Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten didn’t just go out to practice in full pads on Saturday, the first real practice of the regular season.
He made sure to sprint out past a few media members en route to the field.
It’s his first practice since suffering the lacerated spleen injury on Aug. 13 in Oakland. But since the Cowboys were not required to list an official injury report on Saturday, it’s unclear just how much participation Witten had, after the media’s availability at practice had expired.
Before practice, coach Jason Garrett said he expected Witten to “move around a little bit, catching the football.”
But Witten said after practice there isn’t much to discuss, only that he’s waiting to be cleared to play against the Giants on Wednesday.
“I think we know where it’s at,” Witten said. “I’ve just got to get cleared and put in position to play. It feels good. It feels really good. So, it was good to run around and actually put the pads on and stuff.”
Witten said he would consider wearing a flak jacket to protect his midsection if he’s cleared to play. The Cowboys are covering their bases in case Witten doesn’t play by claiming second-year pro Colin Cochart, who was waived on Friday.
“You’ve got to just stay with the plan,” Witten said. “Obviously it’s beyond just me. I hope (to play). Obviously it’s a big game for us.”
Jenkins, Ratliff miss practice: The Cowboys were hopeful to see cornerback Mike Jenkins (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jay Ratliff (high ankle sprain) on the field Saturday, but both weren't on the field during the portion of practice open to the media.
Jenkins was recently cleared to practice and taken off PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) after missing the entire offseason, training camp and the preseason with a shoulder injury that required rotator cuff surgery in January.
Ratliff was able to participate in a walkthrough practice on Friday but did not make the early part of practice Saturday.
Practice squad signed: The Cowboys were able to get just about every player they wanted on the eight-man practice squad, meaning no one they cut was claimed off waivers. The Cowboys re-signed RBs Jamize Olawale and Lance Dunbar, WRs Danny Coale and Tim Benford , G Ron Leary , DT Robert Callawa y, LB Orie Lemon and DE Ben Bass .
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