There has been nothing but speculation regarding Mike Jenkins' situation. The latest is owner Jerry Jones' speculation on Jenkins' availability for the Sept. 5 season opener against the Giants.
When asked on Friday, Jones told 105.3 FM "The Fan" that it doesn't look good for Jenkins to return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out all offseason and training camp.
"I don't think so," Jones said. "He's going to have his situation evaluated by his surgeon and it may be a little late in the preseason for him, but that'd be real interesting. If we had an evaluation on him by this weekend, I'd like to have that problem to mull over. I really would."
Jenkins is expected to visit Dr. James Andrews in Florida within the next week. Jenkins first visited his doctor on Aug. 6 and was not cleared to play. He was told to return in four weeks, which would be Sept. 2.
Jones said the possibility of Jenkins playing would come down to his shoulder, and nothing about his conditioning.
"He's in shape. I think he's in real shape," Jenkins said. "I could conjure up a scenario where he could help us against the Giants for sure."
Before Thursday's practice at Cowboys Stadium, coach Jason Garrett told reporters Jenkins would need to practice at some point before playing his frist game, especially after missing all offseason and training camp.
"He needs to be able to practice football before he plays in game one," Garrett said. "We don't have these hard and fast rules if he doesn't practice by this minute of this day he can't play in the game. That is not the way we do it. But we believe in practice. Football is really, really challenging at this level. You can go out there and play if you haven't prepared the right way. We understand that."
Jenkins is currently on PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) and if he remains on that list when the Cowboys cut down to 53 players, he will automatically miss the first six weeks of the season. The Cowboys can, and likely will, take him off PUP, regardless if he's ready to play in that first game.
Jenkins' role is somewhat uncertain, considering he was arguably the team's best cornerback last year with Orlando Scandrick and Terence Newman as the top three corners. Now with the additions of Brandon Carr and rookie Morris Claiborne, along with Scandrick, it's likely Jenkins will be the fourth corner, at least at the start.
