Dallas Cowboys training camp has gotten underway in Oxnard with an encouraging start on the health front, but the first practice brought a reminder of how quickly that picture can change.
New safety P.J. Locke became the team’s initial injury concern after a non-contact play left him hobbling off the field and into the medical tent.
The incident occurred late in the session as Locke was backpedaling and planted on his left knee. He walked off the field alongside head trainer Jim Maurer and did not return to practice, with many fearing a torn ACL due to the nature of the injury.
But the Cowboys appeared to dodge a bullet on the key offseason addition.
Early reports described the issue as a hyperextended knee, and those close to the situation indicated there was no reason for alarm, via The Dallas Morning News.
While the sight of a player leaving with a knee problem always raises the specter of more serious ligament damage, the initial indications suggested Locke’s setback falls short of that worst-case scenario.
Locke arrived in Dallas this offseason as a free agent after six seasons with the Denver Broncos. He joined a secondary already stocked with talent and competition at safety.
The group features first-round selection Caleb Downs, free-agent addition Jalen Thompson, and returning starter Malik Hooker. Locke brings a different dimension through his prior experience working under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who previously coached defensive backs in Denver and helped develop Locke there.
That familiarity could prove valuable as the Cowboys look to deploy their safeties in a variety of roles across the field.
Heading into camp, the Cowboys stood out for their relative good fortune. The team opened without any players on the physically unable to perform or non-football injury lists, a rarity around the league.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer noted that the club was monitoring defensive lineman Donovan Ezeiruaku and defensive back DaRon Bland after they missed spring work, but he emphasized both were expected to participate without formal restrictions. The overall health of the roster ranked low among the team’s early concerns.
Pads have yet to come on, and Schottenheimer has indicated there will be more physical work this summer than in his first camp a year ago. In that context, Locke’s early exit served as a cautionary note even if the long-term outlook appears positive.
As practices continue and the competition for roster spots and starting roles intensifies, the Cowboys will hope this remains an isolated blip rather than the start of a broader injury trend.
