OXNARD, Calif. – The news was grim for seventh-round pick Caleb McSurdy, who was carted off the field during Wednesday's practice with a torn Achilles.
The linebacker went down during individual drills, becoming the sixth Cowboys draft pick to be hurt at some point during the preseason.
"He's a kid who can make it in the NFL," said linebacker Sean Lee. "He's an extremely hardworking guy, and if there's anybody who can come back from an injury, it's this kid, because of how hard he works."
The Cowboys were already short at the position Wednesday, with Orie Lemon running on the sidelines without pads. Anthony Spencer also didn't practice and was working with resistance cords.
Linebackers Kyle Wilber and Isaiah Greenhouse are also out with broken thumbs, leaving the Cowboys with just eight of their 13 linebackers practicing fully.
McSurdy, who finished with four combined tackles against the Raiders, led Montana in tackles for a second-straight season with 130 in 2011. He capped his college career with four tackles and an interception return for a touchdown against Sam Houston State.
The Idaho native was an all-state linebacker and tight end at Borah High School.
"He was doing really well," Lee said. "He's a very good linebacker, tough kid. He was learning, he's instinctual and he was getting better every week. It's tough to see that happen. I don't know the full extent of it. It didn't look great."
