What We Learned From Week 1 Of Cowboys' Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys have completed their first week of training camp (plus a few extra day) and there are several key takeaways. It's still early in the preseason, but there are several things that stood out in practices. Some of the Cowboys' training camp news is positive, but not all of it. Here are four things we learned from Week 1 of Cowboys' training camp. 

The Injuries
Injuries are an unfortunate reality of the NFL, as the Cowboys saw last year with Tony Romo. He's healthy now, but the Cowboys are (wisely) being cautious and occasionally holding him out of practice. Defensive linemen Maliek Collins and Benson Mayowa are still on the PUP list, with Mayowa the first to likely return. Outside of the injuries before camp to guys like Darren McFadden, the Cowboys have stayed relatively healthy. Ezekiel Elliott is being held out with a minor hamstring issue, but that's just a precaution. It's nothing to be concerned about, although the same can't be said of Kellen Moore.

The Cowboys backup QB broke his ankle, and won't return for the 3-4 months, if he makes it back this year. That's left the Cowboys hurting at QB. 

Backup QB Situation
Moore is out, leaving the Cowboys with Dak Prescott and Jameill Showers as the top players behind Romo. The duo have some intriguing upside, but have a combined zero NFL snaps. Entering the regular season with those two is a risky move given Romo's injury history, unless one of them seriously shines during the preseason. The Cowboys tried to land Nick Foles, but failed to do so. A trade for a backup is an option, but the Cowboys don't have much leverage at the moment. That's also why Jerry Jones has said he's happy with Prescott and Showers at backup. Adding somebody at QB will almost assuredly help at some point this offseason. 

Morris Claiborne 
Claiborne has not lived up to expectations as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Hailed as the best corner the team's scouts have graded since Deion Sanders, Claiborne has been average at best and a liability at worst. That might change this year. Claiborne has looked sharp in training camp, holding his own against and even getting the best of Dez Bryant at times. That's a promising sign, as the Cowboys need Claiborne to pair with Brandon Carr and Orlando Scandrick. If Claiborne can stay healthy this year and keep playing like this, he'll be worth a lot more than the one-year, $3 million deal he signed this offseason. 

Top UDFA?
The Cowboys have a habit of finding some talented UDFAa, like Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Ron Leary, Dan Bailey, Cole Beasley and La'El Collins (although that's cheating a bit). This year's top find might be WR Andy Jones, who has showed some serious ability. 

Jerry Jones said he was impressed by Andy Jones' play in the team's scrimmage over the weekend. Jones played at tiny FCS Jacksonville University. He's listed at 6-foot-1, 222-pounds and is making his case for a roster spot. The issue is there might not be one. The Cowboys already had Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Devin Street and Lucky Whitehead at the position. Perhaps Dallas will try to stick Jones on the practice squad. 

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Related Topics: Morris Claiborne, Dak Prescott, Cowboys Rumors, Dez Bryant, Cowboys News, Cowboys Training Camp News, Jameill Showers, Andy Jones