IRVING, Texas – When asked Thursday how the Cowboys will proceed at wide receiver following Laurent Robinson's departure, head coach Jason Garrett dropped a hint by saying free agent Kevin Ogletree is "still in the mix" to return.
No announcement from the Cowboys here late Friday, but Ogletree is indeed expected back – likely on a one-year deal for a little more than the three-year veteran minimum ($615,000).
Undrafted in 2009, Ogletree has 25 career catches for 294 yards and no touchdowns. He entered the 2011 season as the projected No. 3 receiver behind Miles Austin and Dez Bryant, but Robinson – signed after final cuts in September – leapfrogged him on the depth chart and wound up catching a team-high 11 touchdown passes.
The Cowboys chose not to tender Ogletree at $1.26 million as a restricted free agent. Wednesday, the Jaguars signed Robinson to a long-term deal that will pay him more than $13 million guaranteed.
Ogletree's expected return wouldn't preclude the Cowboys from continuing to look for another wideout in free agency, or perhaps more likely, the draft. The club likes the potential of young receivers Andre Holmes, Dwayne Harris and Raymond Radway.
Ogletree would be the eighth player signed by Dallas in the last four days.
