Cowboys Optimistic Orlando Scandrick Will Play

Yesterday, we noted that cornerback Orlando Scandrick missed practice because of lingering problems from a concussion he suffered in the Colts game. With Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and company coming to Dallas on Sunday night, the Cowboys will need their full arsenal of defensive backs ready. O.C.C. posted in his column this morning that things are looking good on the Scandrick injury-front. Scandrick has apparently passed all the tests that he needs to in order to play on Sunday.

Coach Jason Garrett sounded a very optimistic tone about Scandrick:

"Absolutely, everything has been positive with him," Garrett said. "There's a protocol we have go through with him. But he's passed everything up to this point. There're some specifics he has to go through. If he continues to go through all the steps, we anticipate him being able to play."

Also noted by O.C.C. in his column was the Cowboys churning the bottom of the roster again this week. It's mainly due to injury, this time with the inside linebackers. Bradie James, Keith Brooking and Sean Lee have all missed practice this week or have been limited, so the Cowboys needed to get some healthy bodies on the field.

Linebacker Kenwin Cummings, who was on the Jets' practice squad but played in three games this season, should provide some instant help to a banged-up linebacker position. The Cowboys also inked linebacker Kelvin Smith to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Here's Jason Garrett on Cummings:

"He's a big guy. He has a physical make-up you look for in a football player," Garrett said. "He fits into what we're doing. There are going to be some differences in what we're doing. He's certainly comfortable playing the spots that we're going to ask him to play."