SAN DIEGO – In a span of about 10 minutes, Dez Bryant limped into the locker room area at Chargers Park. Then Donavon Kemp went out with a knee injury as well, quickly followed by Andre Holmes, who struggled to get upright with a back injury that eventually forced him off the field.
Let's not forget Miles Austin is off on the side field working on conditioning and nursing a hamstring injury.
No wonder, the group of Cole Beasley, Kevin Ogletree, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris were all trying to catch their breath as they ran the majority of the routes Monday against the Chargers' defense.
But the good news for the Cowboys is the early prognosis on all players didn't seem to be too serious.
Bryant's MRI revealed only a patella tendonitis in the right knee. As for Holmes, his lower-back strain was deemed as day-to-day. The Cowboys were still checking on the nature of Kemp's injury by early Monday evening. Kemp did undergo an MRI after practice.
Coale Hopeful to Play
Rookie receiver Danny Coale was able to practice again in full pads on Monday against the Chargers and it's starting to look like he will be able to play Saturday against the Rams at Cowboys Stadium.
Coale has missed most of the summer with a broken foot and has slowly made his way back into the rotation at receiver, only this week getting cleared for full participation in pads.
"It's coming along pretty good for me," Coale said. "I feel 100 percent. I'm not really thinking about the injury at all. That's a good sign. It's really about getting better each time I go out there."
Coale said he is hopeful he will play against St. Louis.
"I need to get out there," he said. "I feel like I'm ready. Hopefully, (the training staff) will think the same way."
Livings Returns to Action
For the first time, the Cowboys had the two starting guards in the lineup they expected to be there all along.
Nate Livings returned from a hamstring injury Monday after a three-week absence and worked some at left guard, coupled with Mackenzy Bernadeau getting first-team reps on the right side.
Livings and Bernadeau were the two primary free-agent additions on the offensive line and were expected to bolster the guard position. But Bernadeau missed all of the offseason and about two weeks of camp with a hip injury while Livings practiced for about a week into camp before sustaining the hamstring setback.
"It was great to get out there today and just be with the guys again," Livings said. "That's really all I was focused on. I think the (athletic) trainers were smart on how much we pushed it. We didn't want to rush things but it's good to be back in there."
Livings talked about continuity on the line, something that is a must with the regular-season opener just 16 days away.
"We have to get on the same page there, but I think that will come pretty soon," Livings said. "We've had a few guys banged up. Once we all get in there, it should be fine."
The Cowboys actually worked Derrick Dockery with the first-team unit for some of practice, but it's likely just to ease Livings back in the mix.
