Dallas Cowboys: Travis Frederick tackling more than autoimmune disease
The Dallas Cowboys were without their All-Pro center last season due to an autoimmune disease. Now, Travis Frederick is returning with more to overcome.
The Dallas Cowboys received a big blow to their offensive line last season when it was revealed that their All-Pro center, Travis Frederick, was suffering from an autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Although no one knew it at the time, Frederick would end up missing the entire season. In his place, veteran backup Joe Looney would play well. But replacing the centerpiece of the offensive line hurt the entire team regardless. And when the Cowboys starting last season losing five of their first eight games, Frederick’s absence played a role.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, they were able to turn their season around following a major trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper. And fortunately for Frederick, he was also able to overcome medical issues and is expected to return to the starting lineup in 2019.
Understandably, the Cowboys staff is bringing Frederick back slowly. Not only is he still dealing from the lingering effects from Guillain-Barré, but the four-time Pro Bowler also revealed he’s had two surgeries as well. Here’s what Frederick told Pro Football Talk recently about the other health issues he is trying to overcome this offseason.
"“I feel good where I am in the weight room. I’ve come a really long way. It’s interesting because there’s three things holding me back now. There’s the return from Guillain-Barré. I had a umbilical hernia repair, so that kind of knocked out my lowers for a while, and I had the shoulder repair, so it knocked out my uppers for a while. So I’m still coming back.”"
Although it appears Travis Frederick is set to return to the starting lineup this year, the Dallas Cowboys did land themselves an insurance policy this offseason. In the third round of the draft, the Cowboys added Penn State center/guard Connor McGovern to their offensive line.
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Along with Joe Looney and now McGovern, Dallas appears to have more quality depth at the center position than ever just in case Frederick’s recovery time takes longer than expected. But if he can return at full strength, he’d complete one of the top offensive lines in the NFL and could boost them back to dominance under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.