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Cowboys Training Camp Injuries: So It Begins

By Daniel Ruppert

Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (98) celebrates his sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (not pictured) during the game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (98) celebrates his sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (not pictured) during the game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. The Panthers defeat the Cowboys 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Cowboys have started training camp, with one injury on the defensive line today many are saying, “it begins already?”

First, Tyrone Crawford went down today with a back issue. While there is no timetable for his return, it looks like it could be as simple as back spasms or a pulled muscle, but with no information many are already thinking about the ramifications.

No matter what happens with Crawford, there is one thing clear, the Dallas Cowboys can not afford a lot of injuries on defense. The defensive line is already a skeleton of what it was supposed to be with the much-talked-about suspensions on Demarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory.

This, paired with Maliek Collins’ broken foot and Benson Mayowa‘s knee surgery, the Cowboys will have to rely on Cedric Thornton, David Irving, Terrell McClain, and a mash up of other players to generate pressure. Not exactly a murders row of pass rushers here.

Every team has injuries, but the Cowboys seemingly have them either at the worst time, or to the exact wrong player. Last season on offense both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant went down with injuries. It didn’t help that one of the most effective weapons last season in Lance Dunbar also went down.

Add all of this into the defense suffering key injuries and the Cowboys were destined to be a four win team.

Whether some of the injuries are due to poor physical training or just being out of football shape, the real question is what do the Cowboys do at this point. Dwight Freeney is still a free agent, and bringing him in for at least a look couldn’t hurt, event they don’t sign him.

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The Cowboys need off field leadership as well as some experience on the defensive side of the ball. While it seems that Freeney won’t be coming to Dallas, there is still a lot of questions on the defensive side of the ball that need to be answered, and Freeney couldn’t hurt.

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The Cowboys are a few key injuries on either side of the ball from being another four win team once again. While the offense should be able to carry the team for most of the season, the defense needs to find answers if the Cowboys do in fact make the playoffs this season. It isn’t out of the question the Cowboys could make a deep run in the playoffs, but the defense will have to step up at some point.

So with just the first injury on the defensive side of the ball during training camp, the questions already start. What exactly will the Cowboys pass rush look like? Will the defense be able to at least hold up enough to let the offense do its thing? Will the offense be able to carry the Cowboys?

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So many questions, but that is why there is training camp. Hopefully many of the questions will start having answers. So while it has just begun, there are a few weeks ahead that will go a long way to either figure it out, or to realize something else must be done. While Crawford should be back shortly, his injury has started the conversation…again.

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