Dallas Cowboys: Early health concerns to start training camp

We aren’t a week into training camp but there are already some health concerns. Let’s take a look at those concerns as the Dallas Cowboys begin camp.

Whenever you start training camp you always hope that your team can go in healthy. On the offensive side of the ball, the Dallas Cowboys are pretty healthy. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they are going in with a few of them specifically on the defensive side of the ball.

Here is a list of the defensive players that are beginning training camp on the sidelines along with a reason for concern.

David Irving – Suspension and In Rehab

Any time a player is suspended it’s a detriment to the team. In this case, the Cowboys are dealing with another four-game suspension for David Irving. This will be back-to-back seasons with Irving starting the season on suspension. This time Irving is reportedly in rehab so he will be miss training camp which is good for him but bad for the team. Irving was already reportedly out of shape during the team’s OTA practices. In rehab, I doubt he will be able to stay in shape.

The team will be missing a major cog on this defensive line who needs the reps with his fellow teammates. One bright spot is that him being placed on the did not report list is that the Cowboys don’t have to release anyone to bring Randy Gregory back. We can only hope that Irving gets the help he needs so when he comes back he will be the playmaker the Cowboys want.

Maliek Collins – Broken foot

To start training camp on the physically unable to perform list is always a bad start for a player. Granted we’ve all known about his broken foot for a while now. The real concern for this injury is that Maliek Collins has had issues in the past breaking this foot.

Will it fully heal? Will he break it again? These are just a few questions you have in this situation. You also worry about the amount of time he has already missed.

How far behind Collins will be when it comes to conditioning, a major factor for men over 300 pounds. The injury also hurts with the suspension of David Irving. It has to make you worry about the tackle position on this defensive line. We have seen that he was able to bounce back in the past hopefully he can do it again.

Kavon Fraizer – NFI List

In a surprise announcement before the start of training camp special teams ace and safety Kavon Fraizer was placed on the non-football injury list. Fraizer is undergoing tests to see if the problem with his blood is treatable enough for him to play. He and the Cowboys became aware of the problem after he had minor knee surgery in January.

Dallas already have depth questions at safety with Byron Jones moving to cornerback this season. Fraizer was expected to compete with Jeff Heath for the strong safety position in camp. His physical style of play started to shine at the end of the season, especially in the run game.

Now we will have to wait for test results to come in to see whether Fraizer will be able to play or not. Hopefully, he is able to be cleared to play because whether he starts or not this team needs some depth at the safety position.

Randy Gregory – Strength and Conditioning

When you are coming off of a two-year suspension one would assume that you will need time to get back into football shape. Randy Gregory was placed on the non-football injury list so the team can ease him back on to the field.

While this is a good plan the Cowboys also need pass rushers. After the special year, DeMarcus Lawrence had last season teams will be focused on defending him. If they do that who else can the Cowboys trust to get some kind of pressure on the quarterback? Kony Ealy, Charles Tapper, Taco Charlton, or the rookie Dorance Armstrong? While all of them are good players it remains to be seen if they will be able to get the job done.

Gregory brings something special to the table that all three of them lack, speed. His ability to get off the ball and put a lineman on their heels is something special to see. On the sideline, though he would be able to get into a rhythm and build chemistry with his fellow defensive lineman. We can only hope that it would take much time for him to get back into shape because he will be needed this season.

All of these players have something that this team will miss while they are off of the field. Hopefully, they will be able to get themselves mentally and physically ready for the upcoming season.

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