The Dallas Cowboys are heading into the final week of the preseason, as they will wrap up their exhibition slate at home against the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. Friday.
While most of the starters, including quarterback Dak Prescott, are not expected to play, news abounds for some of the Cowboys’ top offensive talent with their Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles lurking less than three weeks away.
Optimism remains for Tyler Guyton
When the Cowboys’ starting left tackle, Tyler Guyton, went down with a bone fracture in his right knee early in training camp, the expected recovery timeline was four to six weeks. It was much more palatable than what the initial prognosis was feared to be, a torn ACL.
“It was a mistake, and I’m glad it was a mistake,” Guyton said Monday. “The reality of the other side of it would not have been good.”
Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, shown in June, is trying to return in time for Week 1 of the regular season. Chris Jones Imagn Images
While it is still tough to gauge his potential availability for Week 1, head coach Brian Schottenheimer commended Guyton’s rehab efforts to ensure he’s doing everything he can to put his body in a position to be ready if he’s cleared.
“He’s beating every mark so far,” Schottenheimer said. “So that’s a great sign. He’s doing great. He’s confident about his ability to continue to make strides.”
Jonathan Mingo avoids serious injury
Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo went down with a knee injury in Saturday’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens one play after making a 49-yard over-the-shoulder grab for the offense’s biggest play of the preseason.
After running his route on the next play, he walked off with the training staff with some discomfort in his right knee.
Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (81) suffered a PCL injury on a 49-yard reception in Saturday’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
“I caught the ball and landed,” Mingo said. “I didn’t feel it until I got to the line of scrimmage, really. Your body got adrenaline and stuff. You don’t really know what’s going on.”
Mingo is still going through tests, but the initial look indicates a PCL injury that could sideline him for about four weeks, according to a Star-Telegram source. That will have to be confirmed this week.
“We have a few more tests to run,” Schottenheimer said. “I don’t think it’s going to be terribly serious. We’ll do a few more tests to make sure.”
Jaydon Blue expected to play Friday
One of the standouts at training camp, rookie running back Jaydon Blue, hasn’t yet had an opportunity to hit the field in the preseason as he nurses a heel/ankle injury that he suffered in a camp practice in Oxnard.
This week against the Falcons, it appears as though Blue will get his shot.
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue should see his first preseason action Friday. Nick Harris nharris@star-telegram.com
“Trending positively,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ll see how he does today and tomorrow, but I’m hopeful that he can get out there and play.”
Blue had begun to pick up a healthy amount of reps with the first-team offense before going down with his injury. In a running back battle that he had begun to emerge in, he will need to take advantage of his one game opportunity to beat out Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis on the final depth chart.