Football is back. Granted, guys are wearing shorts and no pads. There are pop-up tents next to the field for cold popsicles and Gatorade breaks. Most of the hitting is being done on tackling dummies; quarterbacks are wearing bright red jerseys so they don’t get touched at all.
But no matter. The Dallas Football Cowboys are officially back at work.
Friday’s first team practice gave assembled media members an early look at the 2020 roster, and the first glimpse of a revamped defensive line that bore little resemblance to the 2019 unit.
Tyrone Crawford played sparingly last season and was ultimately shelved by hip injuries after just three tackles in four games. Today, he was back on the practice field, having passed his physical and being activated from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.
The Cowboys activated defensive end Tyrone Crawford off the physically unable to perform list. He is coming back from double hip surgeries that limited him to four games last season. Defensive tackle Dontari Poe (quadriceps) remains on PUP. https://t.co/mngF08n9kk
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) August 14, 2020
With newly-acquired Dontari Poe still nursing a quad injury, Crawford reportedly got in some work at Poe’s defensive tackle slot next to Gerald McCoy.
DT is a position that really stood out today, which isn't something you hear a lot.
Crawford played some DT. Gerald McCoy looks really svelte & impressive physically. I thought Antwaun Woods & Trysten Hill each had some impressive wins in 1v1s (granted, not always vs. starters)
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) August 14, 2020
That shuffling left an opening opposite DeMarcus Lawrence at defensive end. Aldon Smith, welcome back to the NFL.
Reinstated after nearly five full years out of the league, Smith, a former first-round draft pick, reportedly looked very good in Friday’s session, taking first-team reps, batting a Dak Prescott pass into the air, and almost coming away with the interception.
The starting defensive line was DeMarcus Lawrence and Aldon Smith at end with Gerald McCoy and Tyrone Crawford at tackle. Yes, they have plans for Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen is on the way
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) August 14, 2020
Everson Griffen, signed late Wednesday, still needs to pass two consecutive COVID tests before he can join his new teammates on the practice field. That could happen early next week.
It’s a lot of new faces for just one position group. It can only help that most of the Cowboys players are living at the hotel right next door to the practice facility.
“We don’t have a long training camp,” Lawrence said, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater, explaining that the impromptu players’ bubble was a team decision. “Need to make sure we get that commitment and friendship and chemistry.”
I asked @TankLawrence his reaction to #Cowboys signing vet DL McCoy, Poe, Smith and Griffen: “I’m really applauding the front office on what they’re doing to bring better pass rushers to the Dallas Cowboys…It’s only going to make me better and make me want to be the best.’’
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 14, 2020
Lawrence maintains that five hours of practice per day isn’t sufficient for proper team-building with the new guys. But for Cowboys fans everywhere, the fact that the players are even back at practice at all is welcome news indeed.
And along the Dallas defensive line, there is new and improved hope for something good. Maybe very, very good.
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