FRISCO – The Dallas Cowboys were pretty much all smiles as they returned to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon – but did so inside Ford Center due to high winds in the backyard at The Star – with good health a reason for the optimistic mood.
Four key names worth watching … which we (and owner Jerry Jones) did in our observation of practice in anticipation of the playoff opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at AT&T Stadium?
Starting left guard Tyler Smith, who missed the regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders after tearing his plantar fascia in the Week 17 win over the Detroit Lions, was back on the practice field on Wednesday and listed as “limited.”
There is anticipation of him playing on Sunday.
Starting right guard Zack Martin also missed the Week 18 win over the Commanders after becoming ill over the weekend. Martin got a rest day on Wednesday but will be at full strength on Sunday.
“Zack is good,” coach McCarthy said. “Just came from the walkthrough. Looks good.
A sidebar here: That flu bug has been running through the building for about a month. But as you can see on the injury report, nobody was out sick on this day. So maybe it’s clearing up.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore dislocated his shoulder in the win over Washington. He said the medical team “popped it back in” on Sunday and he’s now playing to wear a harness against the Packers.
“He’s making really good progress,” McCarthy said on Wednesday morning. “The goal is to give [Gilmore] what he needs here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and then line him up Saturday and cut him loose.”
