WFAA: Cowboys assistant coach could return to work within weeks

By GEORGE RIBA / WFAA-TV

VALLEY RANCH -- Dallas Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was an energetic presence at practice Friday and Saturday morning during the team's rookie mini-camp.

"One, two, three, now get up," DeCamillis instructed players Saturday morning. "There you go right there. Now wait."

It was five hours before the indoor facility collapsed.

DeCamillis sustained a fracture of one of his cervical vertebrae and had surgery Monday at Parkland Hospital to stabilize it. He remained in stable condition without paralysis and should be released later this week.

Dr. David Barnett, chief of neurosurgery at Baylor Medical center, says patients who suffer DeCamillias' injury usually come back quickly.

"He should be able to go back to light desk type work in a couple of weeks," Dr. Barnett said. "He won't be able to drive for a while, should be out and about walking in a week or two, should be able to go back to work within a month to six weeks."

AP
Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis at rookie practice Friday. DeCamillis was hired on Jan. 7 to replace Bruce Reed, who was fired on New Year's Eve.

"I've coached with him before," head coach Wade Phillips said Friday. "I think he's the best. I think he's the best in the league, and he's a great coach."

There is still no indication whether DeCamillis will be able to coach this fall.

"All that is still to be determined," said Rich Dalrymlple, the Cowboys' director of media relations. "We're still early in the process."