Just when the Cowboys thought they dodged a bullet with Dak Prescott finishing practice without an injury, bigger troubles lined up. Just as they third and final game of the preseason against the New Orleans Saints, the latest reports indicated multiple players would sit out of practice at The Star.
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“Michael Trigg (toe), DJ Rogers (knee) and Ajani Cornelius (unknown), Jonathan Bullard (groin/abs), Julius Wood (concussion) not practicing today for the Cowboys,” Dallas-based reporter Calvin Watkins wrote on X.
This is where the team’s troubles start to look especially troubling. While these players aren’t starters, they will be important for head coach Brian Schottenheimer before cutting the roster down to 53 players. That’s why we’re looking at the timeline of when each player could return.
Jonathan Bullard
One of the newer defensive additions this season, Bullard has been out of practice due to a groin and abdomen issue. The defensive tackle opted for a second opinion, and it turned out to be a case of tendonitis.
Typically, tendonitis lasts about two to three weeks in mild cases. Hence, we can expect Bullard to bounce back into action by the time the regular season begins. He could be a big part of the Dallas defense, since he has played under the 3-4 scheme for most of his career.
“We’re very optimistic as we close in at the end of training camp that you’ll see him in the near future, hopefully,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said about Bullard’s return last week. “Maybe not early next week or late next week, but we feel really good about what we’ve kind of figured out.”
Julius Wood
Wood left Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Arizona Cardinals to be evaluated for a concussion. He will have to successfully clear the league’s mandatory five-step concussion protocol to be available for Friday’s preseason finale.
DJ Rogers and Michael Trigg
As an undrafted free agent out of TCU, Rogers has been fighting for a spot on the roster. Of course, he faced long odds to crack the final roster because Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Luke Schoonmaker locked down the top three spots. And Trigg might be on the injured reserve list at the beginning of the regular season. It’s worth noting that there isn’t much long-term concern around Trigg’s toe injury or Rogers’ knee.
To stabilize the depleted tight end unit, the Cowboys also brought in Mitch Van Vooren. And to make room for the new signing, the Cowboys had to remove defensive tackle Kelvin Gilliam. With Spann-Ford, Trigg, and Rogers all dealing with injuries, the Cowboys are currently relying on Schoonmaker and Zack Kuntz as the only fully available tight ends, slotting Van Mooren in as the immediate backup.
Ajani Cornelius
In a separate X post, he noted that the tackle was out of practice due to soreness in his knee. Cornelius will be looking to return in time for the third game, especially with the competition in the O-line looking more intense than ever.
Cornelius is competing for a spot on the interior, going up against Nick Leverett and Nate Thomas for the spot. And so far, he has been solid on the run game but shaky when it comes to pass protection. Cornelius could seal the deal with a solid showing against the Saints.
In any case, the third preseason game will be crucial as Schottenheimer decides on who makes the team. And players looking to make the team have a way through.
Brian Schottenheimer Reveals “Easy” Way to Manage Cowboys Roster Cuts
“The easy answer is special teams,” Schottenheimer said. “When you get into really roster spot 45 through 53, those are usually guys that are not starters or premium players. So, you have to find guys that have the versatility to play special teams. Then, quite honestly, when you’re going to game-day activations and inactives, that’s the other thing. Make no mistakes.”
The Cowboys weren’t particularly impressive on the special teams front last season, with coordinator Nick Sorensen witnessing many mistakes. Schottenheimer noted that that trend seemed to continue into this preseason.
“We were not good enough on special teams last year,” the Cowboys HC said. “It’s been a big emphasis. Last week wasn’t great. Seattle, I’m talking about. So, if you want to help yourself, you spend a lot of time with [coaches] Nick Sorensen and Carlos Polk, and you dive into the details of being a part of the big four (kickoffs, kickoff returns, punts, and punt returns).”
None of the injuries seem to be a dealbreaker for the Cowboys. But if more are added to the list, Schottenheimer will have a massive task on his hands.