For a Dallas Cowboys' defense that had little to be excited about last season, rookie pass-rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku provided one of the only glimmers of hope. That's why it was devastating when it was announced that Ezeiruaku underwent surgery for a torn labrum.
The 22-year-old went under the knife in late January and has been expected to miss most of the team's offseason program, but he just dropped an update on his recovery progress. Ezeiruaku shared a video on his Instagram story that revealed that he's back in the gym, where it looks like he's moving pretty well (h/t Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
For a player who isn't even two months removed from a major shoulder surgery, this is an incredibly positive sign. This likely puts Ezeiruaku's expected return right in line with the start of training camp, which gives him plenty of time to get up to speed with Christian Parker's scheme prior to Week 1.
It sounds like Donovan Ezeiruaku isn't in any danger of missing Dallas Cowboys training camp
If Ezeiruaku were to miss any portion of training camp, it would be a pretty big issue for the Cowboys, especially since they don't have much of a pass rush. Acquiring Rashan Gary helps, but until Dallas addresses edge rusher in the upcoming NFL Draft, Ezeiruaku is the best pass-rusher on this roster.
In 17 games (and nine starts) as a rookie, the former second-round pick logged 40 combined tackles, two sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits. And for a guy who was one of the youngest (and most raw) prospects in last draft class, he sure showed how dangerous he can be at his ceiling.
The scariest part is that his development isn't even close to over. The more the Cowboys miss out on big names like Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby, the more they will ask the Boston College product to do to compensate. With time, he'll be able to handle being an every-down pass-rusher.
Ezeiruaku doesn't turn 23 until late September, so even though he's a bit undersized for a prototypical NFL pass-rusher, he has a strong arsenal of pass-rushing moves. He also has explosiveness and good bend that helped him be named the 2024 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
In all likelihood, the former All-American will be good to go for Week 1 and training camp, but don't be surprised if he stumbles out of the gate given the months of recovery he's gone through. But once he's back to full strength, he'll only build on the potential we saw at the end of last season.