For the first time in nearly a month, veteran guard Montrae Holland was back to practice. And through this entire offensive line shuffle that even saw a surprising cut Monday with the release of veteran Andre Gurode, Holland went back to the exact same spot he left: starting right guard.
Then again, Holland was probably just backing up veteran Kyle Kosier, who sat out Monday with a minor injury. When Holland initially started to miss practice with what the team diagnosed as a back/knee injury, he was starting at right guard, opposite Kosier on the left side. But with Holland out, the Cowboys decided to move Kosier to the right side and help out rookie Tyron Smith.
Meanwhile, rookies Bill Nagy and David Arkin have had turns at left guard although Nagy has started the last two games.
"It's anxious times with competition and as a veteran player, you want to be out there and going through camp and learning," Holland said. "I just want to be there for the guys. It was good to get off the training table. I felt good to be out here today."
And while Holland said he's not sure where he'll end up when the season begins next week, the veteran said he's willing for anything.
"Wherever they want to put me, I'll be fine with it," Holland said. "I'm here to work and do my job. I don't ask a lot of questions. I'm here to play, and I've always been ready for whatever."
And if that "whatever" includes helping some of these young players learn on the run, Holland said could provide that as well.
"Whatever I have, I'll give it to them," Holland said if reference to knowledge. "Whatever they need, I'll help them out. It's up to them. If they ask questions, I'll give them the answer."
When asked about Holland on Monday, Garrett referred to him as a backup player as he's been in recent years, but sounded as if there is definite value to his role.
"Montrae is a guy we feel really good about in the role he's been in for us the last few years – a veteran backup, an interior lineman who can go into games," Garrett said. "He's got a lot of starts in this league. His injury has been a factor in the opportunities these young lineman have gotten. We'll see how his health is this week, we're hopeful to play him some Thursday in Miami."
