboys also kept two players on the roster who have battled injuries in recent weeks: wide receiver Noah Brown (hamstring) and Datone Jones (knee). With Brown taking a spot on the 53 Saturday, veteran Deonte Thompson was a bit of a surprise cut.
-Rob Phillips
Cowboys Still Getting Info On Rico's Arrest
(Sept. 1; 1:30 p.m.) – The Cowboys are certainly aware of Rico Gathers' situation and will decide shortly if, or how, it affects the team's decision to cut the roster down to 53 players by 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Gathers was reportedly arrested Friday night in Frisco for possession of marijuana. After posting bond, he was released from a Frisco jail in the mid-morning, and was obviously not on the field with his teammates for a Saturday walk-through.
A team official said the team is finding out all of the facts from the situation.
Gathers is considered to be on the borderline to make this final roster. He caught 10 passes in the preseason games and seemed to be right in the mix with the rest of the players at the position. It's expected that Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin will make the team. Fourth-round pick Dalton Schultz hasn't been overly impressive but has a good chance to make it on his draft status alone. But the Cowboys will have to decide if Gathers fits into the mix.
-Nick Eatman
