OXNARD, Calif.
As the Dallas Cowboys arrived in Oxnard, Calif. on Monday for the start of training camp, each of the team’s 91 players went through a quick physical to determine if any player needed to start camp working with the rehab group. Instead, all 91 players passed, and the team is fully healthy ahead of the team’s first practice on Wednesday.
Only a handful of players carried question marks into camp, as the roster has remained mostly healthy during the offseason. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed at the opening press conference on Tuesday that no players will start on the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) lists.
Second-year defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku required offseason hip labrum surgery that kept him out of OTAs and minicamp, but he is good to go to start camp. Veteran cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a foot injury that required surgery for the second season in a row, but as he expected, he was cleared ahead of camp. Safety Jalen Thompson, a big free agency addition for the team in the offseason, is also good to go after being sidelined with a hamstring issue in the offseason. And while quarterback Dak Prescott didn’t miss much time in the offseason with an ankle issue, he is also cleared to step onto the practice field on Wednesday.
“Ezeiruaku and DaRon [Bland] will be the two guys we monitor,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “But we don’t see any restrictions, we’re just going to be smart with them because they missed the spring. We’re very, very healthy going into camp, and hopefully that continues.”
Of note, offensive lineman Matt Hennessy was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list earlier this offseason after needing an extensive neck surgery. He was not required to report to camp, as he enters an extensive rehab process.
“We have to do a little workout, but talking to the [training staff], we don’t feel like anybody will start on the PUP or NFI [lists],” Jones said.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.