FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys’ bye week concludes and preparation for the Minnesota Vikings begins. A new week commences with additional injury updates.
The Cowboys have begun the three-week practice window for wide receiver Michael Gallup, in addition to linebacker Francis Bernard. Both are currently on the Reserve/Injured list.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill also started his practice window on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Gallup suffered a calf strain in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was placed on IR. Both Hill (knee) and Bernard (hamstring) have not played in 2021.
Both three technique Neville Gallimore (elbow) and left defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) are currently on the IR list. Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones scaled back their timeline on Monday via 105.3 The Fan, stating Gallimore and Lawrence “need more time.”
“I don’t think they’re going to start practicing anytime soon,” Jones added.
During several practices at the Star in Frisco, Gallimore and Lawrence have worked with trainer Britt Brown on resistance bands to rehab their respective injuries.
On the opposite side of the ball, Dallas remains optimistic that quarterback Dak Prescott (right calf strain) will play on Sunday at Minnesota. Prescott strained his calf on the final play of the team’s overtime victory in Foxborough over the New England Patriots. He will likely be limited in practice during the week as a precaution in the hope of QB1 being able to take the field on Sunday.
How Prescott does during the week leading into the matchup against the Vikings will gauge his availability. During media interviews outdoors on Monday, Prescott made a brief appearance to cheer on a nutritionist working out on the practice field. Prescott came out of the double doors and spectated while clapping. He was not wearing a walking boot and seemed in high spirits.
Right guard Zack Martin was asked about Prescott playing Sunday and responded, “until someone tells us different, that’s what we’re going in as…I know he’s doing everything he can to make sure he’s available.”
Stephen Jones echoed the same message via 105.3.
“They have certain bars they’re trying to reach as they work through his rehab on his calf. We think we have the best in the business in Britt Brown in terms of how he works with these players with different injuries and does a great job of being able to get your hands around where you think he’s going to be in terms of what point — and is he on track to — at the next step, play in the football game…We all know how driven he is to compete, how driven he is to be great, and certainly how driven he is to want to play each and every game. We got to calibrate that, too, because no one is going to bet against No. 4, and at the end of the day, he understands that we only got his best interest here, and we’ll evaluate all of that, but we’re still very optimistic he can play.”
