OXNARD, Calif. – The actual fight between Dez Bryant and J.J. Wilcox minimized another figurative battle going on between Bryant and another defender all day.
With Brandon Carr still tending to personal matters and Morris Claiborne still nursing a knee injury, Orlando Scandrick was tasked with following Bryant in a matchup that featured ups and downs for both players all day.
"I think he's one of the best receivers in the league, and I think it's only going to make me better and make him better," Scandrick said. "I came out here and I competed. I competed hard, and I feel things would have been a little bit different if we were going live, but I don't make any excuses. He won some battles, I won some battles. It was a great day."
Scandrick broke up a play near the sideline intended for Bryant and shortly after broke up another one in the back of the end zone intended for Bryant, letting the star receiver know up until that point he'd only won on one of three passes his way.
"He's fighting, and I love every bit of it," Bryant said. "Scandrick is a dog. A lot of those corners are feeding off of him. They love him. I love him. He's an animal. Like I said, we've just got to keep it going."
It didn't take long for Bryant to answer with a huge catch and run on a slant that went at least 60 yards for a touchdown. Later in the practice, Scandrick answered and came up big by vaulting up in the air higher than Tony Romo had anticipated to pick off a pass on a third down.
Romo said he was trying to throw the pass away and noticed a lot of people on the sideline, but he complimented Scandrick for the play.
"That's why it was a hell of a play," Romo said. "I mean he jumps up sky high. I just need to throw it another five yards, really. But hitting a kid on the sideline isn't the best feeling, either."
Photos from Sunday's Blue-White Scrimmage in Oxnard, CA.
Head coach Jason Garrett said Bryant and Scandrick go at it every day. That was on full display at Sunday's scrimmage. Garrett credits that to their respect for each other and their competitiveness, which seems to be rubbing off.
Bryant's tussle with Wilcox will be what most people remember, but it was Bryant and Scandrick who initially set the tone for the animated practice, and that's something Scandrick said needs to happen.
"Me and Dez, we talked about this before practice," Scandrick said. "He knew I was going to match him up everywhere he went on the field. I told him, 'They've got to feed off of us."
Quick Hits:
- The 49ers cut a former first-round pick in wide receiver Jon Baldwin to sign L'Damian Washington, who was recently cut by the Cowboys.
- Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen attended the Cowboys Blue/White Scrimmage today.
- Defensive tackle Davon Coleman got work with the first-team as the under tackle, while Tyrone Crawford also got some work with the starters as the left defensive end. Ronald Leary also got some work with the first-team line.
- None of the injuries looked like they'd keep players out for a particularly long time, but both Dezmon Briscoe and Jakar Hamilton might be feeling woozy. Briscoe hit his head on the ground on a pass broken up in the corner of the end zone by Tyler Patmon, while Hamilton got hit in the jaw as he attempted to get by guard Zack Martin on a blitz. Barry Church had to leave to get his ankle taped, while Rolando McClain felt his hamstring tighten up.
"It's frustrating not being out there with the rest of the guys," McClain said. "It's not really an injury; it was more precautionary. My left hamstring was tightening and cramping, and it was just precaution."
- Prior to his injury, the Cowboys – who are short at corner – used Hamilton as a nickel corner. Gavin Escobar took advantage of that 1-on-1 matchup for a short touchdown reception with Hamilton in decent coverage.
- Guard Wayne Tribue was in attendance and the Cowboys are expected to sign him, but they need to make a corresponding roster move.
Before the Blue-White Scrimmage, the players had their helmets carried by the youth helpers who had signed up area locations of Albertsonâ??s, which is a corporate sponsor of the Cowboys.
- The Albertson's Helmet Carrier program surfaced before Sunday's practice as nearly every player on the team got some pre-practice help from local kids. Before the Blue-White Scrimmage, the players had their helmets carried by the youth helpers who had signed up area locations of the national grocery store, which is a corporate sponsor of the Cowboys.
Notable Standouts:
- Devin Street –Dez Bryant could be on this list every day, but there are other receivers making a mark. Street scored on a touchdown in the back of the end zone and smoothly got his feet in bounds on a pass from Weeden. He followed that up during red zone 7-on-7 work with another short touchdown grab. Later during the scrimmage, he took a bubble screen 25 yards for a touchdown.
- Chris Boyd –The undrafted rookie has made some flashy plays throughout camp, and Sunday was no different. Boyd skied over talented seventh-round pick Terrance Mitchell for a long reception and later turned a short pass into a long gain near the sideline.
- Martez Wilson –His strip sack and scoop and score on Brandon Weeden highlighted his quickness off the edge. [embedded_ad]
Play of the Day:The main play of the day everyone will be talking about was the one that ended in a fight between Bryant and Wilcox, but that's been covered in full, and there was another play from Bryant also worth mentioning. As the defense blitzed, Bryant ran a deep slant over the middle with no safety help over the top. Tony Romo threw the ball where only Bryant could extend and get it. The star receiver hauled in it and was off to the races with no one there to catch him on a 65-yard touchdown.
Transactions:
August 2 –The Dallas Cowboys waived/injured guard Darius Morris (Temple) and waived wide receiver L'Damian Washington (Missouri) on Saturday. The club signed defensive ends Kenneth Boatright (Southern Illinois) and Adewale Ojomo (Miami).
Injury Report: Left Practice:
LB Rolando McClain (hamstring)
S Barry Church (ankle)
WR Dezmon Briscoe (possible concussion)
S Jakar Hamilton (possible concussion)
Returned to Practice:FB J.C. Copeland (knee)
*Missed Practice: *CB Dashaun Phillips (hamstring)
CB Sterling Moore (groin)
OG Brian Clarke (groin)
CB Morris Claiborne (knee)
DE DeMarcus Lawrence (ankle)
DE Anthony Spencer (knee)
DT Amobi Okoye (illness)
CB Brandon Carr (personal matter)
DE Ben Gardner (shoulder)
DT Terrell McClain (ankle)
LB Will Smith (groin)
* *
Upcoming Schedule:
Monday, August 4
10:30 a.m. (PT) Walk-Thru
12:00 p.m. (PT) Coach Garrett Press Conference
TBD *Media meeting with NFL officials
5:15 p.m. (PT) Practice
Tuesday, August 5
10:30 a.m. (PT) Walk-Thru
12:00 p.m. (PT) Coach Garrett Press Conference
3:45 p.m. (PT) Practice
*Wednesday, August 6 *
No availability Team travels to San Diego