The best word to characterize Thursday’s training camp practice for the Dallas Cowboys is simply weird.
Aside from one of the lower attendance numbers of the camp’s 12 practices so far, defensive end Micah Parsons did not step out onto the field for the first time. In the previous 11 sessions, he watched from the sideline with his jersey on and interacted with teammates.
In talking to multiple Star-Telegram sources, there isn’t anything to read into with Parsons’ absence, but the reasoning behind him staying back was not given.
On the field, there were injuries aplenty. It began with starting right tackle Terence Steele getting poked in the eye early in the team period and needing assistance. He would later return.
A few plays later, rookie running back Jaydon Blue — who has emerged as a threat to land a feature role on the offense — was spun to the ground awkwardly on a facemask grab from defensive end Sam Williams. He lay on the field for a few moments before being carted to the injury tent and later escorted to the locker room with what appeared to be a lower leg injury.
After practice, Blue told the Star-Telegram that he suffered an ankle injury and that he is fine, but his availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams remains in question.
Later in that same drive, backup offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley also exited the practice field with a lower leg injury and did not return.
Starting tight end Jake Ferguson — who was just awarded with a contract extension earlier in training camp — took a shot to his lower back from linebacker Kenneth Murray during a red zone period and was in immediate pain. After remaining on the ground for a few moments, he was taken off the field to be evaluated by the training staff. His status remains unclear.
The injuries on Thursday add to a long list of players who have missed time at training camp with varying ailments. Through 12 practices, 22 players have suffered injuries that have kept them out of part or all of a practice.
Of the 22, those missing practice Thursday included running back Miles Sanders (knee), offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (knee), offensive guard Rob Jones (neck), tight end Princeton Fant (undisclosed), tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (ankle), linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (knee), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), cornerback Caelen Carson (knee), cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (knee), cornerback Josh Butler (knee) and linebacker Justin Barron (undisclosed).