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Dallas Cowboys: Shoe comfort blamed for rash of foot injuries

By Steven Mullenax

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Brice Butler #19 of the Dallas Cowboys wears personalized cleats during pregame warmups before facing the Minnesota Vikings on December 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NFL players around the league are wearing personalized cleats as part of the My Cleats My Cause charity initiative. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Brice Butler #19 of the Dallas Cowboys wears personalized cleats during pregame warmups before facing the Minnesota Vikings on December 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NFL players around the league are wearing personalized cleats as part of the My Cleats My Cause charity initiative. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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After suffering yet another major foot injury to a starter, the Dallas Cowboys blame shoe comfort for the recent rash of sidelining ailments.

Lost amidst the now legendary 2016 NFL Draft class for the Dallas Cowboys, a group that included running back Ezekiel Elliott, linebacker Jaylon Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott, was the potential of their third round selection: Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins.

This was due in part to the fact Collins missed a majority of the offseason after breaking his right foot during OTA’s. Fortunately, the rookie defender was able to bounce back from the injury and have a quality rookie campaign in Dallas.

Collins ranked second on the team with 5.0 sacks. In fact, as a rookie, he was one of the NFL’s fastest players from snap to sack according to Next Gen Stats.

Following a disappointing sophomore outing, Collins had surgery on his left foot in January after it plagued him for most of the season. Last week, the third-year defensive tackle broke the fifth metatarsal in that same foot while practicing during the team’s voluntary workouts.

The fifth metatarsal is the lengthy bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe.

Earlier this week, Collins had yet another surgery to repair his left foot. His return is estimated sometime during training camp. But you can bet his rehabilitation will be slow and cautious given his repeated issues.

Cowboys fans are very familiar with injuries suffered to the “fifth metatarsal” of the foot. It is the same injury that sidelined former wide receiver Dez Bryant during most of the 2015 NFL regular season.

The year before that, during training camp, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot in the exact same way. And just last October, former 2016 fourth rounder Charles Tapper suffered his second-straight season-ending injury, this time a fifth metatarsal break in his right foot.

This rash of very specific foot injuries has to be a real concern for the team’s medical staff. And according to one longtime Cowboys insider, they believe the shoes are to blame.

"“Trainers will be very cautious with [Maliek Collins’] rehab, meaning the projected starting defensive tackle’s return might not be until midway through camp, if that,” wrote Mickey Spagnola of DallasCowboys.com. “Why this sudden rash of fractured fifth metatarsals team wide? Answer was: Shoe comfort is taking precedence over suitable support.”"

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Make no mistake. These types of injuries cost players valuable time and possibly millions of dollars. For the Dallas Cowboys, not having their best players on the field can cost the team in the standings. And, in turn, they can kill playoff berths and a title runs. Repeated injuries across the roster means both the team and the players need to step up, educate and implement the necessary changes to minimize any future issues.

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