FRISCO, Texas – Linebacker Mark Nzeocha had his knee scoped on Tuesday as the Cowboys finish up their final week of OTAs.
It's a cleanup procedure for Nzeocha, who's in competition for more defensive snaps entering his third NFL season.
The Cowboys haven't announced a timetable for Nzeocha's return, though arthroscopic procedures typically take a period of weeks for full recovery.
The club has a minicamp next week, then is scheduled to leave for training camp in Oxnard, Calif., on July 22.
A seventh-round pick by Dallas in 2015, Nzeocha spent most of his rookie season recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in his final season at Wyoming. He worked diligently with the athletic training staff and returned to the active roster for the final seven weeks.
Last year, a strained Achilles tendon in preseason sidelined Nzeocha into the first month of the regular season. With the Cowboys resting starters in the Week 17 finale, he got his first playing time of the season and had four tackles in 16 defensive snaps.
Nzeocha (6-3, 239) had taken reps at middle linebacker early in OTAs. Anthony Hitchens is coming off a productive season as the starter at Mike, and 2016 second-round pick Jaylon Smith is working his way back into practice after missing his rookie season with a knee injury and nerve damage.
