FRISCO, Texas – Orlando Scandrick played 11 snaps in last Friday's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, his first game action in 20 months.
Having missed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, the Cowboys' veteran cornerback says he's healthy after a long, productive rehab with the athletic training staff. He got back into practice toward the end of the offseason program and increased his activity in training camp, but all along he's been pointing to the Sept. 11 season opener as his primary target date – and he believes he's still rounding into form.
"It was a process and every day I got better and better and every day I want to continue to get better and better," he said. "I'm not sure that I'm all the way back right now. I'm playing good football. I'm making plays at times, but I'm not sure that I'm all the way back. But what I can assure you is when I walk on that field at 3:25 on Sept. 11 I'll be all the way back and ready to go.
"I just started practicing full. I was doing a little bit here, a little bit there, but now it's like I'm full go. I'm working my way back in doing one-on-ones and all those things and I feel great. I think with the next few weeks of just continuing to work hard, I'll think I'll feel even better."
In last Friday's game, Scandrick and cornerback Morris Claiborne stopped a deep Dolphins drive with consecutive pass breakups in the end zone on the third and fourth down.
"I thought he did a good job. It was good to see him out there," head coach Jason Garrett said. "He didn't play that many snaps but he certainly looked comfortable. He's another guy who's worked so hard to come back. It's a real tribute to the approach he's taken. But it was nice to see him in a game situation. He's practiced well leading up to it so I think he had some confidence going in. And he showed up. He showed up as a run defender. He was pretty active making some plays."
