Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Sean Lee, Dez Bryant, Mo Claiborne take different paths at first practice

OXNARD, Calif. -- With their eyes on the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys are smartly working some regulars coming off injury or inactivity to the flow of training camp.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant, who did not take part in the offseason program as he awaited a long-term contract that came earlier this month, and cornerback Morris Claiborne, who is coming back from a torn patellar tendon, were held out of one-on-one drills, but were involved in the team and seven-on-seven work.

Linebacker Sean Lee, who missed last year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, went through individual drills but did not take part in team and seven-on-seven drills. The Cowboys worked Lee through the offseason program in a similar fashion with him taking limited work in the organized team activities before doing everything to close out the June minicamp.

“Everything is fine,” Lee said. “I’m just trusting the trainers. They’ve got a progression plan for me that is working from Day 1, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do. But I think being in pads for the first time in a long time, they just want to progress me a certain way and it’ll be good.”

Claiborne came up with an interception of Tony Romo in seven-on-seven work and took some first-team snaps with the base defense as well.

“We’re not trying to win anything right now,” Claiborne said. “The coaches and the training staff are doing a good job of balancing my reps and keeping me going so I won’t burn out at the end.”

Bryant ended practice talking with one of the athletic trainers but said everything was fine. After missing the offseason program, the Cowboys want to make sure Bryant’s legs are in good shape before clearing him for everything.

He admitted it was hard sitting out of the one-on-one drills, but he was vocal through that work continuously talking to the defensive backs.

“I think that could’ve warmed me up a little bit, but hey …” Bryant said. “… I wanted to, man, but I’m listening to the coaches.”

^ Back to Top ^