Injuries are hitting the Dallas Cowboys during training camp which has a lot of position groups getting depleted quickly. The run game has already seen four injuries take place while the secondary is having a hard time keeping cornerbacks healthy. With the Cowboys looking to pick up right where they left off after last season's success, injuries are an unwanted hurdle. Byron Jones and Darren McFadden certainly have everyone's attention as they make their way back to the field.
The Cowboys got a scare when first-round pick Byron Jones went down with a shoulder injury following a collision in practice. Expected to be an immediate starter, the team website is reporting that the issue is not as serious as it sounded and Jones could be back at practice very quickly. Considering Brandon Carr is out with a broken hand and Orlando Scandrick is dealing with a knee issue, Jones is needed at full speed.
"I was worried. I was worried about the shoulder, because you don't hit it that hard too often," Jones said, via the team website. "I was worried, but after I got up and moved around for a little bit, it felt fine."
According to the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys will also be seeing McFadden and Lance Dunbar back on the field quickly. McFadden is making his training camp debut while Dunbar returns from an ankle injury. The two running backs are needed quickly as Joseph Randle is the only healthy back available. According to team sources, Ray Rice is not in the picture along with other veteran backs. With Gus Johnson also showing some talent, the Cowboys have four backs on the roster ready to compete if they are all healthy.
Depth is going to prove to be critical for the Cowboys this season. That will certainly prove true on the defensive line when Greg Hardy serves his four-game suspension. In his place, rookie Randy Gregory is expected to get the start and Dallas fans were pleased with what he showed in the team's first preseason game. Gregory got a sack in his first NFL in what could be the first of many for the defensive end. The pressure will be on the rookie come Week 1 when Hardy sits out.
"I'm confident in my play," Gregory said, via the Dallas Morning News. "This is a game I love. I don't think you should ever come out here and be scared. I really don't get nervous any more, I'm more anxious. And I'm more confident in my play, so I just got to go out there and put it all on the field."
