OXNARD, Calif. – There has been a lot of discussion amongst the press regarding the shoulder evaluation of center Travis Frederick after a few stingers, but during yesterday’s practice, two more players left the field early. Wide receiver Tavon Austin left practice with a tight hamstring, and middle linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered a strained groin during a dive to break up a pass.
The Cowboys have been relatively injury free so far in camp but as the physicality in full pads heats up with the competition in the depth chart, injuries are bound to occur. Sadly for the Cowboys, two in the same day with Austin and Vander Esch leaving practice early. The good news is that Frederick is fine and just needs to rest to help with inflammation. No long term issues or surgery required for the four-time pro bowl center.
Owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, said that Austin and Vander Esch’s injuries “didn’t seem serious” and that they “just held them out” as a mere precaution. Hopefully it is not serious for either of the players, and is solely their bodies responding to the strenuous training and conditioning during the past few weeks in Oxnard. The soreness is beginning to take its toll. Updates will follow on Austin and Vander Esch, but I would not expect them on Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Bengals.
