IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys could get two players back Tuesday and as many as three cornerbacks returning to practice by the end of the week.
Cornerback Brandon Carr is expected to practice fully Tuesday for the first time since camp began, while Sterling Moore (groin) and Morris Claiborne (shoulder) could get back on the practice field this week. Head coach Jason Garrett also anticipates Anthony Hitchens (stinger) practicing Tuesday.
"Hopefully Carr will be ready to practice tomorrow and be ready to go," Garrett said. "He had a good week getting his feet under him last week, so we anticipate him being in pads and practicing fully. Obviously, we'll monitor him as we go and make sure he's able to handle the work."
Unlike the others, Carr's absence from practice and the first couple games was for personal reasons. He returned to the team before the Ravens game, but the Cowboys gave him time to get his conditioning right and get acclimated to football again.
Moore's easing back in from a groin injury, and Garrett said he was kept out of Saturday's game to err on the side of caution.
"I don't think he had a setback," Garrett said. "Every so often, it'll be, 'Hey, it feels a little tighter today.' If you don't get the practice work in, you don't want to rush somebody out there for the preseason game, particularly at that position. So we wanted to make sure he's fully ready to go. We anticipate him practicing this week." [embedded_ad]
Claiborne could also return late this week, although he appears to be the least likely of the three corners to be ready. Garrett said it's not out of the question Claiborne and Henry Melton (groin) could be ready for the next preseason game in Miami, but it's still too early in the week to know.
Garrett said he's hopeful Claiborne and Melton can do more work as the week goes on, but Melton may need another week.
"It's still early in the week and we have three good practice days to give them a chance to get back out there," Garrett said. "I wouldn't anticipate seeing Melton until the end of the week, if we see him at all this week. And hopefully Mo just responds well and will get some work in."
In addition, Garrett hopes defensive tackle Terrell McClain (ankle) will be able to work in by the end of the week. He described McClain's injury as "a day-to-day thing," but McClain missed the majority of camp with an ankle injury.
