Despite an impressive 5-1 start, the Cowboys haven’t even been playing at full strength. Several players who have been sitting on the shelf for a variety of reasons will be making their way back, though questions remain at a few key positions as the team gets into the swing of things after the bye week.
Wide receiver Michael Gallup leads the group of Cowboys players designated Monday for return from the injured reserve list. Gallup suffered a calf injury in the season opener in Tampa and has been sidelined since.
Also set to return is linebacker Francis Bernard. He injured his hamstring during training camp and started the season on the injured reserve list.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill began the 2020 campaign on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a knee injury sustained in the early part of last season. He will also be eligible to return to practice.
Gallup, Bernard, and Hill will now enter a three-week practice window; the Cowboys have 21 days of evaluation to decide whether put each of them on the active roster. Any of them could added in time for the Week 8 game.
With the players taking last week off, Monday marked the first practice back for offensive tackle La’el Collins after serving a five-game suspension. The coaching staff has said they will take the week to gauge his readiness for Sunday night’s matchup in Minnesota.
Terence Steele has played well on a fill-in basis for him; the team has implied that Collins is not necessarily guaranteed to reclaim his starting role after missing five weeks of action.
Cowboys RG Zack Martin on RT La'el Collins' return from suspension: "It will be big. We’re excited to have him back. I know he’s champing at the bit to get out there and run around with everyone. We’ll see what happens moving forward, but I know he’s excited to be back."
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 25, 2021
Most important for most of Cowboys Nation, quarterback Dak Prescott was expected to be held out of the first practice of the week as he recovers from a calf strain suffered on the final play of Week 6’s overtime win in New England.
The Cowboys reported back to The Star Monday and will have a full practice on Wednesday with all eyes on what Dak Prescott (calf) will do. Zack Martin is preparing as if Prescott will play. “Until someone tells us different, that’s what we’re going in as,” he said.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 25, 2021
The team has stated they’ll take a wait-and-see approach with Prescott; he is slated to begin practicing again on Wednesday. Dallas is “optimistic” he’ll be ready to go in time for the Halloween date with the Vikings.
Additionally on a busy roster day for the Cowboys, the team moved cornerback Deante Burton from the Injured/Practice Squad list back to the practice squad roster.
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