Cowboys’ injury report: Elliott practices in knee brace, Donovan Wilson returns, Pollard DNP after all

Tony Pollard did not practice after all, but Elliott maintains his knee feels the best it has in some time; Wilson could play Sunday. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Wednesday’s practice came and went at The Star in Frisco with only two players sitting things out. One was expected; the other was a late change to what everyone had been told.

Left tackle Tyron Smith was a non-participant; he’s already been declared out for Sunday’s divisional meeting with the Giants in New York as he nurses the ankle injury he reaggravated last week in the Cowboys’ win over Washington.

Running back Tony Pollard was set to be limited in the day’s work, according to what Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters just a few hours earlier. But he ended up not practicing at all, still apparently dealing with the torn plantar fascia he suffered on a long touchdown run against New Orleans on Dec. 2.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott was a full participant, as McCarthy had said he would be.

“Definitely the best I’ve felt in a while,” Elliott said afterward. He wore a knee brace during Sunday’s game at FedEx Field, the first time he’s done that since high school, he explained. It’s something he’ll continue to do moving forward.

“It just kind of holds me in place,” he added. “A lot of times when I’m kind of getting gimpy or banged up is when I kind of get rolled up, rolled on, or just land on my knee. I think the brace gives me more stability.”

Tight end Sean McKeon was also a full participant Wednesday after a neck issue held him out of Week 14.

In other roster news, the team designated safety Donovan Wilson for return, opening the 21-day evaluation period for the third-year hitter out of Texas A&M. A chest/shoulder injury against Kansas City forced him to miss the last three games; he worked his way back from a groin injury earlier this season.

Wilson could be back on the field as soon as Sunday versus the Giants.

The Cowboys also signed defensive tackle Justin Hamilton back to the practice squad and waived cornerback Deante Burton to make room. Hamilton has bounced from the club’s practice squad to active roster to released list several times since 2019.

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