Calvin Watkins, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Jakar Hamilton is back to work

IRVING, Texas -- Jakar Hamilton wasn’t among the several players who had their suspensions reduced due to the new adjustments in the substance abuse and performance enhancing drug policies.

 Hamilton, a Cowboys safety, missed the first four games of the 2014 season regardless of the new policies.

Teammate Orlando Scandrick saw his suspension reduced to two games and has played the past two weeks. Hamilton just returned to practice on the active roster on Monday.

“It made me think about a whole lot,” said Hamilton who is getting work on the scout teams in practice. “It made me think about my future and how much of an opportunity it was to even be here for a team to still like me despite what happened. They brought me back, and I’m blessed, and I just need to buckle down and take advantage of the opportunity because it don’t come but once in a lifetime.”

The Cowboys are short at corner with Morris Claiborne out for the season after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee. However, it doesn’t appear that Hamilton will move to corner and be active for Sunday’s game against Houston.

Hamilton’s absence was painful on several levels. It left the Cowboys short in the secondary and quite possibly on special teams.

And on a personal level, Hamilton let one of his mentors down, Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders.

The two speak by text message everyday with Sanders sending a word of encouragement.

“The questions I ask he’s there to answer and give me support,” Hamilton said. “He just told me to be careful and just make sure it don’t happen again, and if I do get back, bust my a-- and show my worth. It’s a great opportunity to have someone like Deion in your corner to give you advice and take the time out to give you details on how to play the position in the NFL. I’m very thankful for him in my life as a supporter.”

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