First, a shoulder. Then, a migraine.
Finally, today, the Cowboys expect Mike Jenkins to be on the practice field when they resume working toward the season opener against the New York Giants. The Cowboys haven't seen Jenkins since the 2011 season ended. He had reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder in January and wasn't cleared until Wednesday when he was removed from the physically unable to perform list.
After a mandatory three-day waiting period, Jenkins was to have returned Saturday. But a migraine headache delayed his return.
"He had severe migraines, so he came in and just wasn't really able to function as a person," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Sunday morning. "We tried our best to get that right. I guess he has some history with that in the past, so that was the biggest issue."
Jenkins' absence Saturday further decreases the odds that he will play against the Giants.
Dez Bryant (knee tendinitis), Miles Austin (hamstring) and Jason Witten (spleen) all practiced, at least on a limited basis, on Saturday. The Cowboys have to release their first injury report today. Witten still has not been cleared for contact, and his status remains in doubt for the season opener, though it is more likely he'll make his season debut against the Seahawks in Week 2. Austin and Bryant are expected to play against the Giants.
"They worked their way back into practice and we're hopeful they'll continue to progress as the week goes on," Garrett said of the receivers.
Garrett said the Cowboys monitor Austin's reps in practice. Austin had hamstring injuries in both legs last year.
"We establish how many team reps he wants, or we want him to have," Garrett said. "We do that really with all of our players, and we establish that before practice. The other thing with receivers is you need to get them warmed up prior to practice to get ready for those team reps. You just have to monitor those as well and make sure they get enough to get warmed up and ready to go, but not too many."
-- Charean Williams
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