OXNARD, Calif. – And the Cowboys are back on the practice field once again.
No, not it's not exactly full pads – that starts on Saturday here at the River Ridge complex – but Thursday was a good start.
The Cowboys were on the field twice Thursday, including a light afternoon practice in shorts and shells.
"It's good to be out there," defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said. "It's football. We're getting ready. I think everyone is excited to finally be back out there."
Here are some other notes that came out of the first day of Cowboys practice here in Oxnard.
- Offensive tackle/guard Chaz Green left the field with the athletic training staff near the end of practice for an I.V. Green has battled cramping and dehydration in the past. Before leaving practice, Green got some work with the second-team offense at left tackle.
- For all the position battles facing this team, there weren't a ton of surprises in this first, low-key practice. The established starters that we got used to seeing stayed the same on Thursday, with few exceptions. Xavier Woods handled the top safety spot across from Jeff Heath, while Connor Williams occupied his normal role at left guard. With Terrance Williams easing his way back from injury, Allen Hurns and Cole Beasley were the offense's top two receivers, while Geoff Swaim was the first tight end into the huddle. Jaylon Smith also saw the first-team work at middle linebacker. None of this amounts to much, given that the team hasn't put on pads yet. But is interesting to see the Cowboys' pre-camp pecking order, before the hard work begins.
- Kavon Frazier can't practice while he undergoes medical evaluation, but he did come out to the field for the tail end of practice. Frazier has to be itching to be cleared to return to practice. Entering his third season, the Cowboys' lack of safety depth offers him a big opportunity to earn playing time. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Thursday afternoon that Frazier is still undergoing testing and isn't currently available.
- Wide receiver Terrance Williams took part in the morning walkthrough and was on the field for the first practice, though head coach Jason Garrett expects him to be limited early in camp. Williams had surgery in January for a fracture in his foot. "Just want to be deliberate and mindful, but he's done everything we've asked him to do up to this point and he's off to a good start," Garrett said.
