Report: Dallas Cowboys Rookie Ben Gardner Will Go On IR

Seventh-round rookie Ben Gardner had grown a cult following here at BTB without actually doing much. Looks like he won't be doing much for a while. According to a source noted by the Dallas Morning News, Gardner will go on IR after shoulder surgery.

Cowboys rookie defensive end Ben Gardner is expected to have shoulder surgery and be placed on injured reserve, a source said.

Gardner, a seventh-round pick, hurt his left shoulder at the team's first padded practice July 26. Gardner returned to the field Aug. 3. But he was held out again two days later and hasn't practiced since.

The Cowboys were high on Gardner early on, liking his versatility along the line when participating in OTAs. But the training camp injury had taken him off the radar and follows a senior year at Stanford that was also cut short by a pectoral issue. After yesterday's trade of Ben Bass, the Cowboys defensive line is thinning further. They should be getting the services of Henry Melton back in the near future, and the return of Terrell McClain is also expected sometime down the road.