Third-round pick Jaishawn Barham has been one of the biggest stories in Oxnard, and that's not hyperbole. The Dallas Cowboys have been blown away by how he's looked in training camp, and he's stood out even more since the pads came on Monday.
So, you can imagine the reaction when he headed to the medical tent during Thursday's practice. He wasn't noticeably limping, but it was serious enough for him to undergo further evaluation, and he did not return to practice.
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Barham is dealing with a groin injury that the Cowboys do not believe to be serious.
It's undoubtedly a positive update, but groin injuries can be notoriously tricky. As much as Barham needs the reps and wants to get back on the field, Dallas must be patient with his recovery.
Jaishawn Barham injury update is a blessing and a curse for the Cowboys
On one hand, it's huge that Barham avoided a serious injury. The linebacker room is already thin, so losing him for a significant amount of time would've been devastating.
“We had a vision for him when we drafted him, and that’s coming to life,” Christian Parker said about Barham. "He brings a physicality and a demeanor to the inside of the defense, and you feel that.”
You certainly do, which is why it is crucial that he doesn't miss extended time. While the majority of his first-team reps have been as a traditional inside linebacker, we've seen him rush off the edge and from the interior.
Between beating Tyler Smith to rush a Dak Prescott throw and deflecting a Prescott pass during red zone drills, Barham has made his presence felt at all three levels of the defense. Cowboys fans want to see him continue to stack good days, but groins are nothing to mess around with.
The Cowboys have not provided a timeline for Barham's return, but Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that they'll "monitor him in the coming days." It could be a situation similar to P.J. Locke, who missed a few practices after hyperextending his knee.
That's the best-case scenario, but groin injuries are notorious for lingering and carry a high risk of setbacks. They're very easy to aggravate if a player returns too soon. And more often than not, the setback is significantly worse than the original injury. Even a moderate strain could require a two-month recovery.
The Cowboys have to play it safe. If it means that Barham misses all of next week, which features a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday and their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday, then so be it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google