OXNARD, Calif. – The Cowboys are back on the practice field Monday following Sunday's Blue-White Scrimmage.
The players went through an up tempo morning walkthrough prior to coach Jason Garrett's usual afternoon press conference. Here are some notes as the Cowboys enter game week for Sunday's Hall of Fame game against Miami.
- Safety Barry Church sat out of walkthrough Monday with a tooth problem. Garrett said "we'll see" when asked about Church's return to the field.
- Guard Ronald Leary cleared his physical and said after the walkthrough he will be a full-go for practice in the afternoon. Garrett said he doesn't want to rush Leary back too quickly, but he plans to "mix him in there."
- Wide receiver Coale Beasley doesn't intend to practice Monday, as he's still nursing a sore knee. He said he hopes to be able to go Tuesday.
- Defensive end Cameron Scheffield has a groin injury and will undergo an MRI.
- Wide receiver Dez Bryant participated in morning walkthrough, though it remains to be seen if he'll practice Monday.
- Garrett said he was pleased overall with how the Cowboys' scrimmage went on Sunday afternoon. "At different times one of the sides or one of the guys was maybe dominating the other guy, and the other guy kind of put his foot in the ground and said 'Nah, enough of that. We're going to come back.' And I think that's a good sign for your football team."
- The broader nature of the scrimmage, as opposed to a scripted or focused nature of a practice situation, allowed the coaches to evaluate their youngster's mental quickness adapting to changes.
- Running back Lance Dunbar has had a chance to shine during the first week of training camp. Asked what the diminutive back brings to the tailback competition, Garrett said Dunbar is a great receiver and has a great understanding of route running. That much has shown, as Dunbar has caught plenty of balls out of the backfield during practices.
- Garrett said quarterback Alex Tanney's instincts stand out to him when watching him play. "I've never seen a good quarterback who wasn't an instinctive player," Garrett said. [embedded_ad]
- Garrett said Terrance Williams has done a good job of improving and growing more comfortable in the offense. He said that Williams' measurables are obvious, but the thing that stands out is the rookie receiver's character and receptiveness to coaching.
- The Cowboys' coaches intend to discuss who to use on their special teams units in the Miami game later this week.
