(Photo Credit: The Dallas Cowboys Football Club)⠀
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys had roster changes on Wednesday in preparation for Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
The club activated both quarterback Andy Dalton and defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Dalton had been going through concussion protocol in addition to his placement on the Reserve/COVID-19 list but was cleared to practice on Wednesday. Crawford was placed on the list at the outset of the bye week, which gave him additional healing time. Crawford has started in all nine games for Dallas this season and will rejoin the defensive line rotation.
The club officially began the 21-day practice window for offensive tackle Brandon Knight, who had been on the Reserve/Injured list after suffering a sprained MCL in his knee last month. His role is still unknown for Sunday’s game in Minnesota. Knight previously started four games at left tackle, stepping in for both Tyron Smith and Cam Erving. Erving was recently activated from IR and returned to the field. Rookie Terence Steele has started all nine games at right tackle this season replacing La’el Collins, but the Cowboys may shuffle and keep Erving on the left side but bring in Knight at right tackle.
Cowboys’ impressive second-round draft pick Trevon Diggs fractured a bone in his foot against the Steelers and has officially been placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott was limited during the week of practice leading up to the Steelers matchup in week nine (hamstring) but was a full participant on Wednesday.
On the hamstring, Ezekiel Elliott told reporters via conference call “ It’s a little tight. A little stiff. But I worked through it today in practice. I was able to finish practice and be out there with the guys, which was great. It’s just something that I’m working on day-to-day getting a lot of extra PT and work on it just so I can have it ready for Sunday.”
Right guard Zack Martin was limited in practice (calf) and defensive end Randy Gregory (illness) and center Tyler Biadasz (hamstring) did not practice.
On Biadasz’s status for Sunday’s game, Mike McCarthy described to local media “Tyler is progressing as far as how we work in the offensive line, we’ll keep that tight to the vest until we get to the end of the week…we will work different combinations, as we continue to work through this. Tyler has been here everyday during the bye week, he’s getting better.”
With the league’s intensive protocols in place, today was the first regular season practice in a couple of weeks for the Cowboys after Wednesday’s practice was cancelled during the bye week after several Steelers’ players were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Starting Saturday, all 32 teams will be entering intensive protocols for the remainder of the season due to a recent spike in cases. The purpose is to reduce close contact and all team meetings will be held virtually or in large spaces, with required facemasks or shields during practice.
