IRVING, Texas –Danny Coale held his breath the last time he went through a metal detector, hoping the surgical screw in his left foot would not set it off.
It didn't, which was good to know for the Cowboys' fifth-round pick, because the screw is permanent. The Virginia Tech wide receiver knows that his stint on the Physically Unable to Perform list is not, however, and after breaking a bone in the foot in the very first Organized Team Activity workout this offseason, on May 22, he's been working to get back on the field. For now, though, he isn't sure when he'll be able to do so.
"We don't really put a timetable on it," said Coale, who has not yet begun to run routes. "I'd like to say the beginning of camp, the first couple weeks of camp I'll be ready to roll, but it's how it responds, really. Everybody responds differently, and we'll just add more each day and see how it feels."
The sooner he's able to return, the better Coale's odds of competing for playing time on offense. In the meantime, he's done his best to take mental reps, and is trying to remain optimistic about his recovery.
"You take the positives out of it," Coale said. "I can get in there and learn everything I can, mentally. My opportunities will come, and you've just got to stay mentally ready and focused. It's going to be all right."
