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This post has been updated. The original version continues after the jump.
Update 7:33pm ET
It seems like all is well for now. Thank goodness. Although apparently Randy won’t be at the game after all.
A source told @TheAthleticDFW everything is fine with Randy Gregory and his meeting today was normal. Cowboys officials expect him for Week 1.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) August 30, 2018
Source: Randy Gregory was unable to catch flight from Chicago to Houston after meeting w/ NFL medical director so he returned to Dallas. Won’t be at game, but wasn’t going to play anyway. A logistical issue. Nothing more. https://t.co/eFHJLqCkma
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) August 30, 2018
Update: 5:45pm ET
As Halprin wrote about earlier here at BTB, Randy is indeed expected to join the Cowboys on the sidelines in Houston.
Randy Gregory expected back for Texans game after meeting with NFL medical director https://t.co/eM3MHN6bXx
— Star-Telegram (@startelegram) August 30, 2018
It was late last Sunday night that Jason La Canfora’s original report involving Randy Gregory first hit the news cycle.
La Canfora noted that Randy Gregory could have “trouble ahead” for him just a few short hours after Randy’s most impressive football performance to date during the preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Gregory has done a lot to get back to the playing field, any step backwards would not be idea.
There hasn’t been much word of an update on this situation, that is until now. According to a report Gregory is scheduled to meet with a league doctor on Thursday, a meeting that will determine whether he starts in Week 1 for the Cowboys or if he’s suspended again.
Cowboys DE Randy Gregory is scheduled to meet with a league doctor Thursday morning to determine whether he gets a chance to start the season with the Cowboys on Sept. 9 or he gets suspended again, two sources told NBC DFW
— Jean-Jacques Taylor (@JJT_Journalist) August 30, 2018
It’s obviously quite a big deal that Gregory is headed into a meeting that will swing his football fate in one of two supremely different directions. Note that JJT said Gregory was meeting with a league doctor specifically, so this is obviously a matter involving the NFL.
This could all be part of Gregory’s routine, it could all be new, we don’t know exactly because the details have been kept so quiet. Based on Gregory’s status with the NFL and his comeback, it stands to reason that this is part of what he’s subject to.
A reminder that Randy Gregory is in stage three of the drug program. From the NFL drug policy: pic.twitter.com/uMK3edg709
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) August 30, 2018
Again we don’t know for certain that this is exactly what is happening with Randy, but it’s interesting to note the verbiage in this. “At the Medical Director’s discretion...” would make it sound like somebody else felt the need for further evaluation, but that’s just one theory.
For now all we can do is sit and wait to see the results of whatever Randy Gregory’s meeting with the league doctor are. Let’s hope for the best.