Cowboys first injury of training camp is Dan Quinn's worst nightmare
By Jerry Trotta
Dallas Cowboys training camp officially started on Wednesday.
Fans following along on social media have already been treated to a diving one-handed grab from CeeDee Lamb, rookie sixth-round pick Eric Scott Jr. notching the first interception of the year -- albeit on a dropped pass by Simi Fehoko -- and Tony Pollard looking spry during RB drills following offseason ankle surgery.
Throw in Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore taking their first camp reps with Dallas and fans couldn't have asked for a better start.
The good vibes didn't last very long, however. Not long into practice, Donovan Wilson was carted to the locker room with an apparent calf injury. Wilson initially got examined in the medical tent before getting carted off.
Wilson is headed for an X-ray and the team will know more of the severity in a few hours, per NFL Network's Jane Slater.
#Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson carted off to the locker room here at practice. After seeing him in the medical tent, staff decided to get x-rays on his right calf. Should know more on severity this afternoon.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 26, 2023
Cowboys star defender Donovan Wilson carted off practice field at training camp
Any training camp injury is devastating -- depending on the severity, of course -- but Wilson was a top-five most important player on Dallas' defense last season. He wears multiple hats in Dan Quinn's scheme and led the team with 101 tackles.
Wilson started all 17 games and played 84% of the snaps. He finished the season with nine quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, allowed a 84.2 passer rating in coverage, and was fifth on the team with five sacks.
Beyond the stat sheet, Wilson is one of the tone-setters on Dallas' defense. He plays with an unteachable and contagious physicality that bleeds into his teammates. If he doesn't lead with his words, he absolutely leads by example.
A free agent back in March, the Cowboys rewarded Wilson's breakout year with a new three-year contract worth $21 million and $13.5 million guaranteed.
Stay tuned for updates on Wilson's injury. If it's any consolation, the versatile defender walked (limped) off the field under his own power.
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