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Thursday marks the first practice of training camp for the Dallas Cowboys out in Oxnard, California. Football season is finally here.
Things feel relatively normal for this team what with Jerry Jones and Co. having the organization’s annual State of the Cowboys press conference on Wednesday. As exciting as that was practice is what everybody is looking forward to, but the first taste of action will have to wait for six players.
Just before Mike McCarthy’s scheduled press conference for Thursday it was reported by ESPN that six different Cowboys players will open camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. What’s more is that T.J. Vasher is going on the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list.
The Cowboys will place Amari Cooper (ankle), DeMarcus Lawrence (back), Trysten Hill (knee), Greg Zuerlein (back), Chauncey Golston (hamstring) and Mitch Hyatt (knee) on PUP to open camp, according to a source. Hill and Hyatt likely need the most rehab time compared to others.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 22, 2021
Rookie WR T.J. Vasher is going on the non-football injury list as he works back from a knee injury suffered in college.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 22, 2021
This isn’t necessarily shocking for Amari Cooper who was not a heavy participant in minicamp. We are still extremely early in the training camp process so there is no need to panic for anyone, but hearing that Trysten Hill and Mitch Hyatt need the most rehab time compared to others is also notable.
Hill is of course returning from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 5 of last season. While his play was improved in 2020 compared to 2019 (an admittedly low bar to clear) there are a lot more bodies at defensive tackle than there were when he was drafted. Missing time could be costly for him and his spot on the roster.