IRVING, Texas – C.J. Spillman will continue to practice and play for the Cowboys unless or until an arrest or a charge is made, according to head coach Jason Garrett.
Garrett said until that happens, he wouldn't make any decision or comment on the situation with Spillman, who's being investigated in connection with an alleged sexual assault.
"You have to be careful with just accusations and allegations in this situation," Garrett said. "When someone is officially charged or arrested for something, that's when it becomes a different situation in our minds. For now, he's a member of our football team and will take part in everything we do to this point."
Spillman was back on the football field during Thursday's practice. He hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime after allegations of an incident at the team hotel prior to the Cowboys' flight to St. Louis for the Rams game.
He played that weekend in St. Louis and again last weekend against New Orleans. Spillman has been a core special teams player for the Cowboys since coming over from the 49ers prior to the start of the season.
Garrett didn't want to comment about when he was made aware of the investigation, whether or not a club official accompanied Spillman to the police station or whether or not the team informed the league of the allegations. [embedded_ad]
But Garrett said his stance would change if arrests or charges do happen.
"We've been very clear with our team about consequences that there will be if there is a situation where charges or arrests are made for a crime," Garrett said. "We've been clear about that. That doesn't apply in this particular case."
Garrett said there has to be an arrest or a charge before due process begins, and no one's at that point yet.
The head coach was complimentary of how Spillman, who's been credited with two special teams tackles through four games, has done since coming to Dallas. This is Spillman's sixth season in the league, spending time with the Chargers and 49ers before coming to the Cowboys in 2014.
"C.J.'s played very well," Garrett said. "He's a veteran player. He's had an impact. He's active in every game. He's around the ball. He knows what he's doing."
