SAN ANTONIO -- Head coach Jason Garrett gives general "day-to-day" timetables for most of his injured players, but he did indicate that running backs Tashard Choice (calf) and DeMarco Murray (hamstring) could be back as early as next week.
Choice injured his calf on the first day of practice here in San Antonio. Murray, the club's third-round pick, hurt his hamstring while working out on his own during the lockout. He's currently on the non-football-injury list (NFI).
Running backs coach Skip Peete knows what Choice, a fourth-year veteran, can do. As impressive as it is, he's only seen Murray on film at Oklahoma.
"It's going to kind of set him back a little bit, but he's a talented player," Peete said. "We've got to be smart about how we use him when he does come back and eventually expand his package to where he gets the whole package."
When healthy, the Cowboys view Murray as a candidate in short-yardage, goal-line, the passing game and kickoff returns.
The club only has one more full practice scheduled before Saturday, their first workout at Cowboys Stadium. They break camp Wednesday and play the preseason opener Thursday.
In the meantime, first-year back Lonyae Miller continues to impress. He played well in Sunday's Blue-White scrimmage as the second back behind Felix Jones. Peete believes Miller has found a comfort level in the offense, something Murray must do when he returns.
"I think he makes quicker and more decisive decisions than he did a year ago about what hole he's planning to hit and I think that's turned into some big runs," Peete said of Miller. "I think he's a little quicker and stronger than he was a year ago. He's a big physical, powerful back, but he has a lot of speed.
"I think the biggest change that I see is just his ability to retain everything that we're giving him. A year ago he wasn't capable of doing it."
