Fans of the Dallas Cowboys could not have been happy when they saw Amari Cooper and Demarcus Lawrence on the PUP list. Seeing Dak Prescott go down early in training camp with an injury was not a welcome sight, either. But it looks like all three could be seeing the practice field sooner rather than later.
The Cowboys have been taking a cautious approach to Prescott’s shoulder strain since the injury occurred on July 28. He did not play in the Hall of Fame Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But it does look like the team is starting to test out the shoulder.
Prescott did what has been called some “light throwing” on Saturday. When head coach Mike McCarthy spoke about it with the press, he also referenced “light objects,” meaning Prescott did not throw a regulation football, but likely something smaller and lighter.
“We’ll see how his progression goes,” McCarthy said (via ESPN). “He’s doing some things as far as throwing, and everything is on a rep count.”
As for when Prescott will become a full participant in practice again, there has still been no word. But the team has said all along that it would be taking a cautious approach to Prescott’s injury.
After losing him for most of last season, they certainly do not want to risk starting this season without him, or worse— losing him again. Regarding the ankle injury that ended his 2020 season, Prescott has been taking part in footwork drills and conditioning.
His ankle does not appear to be a problem.
When Prescott returns, he will want to have his full arsenal of weapons at his disposal. That means Amari Cooper will need to make his return after having surgery on his ankle last January.
Cooper gave fans an update on his condition, via the media, prior to the Hall of Fame Game: “I wouldn’t say I’m quite 100 percent yet, to be completely candid. But I’m real close. I can do everything, maybe a little better, just because I’ve been rehabbing so hard.”
On the defensive side of the ball, it looks like the front four will get a boost soon. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, who started training camp on the PUP list like Cooper, came off the list last Tuesday.
Lawrence had back surgery in the offseason to deal with a herniated disk. It did not cause him to miss any games last season, but it did lead to pain shooting down his legs at times.
Early on during training camp, team owner Jerry Jones said that neither Lawrence nor Cooper would practice until after the team’s preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
