Latest Dallas Cowboys injury updates set up intriguing situation as padded practices begin
The Dallas Cowboys have mostly stayed healthy ahead of padded practices in training camp, but injuries at safety should give a couple of risers a chance to shine.
The Dallas Cowboys have stayed relatively healthy a few practices into training camp, with perhaps the most banged-up position group being safety. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer provided updates on Monday, as the Cowboys geared up for their first padded practice.
Cowboys injury updates
To start Monday’s press conference, Schottenheimer provided health updates at safety. And they bring up an intriguing situation.
“P.J. Locke (knee) should be close to getting back,” Schottenheimer revealed. “(Jalen Thompson) (hip) is doing great, and Zion (Childress) is going to probably be a little bit longer. All three of those guys are working really, really hard.”
Locke was spotted in pads prior to Monday’s practice by DMN’s Joseph Hoyt. We will update the story to reflect how much he worked.
Despite Thompson “doing great,” he’s not practicing Monday. So with three safeties limited or out for the first padded practice of the year, some Cowboys players whose stocks are up since the start of training camp will get at least another chance to capitalize on increased snap counts.
Practice standouts get more opportunities to rise
In recent practices, safeties Julius Wood and Alijah Clark have stood out. Now they get a chance to keep their stocks moving upward with pads on.
Wood in particular has stood out in coverage a few practices into camp. Cowboys play-by-play announcer Brad Sham named him the best defender of Saturday’s practice. He also reported Wood is getting Cowboys coaches’ attention.
Meanwhile, Schottenheimer recently praised Clark for flying around on defense. Clark had a highlight reel play on special teams last year against the Philadelphia Eagles, which could translate to a bigger role on the unit if he builds on it. Clark was one of my dark horses entering training camp, as I believe he has a legit chance to be a special teams’ ace following C.J. Goodwin’s retirement.
Markquese Bell is another safety to watch as he battles to stay on the 53-man roster one more year.
