Saturday Notes: Terry Glenn Jumps Into Workout
Mark Norris - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
The Cowboys are hopeful Glenn can play in next Sunday's season opener.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn returned to the practice field here at Valley Ranch Saturday morning for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove a tiny cyst from the back of his right kneecap.
Coach Wade Phillips said Glenn ran routes with the receivers and caught the ball during certain drills.
Phillips said Glenn will be eased back into practices next week, starting on Monday, and is hopeful his veteran receiver will be fully participating in practices by mid-week.
"It depends how he feels," said Phillips, who basically is listing Glenn's availability for the Sept. 9 against the New York Giants at 50-50.
But while Glenn jumped back into the light workouts, Phillips said cornerback Terence Newman, linebacker Greg Ellis and linebacker Kevin Burnett did not participate in Saturday's workout.
Ellis continues to rehab his left heel, where he developed a case of bursitis following surgery to repair his torn Achilles last November. Phillips said the linebacker is getting close to returning, but is not there yet. If he does not participate in practices this week, Phillips said it would be hard to imagine him playing against the Giants.
First-round draft choice Anthony Spencer would start in his place.
The Cowboys continue to rest Newman, who is trying to return from a slight tear to his right plantar fascia. Newman simply watched practice on Saturday.
As for Burnett, while the Cowboys are hopeful he'll be ready for the opener, the third-year linebacker will not be allowed to participate in any workouts until the staples have been removed from his ankle following arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip on the outside of his ankle. The trainers want to guard against infection.
Phillips said Burnett could practice by Monday or Tuesday and is still a possibility to play in the season opener against the Giants.
And rookie tackle Doug Free also participated Saturday in his first practice since spraining his MCL in his right knee during the preseason opener against Indianapolis.
Spotlight on Spencer
Spencer has started all four preseason games in place of the missing Ellis, and Phillips left not doubt on Saturday it would be the team's first-round draft choice who would start in the season opener against the Giants if Ellis is not ready.
Ellis went to Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his Achilles injury. Tests and examinations confirmed what the Cowboys doctors and trainers have been telling Ellis: That the healing is going well. But Ellis is still rehabbing and has not participated in practices since the first day of training camp.
That has put the spotlight on the rookie Spencer. He played the majority of Thursday's game against Minnesota and recorded two tackles. Phillips said Spencer is not dominant yet, but that he is getting better but that he needs to improve on his pass coverage and rushing against the tight end.
Impact Players
Phillips was asked who his "impact" players were on defense. He had a longer list than you might anticipate.
He talked glowingly about linebacker Bradie James, the team's inside linebacker he did not know much about when taking over the team. He likes how James has adapted to the new scheme and has played so much better now not having to consistently muscle the guard on each down.
"Bradie James, I just think more and more of him every day," Phillips said. "He's really impressed me. He has a knack for finding the football.
Safety Roy Williams also was on Phillips' list, with the coach mentioning his Pro Bowl appearances and tough play in the secondary among the reasons he liked him. Phillips has high expectations for the safety, saying he always expects Williams to do well on the field.
The final player mentioned is still nursing an injury - Newman. Phillips said he is still one of his standouts.
Short Shots
Dallas will have five full practices to prepare for their Sunday night opener against the Giants compared with the normal three practices during the season. They got in an extra practice Saturday and will have another on Monday before getting into the normal practice schedule of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday . . . The New Orleans Saints, who picked up former Cowboys starting right tackle Rob Petitti after he was released last year at this time, released him on Friday. Petitti was inactive with the Saints last year in 15 of 16 games . . . All eight draft picks made the Cowboys' active roster for the first time since 2005.
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
The Cowboys are hopeful Glenn can play in next Sunday's season opener.
IRVING, Texas - Cowboys wide receiver Terry Glenn returned to the practice field here at Valley Ranch Saturday morning for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove a tiny cyst from the back of his right kneecap.
Coach Wade Phillips said Glenn ran routes with the receivers and caught the ball during certain drills.
Phillips said Glenn will be eased back into practices next week, starting on Monday, and is hopeful his veteran receiver will be fully participating in practices by mid-week.
"It depends how he feels," said Phillips, who basically is listing Glenn's availability for the Sept. 9 against the New York Giants at 50-50.
But while Glenn jumped back into the light workouts, Phillips said cornerback Terence Newman, linebacker Greg Ellis and linebacker Kevin Burnett did not participate in Saturday's workout.
Ellis continues to rehab his left heel, where he developed a case of bursitis following surgery to repair his torn Achilles last November. Phillips said the linebacker is getting close to returning, but is not there yet. If he does not participate in practices this week, Phillips said it would be hard to imagine him playing against the Giants.
First-round draft choice Anthony Spencer would start in his place.
The Cowboys continue to rest Newman, who is trying to return from a slight tear to his right plantar fascia. Newman simply watched practice on Saturday.
As for Burnett, while the Cowboys are hopeful he'll be ready for the opener, the third-year linebacker will not be allowed to participate in any workouts until the staples have been removed from his ankle following arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip on the outside of his ankle. The trainers want to guard against infection.
Phillips said Burnett could practice by Monday or Tuesday and is still a possibility to play in the season opener against the Giants.
And rookie tackle Doug Free also participated Saturday in his first practice since spraining his MCL in his right knee during the preseason opener against Indianapolis.
Spotlight on Spencer
Spencer has started all four preseason games in place of the missing Ellis, and Phillips left not doubt on Saturday it would be the team's first-round draft choice who would start in the season opener against the Giants if Ellis is not ready.
Ellis went to Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his Achilles injury. Tests and examinations confirmed what the Cowboys doctors and trainers have been telling Ellis: That the healing is going well. But Ellis is still rehabbing and has not participated in practices since the first day of training camp.
That has put the spotlight on the rookie Spencer. He played the majority of Thursday's game against Minnesota and recorded two tackles. Phillips said Spencer is not dominant yet, but that he is getting better but that he needs to improve on his pass coverage and rushing against the tight end.
Impact Players
Phillips was asked who his "impact" players were on defense. He had a longer list than you might anticipate.
He talked glowingly about linebacker Bradie James, the team's inside linebacker he did not know much about when taking over the team. He likes how James has adapted to the new scheme and has played so much better now not having to consistently muscle the guard on each down.
"Bradie James, I just think more and more of him every day," Phillips said. "He's really impressed me. He has a knack for finding the football.
Safety Roy Williams also was on Phillips' list, with the coach mentioning his Pro Bowl appearances and tough play in the secondary among the reasons he liked him. Phillips has high expectations for the safety, saying he always expects Williams to do well on the field.
The final player mentioned is still nursing an injury - Newman. Phillips said he is still one of his standouts.
Short Shots
Dallas will have five full practices to prepare for their Sunday night opener against the Giants compared with the normal three practices during the season. They got in an extra practice Saturday and will have another on Monday before getting into the normal practice schedule of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday . . . The New Orleans Saints, who picked up former Cowboys starting right tackle Rob Petitti after he was released last year at this time, released him on Friday. Petitti was inactive with the Saints last year in 15 of 16 games . . . All eight draft picks made the Cowboys' active roster for the first time since 2005.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:52 AM
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