ARLINGTON, Texas – The Cowboys were about 10 minutes away from completing the offseason practices as they were wrapping up the final minicamp workout of the summer.
But it wasn't before one last injury scare, involving wide receiver Terrance Williams.
As Dez Bryant and Jerry Jones were conducted a lengthy discussion on the sideline at AT&T Stadium, Williams collided with two defenders in team drills over the middle, injuring his elbow.
After a few minutes on the ground, Williams was helped off the field by the athletic trainers and taken into the locker room where the Cowboys conducted precautionary X-rays, which came back negative.
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett didn't address the media after practice, but wide receiver coach Derek Dooley commented on Williams' status and how coaches always hold their breath when their players go through competitive drills.
"Yeah, you're always worried. That's the No. 1 thing you're worried about," Dooley said of injuries. "But you just can't coach worrying about injuries because the only way to be a good football player is to go out there and play. Sometimes it's physical and there's always risk involved. Hopefully, he'll be ok and we'll see him in five weeks."
What Dooley could easily comment about was Williams' production this offseason, which saw him as the No. 1 receiver with Bryant not practicing.[embeddedad0]
"He's had a phenomenal four weeks. I told him before we want on the field how proud of him I was," Dooley said of Williams. "He's not only taken a tremendous leadership role in the group, really setting the example of how you do things, he's expanded his route inventory. He's played X, he's played Z, he's played in the slot and every day he went out there and was the same player. Every route, every opportunity he had he took advantage of it. He's made a big jump this offseason."
Earlier this offseason, quarterback Tony Romo said Williams was having one of the best summers of any player on the team.
Williams caught three touchdowns in the two postseason games last year, including the game-winner to beat the Lions. That came after catching eight in the regular-season but there was a five-game stretch in the middle of the season that saw only five catches total from Williams.
So Dooley's comments about staying consistent is a good sign for Williams, who finished tied for fourth with Cole Beasley last year with 37 catches each.
