OXNARD, Calif. – The three players who failed their initial conditioning test have all passed and should be ready to practice for the first time on Friday.
Running back Felix Jones
, wide receiver Andre Holmes and safety Brodney Pool passed their running test Wednesday morning, but head coach Jason Garrett said the trio will not practice in the afternoon.
With the day off on Thursday, Garrett said Friday will be the best time to incorporate them back into practice.
“We have to be conscious of it being their first practice,” Garrett said. “We’ll keep rotating through with reps. But it’s good to have them back out there.”
While Jones is expected to have a good handle on the No. 2 tailback spot behind DeMarco Murray, but the situation is different for both Pool and Holmes.
Pool figured to be the leading candidate at free safety, but his absence has opened the door for Barry Church, who was taken first-team reps so far in camp.
Holmes was the early favorite to win the No. 3 job behind starters Dez Bryant and Miles Austin. Now, he’s behind the pack of Kevin Ogletree, Cole Beasley, Raymond Radway, Dwayne Harris and Tim Benford.
“I’m very disappointed with myself for getting here and not being ready,” said Holmes, who apparently worked on more long-distance running but didn’t have him as prepared to be in football shape. “I’ve learned my lesson with that. Now I’ve got to just get out there and catch up. I’m behind but I just have to keep working and hopefully get back in the mix.”
